Tony O’Neill, gardener and author of the popular “Composting Masterclass” and “Your First Vegetable Garden,” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify the art of gardening. His mission? Helping you cultivate a thriving garden.
This article may contain affiliate links. We get paid a small commission from your purchases. More Affiliate Policy
Succulents are increasingly used in hospital recovery rooms to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment and help patients heal.
Every university has explored plant benefits at some point, providing empirical evidence of what plant lovers already knew. Succulents, in particular, have extensive health benefits in their sap and effect on learning, moods, relationships, and mental health.
Table of Contents
Studies Confirming the Health Benefits of Succulents
Below is a list of 10 study outcomes from various universities showing the benefits of plants.
- Being around plants helps people concentrate better at home and in the workplace.
- Having flowers around the home and office significantly improves people’s moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression.
- The presence of plants in hospital recovery rooms and views of aesthetically-pleasing gardens help patients to heal faster.
- Research shows that people who spend extended lengths of time around plants tend to have better relationships with others.
- Children who spend time around plants learn better.
- Many medicinal properties of trees and foliage plants.
- Studies have proven that people who spend more time outside nature have better mental health and a more positive outlook.
- People associate beautifully landscaped areas with a higher quality of life.
- Studies show that people who spend time cultivating plants have less stress in their lives.
- Gardening can act as therapy for people who have undergone trauma.
Plants are pivotal to our survival and are our source of food, fiber, medicine, and building materials. Their effect on the atmosphere, pedosphere, and biosphere make our survival possible—their intangible impact on our lives fringes on the inexplicable.
They teach us resilience, the ability to go beyond surviving to thrive, even when the odds are stacked against us. For millennia people have brought plants indoors, extending plant care to an art form.
Physically, plants purify the air in buildings, an essential requirement for the Space Station.
Some succulents, in particular, provide nocturnal air cleansing as they don’t breathe during the heat of the day, keeping their stomata sealed to prevent water loss.
People’s ability to tolerate pain better, feel less stressed, and be more productive have all been linked to interior plants. Let’s dive into how succulents are good for you.
Succulents Purify the Air
In 1989 NASA released a study of plants they planned to use for air purification. The list is provided below.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Bamboo Palm | Chamaedorea seifritzii |
| Chinese Evergreen | Aglaonema modestum |
| English Ivy | Hedera helix |
| Ficus | Fiscus benjamina |
| Gerbera Daisy | Gerbera jamesonii |
| Janer Craig | Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ |
| Margianta | Dracaena marginata |
| Mass Cane / Corn Cane | Dracaena massangeana |
| Mother-in-Laws Tongue | Sansevieria laurentii |
| Peace Lily | Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’ |
| Pot Mum | Chrysanthemum morifolium |
| Warneckei | Dracaena deremensis |
It’s interesting to note that the Dracaena species is related to agave and have succulent roots, making them quite indestructible yet great pollutant removers.
Snake plants routinely remove 87 percent of volatile organic pollutants, including formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxides, according to studies, including those carried out by NASA.
The Healing Powers of Succulents
Due to their healing abilities, numerous succulents have been utilized throughout history to cure medical conditions such as cuts, burns, stomachaches, and more. Succulents used for healing include:
Agave
Because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics, agave has long been used to treat cuts and burns and hasten wound healing. People in Central America utilize agave for toothaches, menstruation issues, stomach ulcers, and jaundice.
Aloe
Many people consume aloe vera to help with stomach issues since it has a reputation for reducing inflammation, particularly in the digestive tract. Its gel is a typical ingredient in face creams and body lotions and has many positive effects on the skin.
Stonecrops
Some succulents, such as the leafy succulents known as stonecrops, can decrease high blood pressure. Simply consuming enough of its leaves can reduce blood pressure.
Yucca
Historically, yucca was applied to heal dry cuticles and calm cuts and scratches. Saponins, which are chemical substances with anti-inflammatory qualities, are found in yucca plants.
Herbalists and healers advise boiling the roots for around 30 minutes and drinking the resulting tea to ease pain from inflammatory illnesses like arthritis,
Succulents Improve Concentration and Productivity
Numerous research on students and employees have concluded that having plants in the room while studying or working increases focus, alertness, and mental capacity.
According to a University of Michigan research, the presence of plants increased memory retention by as much as 20%. Small plants like succulents, which don’t take up much space on your desk, are particularly helpful at the office.
Succulents are Simple to Maintain
Succulents are incredibly forgiving of neglect. Select a plant species that matches your environment (low-light succulents for indoors and sun-loving succulents for outdoors).
Succulents can quickly adjust to changes in their environment. They are more likely to live with lots of sunlight and little water because they originate from desert areas. However, they quickly become accustomed to the conditions when introduced to humid and rainy environments.
Succulents Lower Stress
According to studies, taking care of your plants can lower your blood pressure, calm you down, and help you recover from the stress of the day’s cerebral workload.
Succulents are low-maintenance and difficult-to-destroy plants, so they might even help you feel less stressed than other houseplants. Following our instructions for succulents will make taking care of them a snap.
Succulents allow Creativity
Nowadays, succulents are widely available. They can be used in various inventive ways because they typically grow in any climate. Succulents can be used to beautify a space with very little work, from coffee shop showpieces to wall hangings.
Succulents may withstand challenging conditions for an extended period before they perish, even if they are transferred or repotted in the wrong location. Given the proper care, these plants can continue to grow and flourish.
They are a perfect plant choice for exquisite arrangements and designs because of their unique features in various configurations and patterns.
In Closing
Succulents are excellent and good for you. Check the list I started with and follow the link to find hundreds of studies showing their benefits. Get yourself one, and you’ll soon have a collection that will enrich your life beyond what you ever imagined.
If you found value in this article, subscribe to the blog for all future updates. You can do that below.
[mailerlite_form form_id=5] [mailerlite_form form_id=5]