World News | How Plants Can Change Your Mindset

Ormskirk (UK), April 18 (talk) Plants look so different from animals that many people could easily see them as aliens and separate them from us.

Most people appreciate beautiful flowers and trees and know that photosynthesis is essential to life. But our spiritual and physical connection to plant life runs deeper than you might think.

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Mounting scientific evidence shows that plants play an important role in shaping our state of mind and reducing our risk of mental and physical illness.

They may reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and mood disorders in humans by reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which lowers heart rate and promotes a good state of mind.

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Several studies have shown that horticultural therapy can help some people manage their PTSD symptoms and improve their quality of life again.

They can even boost your creativity by stimulating the brain with vibrant, natural colors.

increasing happiness

Even a small potted plant on your desk can have a more powerful effect on you than you think. The houseplant you bought to brighten your home or workplace may actually be helping you think more clearly. Studies have shown that having plants around yourself can improve concentration by up to 20% and improve recall of information by 15-20%. Plants do this by reducing carbon dioxide levels and improving air quality.

According to UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, carbon dioxide levels in offices should not exceed 1,000 parts per million (ppm), as levels at this level can cause headaches, fatigue and dizziness.

It can also lead to worse decisions. Studies have shown that in some cases, houseplants can reduce indoor carbon dioxide levels from 2,000 ppm to about 480 ppm in less than an hour.

Popular houseplants that are effective at removing carbon dioxide include blue star fern (Phlebodium aureum), weeping ficus (Ficus benjamina), spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), and anthuriums (such as flamingo flowers).

Of course, some plants can also change our body chemistry—think of the many plants used medicinally or recreationally. Ironically, some people think plants are nothing more than pretty greenery, and humans have been using plants for tens of thousands of years to explore different states of consciousness, relieve pain, and relax.

gardening

Plants have been central to human society from the beginning, but the way we use and relate to them has changed over generations and civilizations. From the Paleolithic (until 11,000 years ago) reliance on plants for food and medicine, modern society has lost its appreciation and awareness of plants in many ways.

The World Bank estimates that by 2050, seven out of 10 people will live in cities, and obtaining plants in their natural environment will become more challenging. We are getting farther and farther away from nature. But despite all the options for comfort and leisure that 21st-century technology offers us, we can’t seem to stay out of it.

Humans are “biophilic,” which means we inherently seek to connect with nature and plants. Plants can increase happiness hormones such as endorphins in the human body. Not only are they intertwined with human destiny, but they are deeply rooted in who we are as individuals. Plant shapes, colours, smells, touches and tastes can lift us up as we interact with them and bloom in our memories.

From the soft touch of petals at your fingertips, to the aroma of essential oils they release to attract pollinators, to the irresistible rich taste of chocolate, plants have been tempting our senses throughout human history.

We all have different memories and experiences that connect us to plants. For example, the plant that makes me happiest and evokes my deepest love is the crocus, after which my first daughter was named (crocus).

Plant sales in the UK have grown by more than 30% during the COVID pandemic, as people rediscover the importance of plants to their mental health. The UK will spend more than £7.6bn on factories in 2021, £100-2bn more than in the previous two years.

Plants are not a luxury. They are part of us. Not surprisingly, the word “plant” is translated as “one who takes care of us” in many native languages. (dialogue)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)