Plants have long been known to provide health benefits when placed in homes. They bring a bit of nature inside and improve your quality of life in many ways. But there is one type of plant that rises above all the rest when it comes to keeping you healthy and happy – the succulent.
Succulents have a unique ability that sets them apart from other houseplants and allows them to bring numerous physical, emotional, and mental health benefits when placed in your home. (And it’s not just your Grandma’s aloe plants, either!) Read on to learn why you should spruce up your space – and your health – with succulents.
The Air You Breathe is Cleaner
It is no secret that polluted air is all around. However, unclean air is not only found in big cities with tons of traffic and factories. It is also found in a place you would least suspect – your home. You may already be aware that plants can help to remove pollution from the air in your home, but did you know that succulents are the best choice for purifying the air in your space?
Unlike other plants that only photosynthesize during the daytime, succulents (and cacti) continue the process of photosynthesis overnight – releasing oxygen into your home 24/7. Because they are constantly taking in carbon dioxide and converting it to oxygen, they are continuously removing toxins from the air around you, leaving you with fresh, purified air.
Two of the best air-purifying succulents that you can add to your home are:
The constant flow of new oxygen into your space introduces a myriad of benefits, including easier breathing and more restful sleep.
Humidity is No Longer an Issue
Most people don’t consider the humidity levels in a room where they are watching television or playing a video game. For many people, humidity is an outdoor consideration more than an indoor one. But there is actually a need for adequate humidity in a home to ensure good health for all inside.
When the humidity is too high in your home, the following can happen:
- Your body can struggle to regulate its temperature.
- The extra moisture can cause fungus, mold, and mildew to grow.
- The wood and furniture in your home can swell or rot.
Meanwhile, if the humidity level in your home is too low, you may experience the following:
- Your skin may begin to dry out, causing dry lips and itching skin.
- Respiratory issues, like wheezing and breathing problems, may arise.
- You may begin to experience fatigue.
According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic, it is recommended that your home’s humidity level be between 30% and 50%. While you can use devices like humidifiers to control the humidity in your home, a much more aesthetically pleasing option is to set out a few succulents and let them work their magic!
One succulent that you can use to increase the humidity levels in your home is the jade plant. If you are looking to decrease your home’s humidity, you can try succulents from the Euphorbia family, like the dragon bone cactus.
You Enjoy Enhanced Focus and Productivity
Today, it’s almost a given that your life is busy and in a constant state of movement. With so many daily distractions, it’s difficult to maintain focus throughout the day. Guess what? Succulents have the amazing ability to help improve your focus and increase your productivity. But how?
You already know that succulents photosynthesize during the day and the night, resulting in a steady flow of clean oxygen in whatever space they are placed in. This process increases the amount of oxygen in your home and allows you to breathe in more oxygen during your day.
More oxygen in your lungs means more oxygen goes to your brain.
A well-oxygenated brain is a more energized brain that results in:
- better concentration
- heightened focus
- more productivity
- improved memory
You can place an agave or elephant bush in your home office to ensure that your brain stays healthy and your days stay productive.
You Can Manage Stress Better
One of the most frequently suggested ways to de-stress is to go outside and get some fresh air. However, it’s not always possible to step outside and enjoy the air because of obligations like work and the unpredictability of weather. But succulents allow you to bring that “fresh air” inside your home, where you can enjoy it whenever you’d like.
Often, indoor air is considered “clean.” Unfortunately, most air inside a home has a “suboptimal balance of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, especially in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation.” If you suffer from stress or anxiety, this “suboptimal” air in your home is not helping you.
Placing succulents around your home introduces more clean oxygen into your body; that increase in oxygen helps you maintain a more peaceful emotional state, therefore lessening your stress levels. In fact, veterans that have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been “treated” with oxygen-rich air to help them manage their disorder.
Giving yourself cleaner air to breathe also increases the serotonin levels in your body, which balances your mood and increases your happiness. You can treat your brain and your body with this Haworthia succulent.
Succulents Even Fight Sickness
Another incredible benefit of succulents is that they help prevent sickness. It may seem odd to think that a plant can keep you feeling well, but the idea is not that far-fetched. When you take into account a succulent’s ability to increase oxygen levels and manage humidity levels in a home, it’s rather easy to see how these miracle plants can aid in your physical well-being.
When you are living in a home that is full of polluted air or experiencing humidity issues, you can quickly succumb to many ailments, such as:
- Dry, itchy skin and lips
- Coughing and wheezing
- Asthma flare-ups
- Colds and allergies
- Sore throats
Additionally, the lack of fresh air contributes to higher stress levels in your body, leaving you even more susceptible to illness. (Wouldn’t it be easier to invest in this adorable succulent garden to better both your health and your mood?)
In the 1990s, the Agricultural University of Norway conducted a controlled study on the link between sickness in workers and the presence (or lack thereof) of plants in their office area. They recorded a 25% decrease in illnesses reported by workers who added plants to their work area. The study also reported that the workers with plants in their area experienced less fatigue and better concentration than those without plants in their area.
You Recover from Illness and Injury Quickly
Not only can succulents decrease your chances of getting sick, but they can also help you recover from illnesses and injuries more quickly. And it all goes back to the extra oxygen that these plants release into your home.
Just like a well-oxygenated brain will result in better focus, well-oxygenated cells will result in faster healing – so much so that oxygen therapy is often used to help athletes recover from their injuries.
- When your body is healing from an injury, damaged cells must be replaced with new ones.
- Likewise, when your body is healing from an illness, healthy cells in your body must fight to deplete the sickly ones.
The oxygen you breathe goes straight into your bloodstream, feeding these new and healthy cells. The more fresh oxygen you breathe, the faster (and better) your cells can heal you. You can purchase this Donkey Tail succulent to start benefiting from extra oxygen today.
Succulents Have Many Medicinal Uses
You’re probably wondering how there could be more health benefits that succulents can bring into your home, but there are. Succulents passively give you all the benefits listed above, but there are more advantages of having succulents in your house, too. Many succulents themselves have medicinal properties (like the famous aloe plant)!
Here are some succulents and their medicinal properties and uses:
| Succulent | Medicinal Properties/Uses |
| Aloe | Is commonly used to treat sunburnsCan be used as a laxativeCan be used to treat symptoms of eczema, bruises, and burnsCan be used to treat symptoms of sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis |
| Sour Fig | Has astringent properties that allow it to be used to treat infections in the mouth and throatCan be used to treat fungal infectionsCan be used to ease the pain of earaches and toothachesCan be used to soothe digestive issues |
| Elephant’s Foot | Can be used to treat sores and cutsCan be used to treat scabiesUsed by some cultures to make cortisone |
| Boabab | Can be used to treat feverCan be used to treat diarrheaCan be used to treat urinary disordersCan be used as an astringentHas anti-inflammatory properties |
| Pig’s Ear | Can be used to remove warts and cornsCan be used to ease the pain of earaches and toothachesCan be used to treat boils on the skinHas anti-inflammatory properties |
Medical Disclaimer: Please do not use this information to treat any illness or injury before consulting a doctor.
In Conclusion
One thing is clear – succulents are the best houseplants for your overall health and well-being. From purifying the air that you breathe to soothing a wretched sunburn, these beautiful and beneficial plants are a wonderful addition to any house.
Last update on 2023-10-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
