Useful Properties Of Indoor Plants

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

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Flowers in the house are useful and necessary (part 2)

During this period (60-80s of the last century) a group of scientists from the Central Republican Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, headed by Academician A. M. Grodzinsky, developed a new range of plants for home and office. From a huge variety of tropical and subtropical plants, species were selected that not only decorated the interior, but also had a positive effect on people who spend most of their time indoors.

The result of painstaking work has become a new understanding of the impact of different types of plants on human health. As a result of many years of work in 1985, the publishing house "Naukova Dumka" published a voluminous reference book "Ornamental plants of open and closed ground" under the general editorship of A. M. Grodzinsky. It contained a description of over 4330 species, varieties, forms and varieties of ornamental plants recommended for use in various forms of outdoor and indoor landscaping.

In the course of research, it turned out that many plant species in the process of their vital activity release into the surrounding space special volatile substances that destroy pathogens. In the early 30s of the XX century they were called "phytoncides", and this term was used until the 70s. Later, scientists recognized the term "volatile phytoorganic substances" (LPOV) as more correct. According to modern views of biologists, plants synthesize and release into their environment various organic compounds: alcohols, esters, terpenes, phenols. These substances destroy pathogenic microorganisms that saturate the air in the closed rooms of our homes (viruses, fungi, bacteria, protozoa) or significantly inhibit their growth and reproduction. By choosing the right composition of plants for rooms where people are, on average,12 out of 24 hours a day, you can significantly clean the air of rooms and offices from harmful microflora, make it useful for health. Even a special area of science is developing - medical phytodesign.

As a result of many years of research by domestic and foreign scientists, it has been established that the presence of many species of common flowering plants in the premises saves us from infectious and viral diseases, which account for about 60% of all pathological conditions in humans. Among the most pathogens in the air, soil, water, in the human body are staphylococci, which easily cause suppuration at the slightest injury to the skin and mucous membranes. Against staphylococci, ruelia, sanchetia, arum, dieffenbachia, myrtle, psidium and other plant species are effective only by their presence in the house.

Streptococci are actively opposed by begonias, aglaonema, euonymus, anthurium. Evergreens are especially effective against E. coli in the air: cherry laurel, resin seed, laurel, and also poncirus.

Pathogenic bacteria Klebsiella can cause pneumonia, purulent and fibrinous pleurisy, pericarditis, meningitis, sinusitis and other diseases in humans. Fragrant herbs (monarda, mint, lavender, hyssop, sage) growing in rooms or standing in dry bouquets; their essential oils used in aroma lamps suppress the vital functions of these pathogens.

As for microscopic fungi, about 400 of their species are now known to cause various diseases in humans. Yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida are especially common, which cause an extremely unpleasant and difficult to treat disease candidiasis (thrush). But these fungi are very sensitive to essential oils and other volatile compounds released into the air by essential oil plants: lavender, myrtle, rosemary, mint and others.

It should be borne in mind that essential oil plants have not only a direct effect on pathogens. The ancient healers of the Egyptians, Greeks, Hindus and most of the Eastern peoples knew about their role in maintaining mood, restoring strength during overwork, relaxing and calming a person. Since then, there is a vast experience in the use of incense, as in the old days the composition of these aromatic substances was called, and now it is used in aromatherapy. So the cultivation of any fragrant plants in the house brings invaluable benefits to its inhabitants. In the most brief form, the effects of various essential oils can be represented as follows.

For insomnia, use oils of basil, chamomile, clary sage, lavender, marjoram, orange, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, neroli, bergamot.

For colds - oils of eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, pine, tea tree, thyme.

Overwork: oils of bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, lemon balm, neroli, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang.

Research by specialists in scientific centers made it possible to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the impact of various plant species on pathogenic microflora. The ability of some plant species to reduce the level of microbial cells in the air can be represented as follows.

80%: begonia, myrtle, rosemary.

70%: anthurium, dieffenbachia, euphorbia, pellionia, pilea, sansevier, sanchezia, sequoia, fat women, tradescantia, thuja, eucalyptus.

60%: aucuba, cypress, oleander, epipremnum (scindapsus).

50%: aglaonema, euonymus (evonimus), honeysuckle, viburnum, coleus, magnolia, boxwood, resin seed (pittosporum), cissus (indoor grape).

40%: aloe, duranta (evergreen shrub of the Verbenov family), figs, lavender, laurel, cherry laurel, ficus.

35% ivy.

30%: agave, agapanthus, ofiopogon, tetrastigma (large liana).

20%: privet (open field shrub, similar to lilac).

15%: medlar (evergreen tree or shrub with edible fruits).

The most effective in suppressing and destroying most types of pathogenic microorganisms were: aglaonema, akalifa, aucuba, euonymus, pelargonium (geranium), hibiscus, hyssop, cypress, coleus, lavender, laurel, lemon balm, myrtle, monarda, mint, ivy, primrose, rosemary, boxwood, sansevier, thuja, cissus, sage, eucalyptus, epipremnum (scindapsus)

It turns out that the most common flowers not only decorate the house, but also strengthen our health. Based on the data obtained, to disinfect the air in a room with a size of 15-25 m2, it is enough to have 5-7 well-developed plants from the ones listed above in it, in accordance with your taste.