Alex Carson
Pressure
In today’s world, there is an awful lot of pressure and stress. Between people’s jobs, their families, and all of the responsibilities they have on their plates, it is almost impossible not to get stressed out from time to time. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there are over 40 million people in the United States today who suffer from anxiety. Some people turn to medication to treat their anxiety. Others turn to meditation, yoga, and acupuncture to manage their anxiety. What you may not know is that you may not need all of these things to feel more relaxed. Researchers say if this simple item is in your home, you’re way less likely to be stressed.
Flowers
Many people love the look and smell of having fresh flowers in their homes. Some people get flowers or give flowers as gifts. What you may not know is that plants and flowers have fantastic healing properties. Flowers may add a splash of color to any room, and arranging them can be very therapeutic, simply having them around can be helpful.
Plant Oils
In 2015, a research team from Northumbria University in the U.K., which was led by Professor Mark Moss made a discovery about plant oils. The research found that rosemary oil help with your memory in the future. During the study, the scientists exposed 60 senior volunteers to rosemary oil, lavender oil, or no scent at all. Then, they tested their memory retention. They found that the subjects who were exposed to rosemary oil were able to retain more facts, while those who were exposed the lavender oil reported feeling more relaxed.
Aromatherapy
The Northumbria University study also provided some insight into how aromatherapy works and how it could help with different fields of medicine. Because they discovered that rosemary oil has memory retention properties, there is a chance that it can be used for dementia treatment. Lavender can used to treat anxiety.
Relaxation Study
In 2010, Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany performed a plant-based study. The people who ran the projects was Professor Helmut Hass and Doctor Olga Sergeeva. The reason for the study was because one in five Germans took a prescribed sedative once a year. This made the researchers want to see if they could find an alternative relaxant that was drug-free. This was when they became interested in the jasmine herb.
Humans and Mice With Flowers
The team carried out their experiments on people and in mice. They used hundreds of different fragrances and discovered that jasmine could relax you when it is inhaled. The vapor created a naturally calm feeling in the test subjects. The team believes that jasmine can be used to treat both sleep disorders and nervous conditions. The team published their research in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. They had proven that aromatherapy really does work.
Clearing Toxins
There are plenty of toxins in the air that you breathe. You may not be able to see them, and you cannot smell them, but they are there. The University of Hawaii performed a study that proved that flowers and plants could clear toxins in the air. This occurs when the plants absorb danger organic compounds that are in the air and transfer it to their roots. There it is broken down in microbes. Because flowers and plants can detoxify the air, you should consider putting some in your home. It will make the air much safer for your entire family.
Compassion
Harvard University performed a study that found that having fresh flowers around can do more than relax you and clean the air. The study showed that having flowers around can actually incite compassion toward other people. The study showed that the students who spent seven days living in a residence that was decorated in flowers began showing a feeling of kindness for one other. Those who weren’t in a flower-decorated home didn’t experience any changes.
Hospital Study
The American Society for Horticultural Science published a study in 2008 regarding the power of flowers helping with recovery. The subjects had recently had surgery of the abdomen. The experiment took six months. They put flowers in rooms of patients who had recently had abdominal surgery, and the patients who had flowers in their rooms healed faster than those who didn’t.
Flower Shop
Considering all of the mental and physical health benefits of having flowers around, you should take a trip to your local flower shop more often. For just a few dollars a week, you can not only improve your mood, but you can also improve your overall well being. If you are thinking about getting a second job, imagine the benefits of working in a flower shop all day.
