6 Houseplants that Help with Anxiety

Image by Sanni Sahil

Benefits of Houseplants

It’s no secret that nature has positive effects on us. Some doctors are even prescribing houseplants as an anxiety treatment. When you bring a plant into your home, nature becomes part of your everyday life and your mind and body will thank you.

Here are some benefits of houseplants:

  • Plants improve air quality by producing oxygen and reducing toxins. Fresh air improves mood, productivity, focus, and creativity. It can also help you avoid illness.
  • Plants can help block out background noise from busy streets or annoying neighbors.
  • Plants are aesthetically pleasing. They add color and life to a room, making them excellent decor.
  • Taking care of a plant is a great hobby and can help take your mind off the things that are bothering you.
  • Watching a plant grow is a rewarding experience. When you nurture a plant, it will love you back in its own little way.

Ready to add a plant to your home and start feeling calmer?

Here are 6 houseplants that help with anxiety.

*All plants listed except jasmine are toxic to dogs and cats, so please keep this in mind if you have pets!

1: Aloe Vera

Image by Tristan Gevaux

Putting an aloe vera plant in a room can help purify the air of irritants like formaldehyde and benzene. Pure, clean air = less stress.

When you cut open an aloe leaf, you can extract the gel and rub it onto burns and minor wounds. Aloe soothes the skin and promotes healing, making it a popular ingredient in skincare products.

Aloe is famously resilient, which is great news if you’re looking for something low-maintenance or have bad luck with plants. Ancient Egyptians noticed how hard it was to kill an aloe plant and gave it a nickname: the “ plant of immortality.”

Self-Care and Anxiety Tips

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2: Lavender

Image by Olga Tutunaru

Lavender is a popular essential oil and is a common ingredient in many bath and spa products. It’s known for its beautiful purple color and calming scent.

Studies have shown that the smell of lavender not only produces calmness in the brain, but it also lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

Try keeping it in your bathroom. When you take a shower, the steam will reach the plant and unlock its aroma.

Self-Care and Anxiety Tips

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3: Chamomile

Image by Rodion Kutsaev

Chamomile tea is my go-to drink before bed because it immediately relaxes my body and makes me sleepy.

The sweet scent of chamomile is soothing. When consumed in tea form, the warmth adds to the calming sensation.

One study found that anxiety levels significantly decreased in people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder when they consumed chamomile every day. They had lower blood pressure and reported a better general sense of wellbeing.

Self-Care and Anxiety Tips

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4: Jasmine

Image by congerdesign

Jasmine is another plant whose flowers emit a calming fragrance. It’s also consumed as tea.

Jasmine helps you get a peaceful night’s sleep, making it perfect for insomnia and nights when anxiety keeps you up. A full 8 hours of quality sleep will leave you feeling refreshed in the morning and do wonders for your anxiety.

Self-Care and Anxiety Tips

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5: Snake Plant

Image by Kara Eads

Don’t let the name of this plant fool you. It won’t give you anxiety like a snake might! Snake plants make wonderful floor plants but also work on a tabletop or windowsill.

Snake plants are exceptional at cleansing the air. NASA found them fit to purify the air in space stations.

They also produce oxygen into the night, which boosts energy in a room. This can really help when your anxiety makes you feel drained.

They can also help relieve headaches, a common symptom of stress and anxiety.

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6: Peace Lily

Image by Max Williams

The aptly named peace lily offers several benefits. The most obvious is its beauty. It has white petals that stand up straight, a symbol of purity and hope. The flower is said to resemble the flag of surrender.

According to Feng Shui, the peace lily is perfect for the home or office because of its harmonious and peaceful energy. It rids the space of negative feelings and conflict.

As another plant on NASA’s list of top air purifiers, it does an exceptional job of removing toxins from the air. It also absorbs moisture in the air that may cause mold and other irritants.

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Originally published at https://kaylynyee.com.

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Writer, travel enthusiast, and human being (not in that order). I help people succeed with engaging, relatable articles about travel and wellness.

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Kaylyn Yee

Writer, travel enthusiast, and human being (not in that order). I help people succeed with engaging, relatable articles about travel and wellness.