Are there benefits of indoor plants on human health? Absolutely! They can transform your home into an inviting sanctuary and bring the outdoors in, which are proven to improve your physical and mental wellness. According to the EPA, we spend about 90% of our time indoors, more than ever before. This increases our exposure to household air pollution, heightening our chances for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes. If you cannot get outside in nature or want “plant insurance” against these diseases, you can easily reap the advantages of indoor plants.

Health Benefits of Indoor Plants
Having indoor plants can be helpful in many different areas of our lives. Let us count the multiple benefits of plants indoors!

Better Air Quality: Lack of proper ventilation can leave homes with mold and mildew or cause volatile organic compounds from cleaning products and paint to linger in the air, causing poor air quality in your home. In 1989, NASA conducted a study that indicated house plants and soil remove up to 87% of formaldehyde, benzene, and other cancer-causing chemicals from the air within 24 hours. More recent studies back this data with findings that plants have the ability to remove other VOCs (volatile organic compounds), as well. Trying to figure out where to start? Get Aloe Vera, Areca Palms, Bamboo, Boston Ferns, Spider Plants, Ficus or Rubber Tree which effectively help remove airborne toxins. Other major oxygen-producing plants include Weeping Figs, Dwarf Date and Lady Palms, Gerbera Daisies, Golden Pathos, Money Plants, Peace Lilies, and Snake Plants. While plants scrub the air to remove indoor pollutants and contaminants, remember to use a gentle exfoliating cleanser one to three times per week, depending on your skin type, to do the same for your skin!

Better Mental Health: Welcoming nature inside our homes creates a peaceful environment that promotes wellness and enables people to recharge their batteries better. Here are just a few of the mental health benefits of indoor plants:

• Improved moods: Microorganisms in the soil of potted plants are found to offer anti-depressive effects. Participants in a Scandinavian study reported enhanced feelings of well-being after exposure to indoor plants, which exceeded the positive feelings of those not exposed. Doctors in England are even prescribing plants for this reason! So, if depression makes you not want to leave the house, try to muster up an indoor garden, which is found to help ease symptoms of mental illness, anxiety, dementia, and depression.

Just ask a long-term gardener, and they will attest to the wonderful mood-boosting effects of horticultural therapy.

• Less Stress: Interacting with houseplants for just 15 minutes can reduce stress! A study conducted in 2015 discovered that the simple act of repotting an indoor plant reduced study participants’ physiological and psychological stress, relaxing minds, and bodies. This interaction was credited with helping reduce heart rates, blood pressure, and stress hormone (cortisol) levels. They also reported feeling more comfortable overall while working with plants than on a computer.

Plants are also recognized for suppressing our body's fight-or-flight response, the autonomic nervous system response, and related stress. Plus, engaging in the purposeful physical act of caring for plants helps cement your commitment to stress reduction. Becoming a plant parent by caring for plants and watching them grow and flourish can be extremely rewarding and boost self-esteem.

Better Physical Health: Want to get over an ailment quicker? Get some plants! Research shows that simply looking at flowers and plants may shorten your recovery time after illness, injury, or surgery and even allow you to take less pain medication after surgery.

Better Cognitive Health: Spending time with plants is also proven to sharpen focus and attention while improving short-term memory and aiding recovery from mental fatigue.

Better Productivity: Studies have discovered that indoor plants are found to increase productivity by up to 15%! If you are looking for ways to boost your work performance, creativity, and attitude in the office, start by bringing in a plant. Additional benefits of indoor plants in the workplace are better job satisfaction and dedication to your company, combined with less job anxiety, stress, and sick days. Who knew there were so many benefits of indoor plants in office settings?

Healthy Indoor Plants Ideas Think outside the box of standard houseplants by growing an indoor herb garden with these beneficial plants:

• Lavender: One of the best indoor plants for air purification and relaxation, this soothing botanical can improve well-being during the day and sleep at night. It offers calming aromatherapy that helps reduce anxiety and stress. It is also reported to help minimize depression and migraines. As a bonus, it acts as a natural insect repellent and can help keep fleas, mosquitos, moths, and ticks out of your home.
• Make yourself a relaxing cup of Lavender tea and drink it before bedtime for a restful slumber. Then, boost its effects with these Pevonia natural skin care products featuring lavender essential oil, extracts, and other essential oils to relieve stress and anxiety:

• Spa Care For Him Collection
• De-Stress Escape Aromatic Oil
• BodyRenew Jasmine & Lavender Bath Essentials
• Soothing Propolis Concentrate
• Hyaluronic Acid HydraMist
• Anti-Stress Bath & Shower Gel
• Dry Oil Body Moisturizer

• Rosemary: This fragrant herb helps relieve tension and stress levels, plus improves clarity, insight, fatigue, mental activity, and respiratory function. Keep it in the kitchen as it wonderfully flavors poultry, fish, lamb, pork, and other meats, casseroles, soups, and stews.

Follow these steps for a head-to-toe Rosemary experience:
Step 1: Shampoo, conditioner, and revitalize your scalp and strands with our Hair Energize products for thinning hair.
Step 2: Wash your face with our natural cleanser for oily skin, t-zone shine, and make-up wearers.
Step 3: Exfoliate and cleanse the skin on your body with our Silky Skin Body Scrub.
Step 4: Moisturize with the ProCorrective® Clear-Control Moisturizer or other Pevonia moisturizer according to skin type and concern.
Step 5: Step out in comfort by massaging in our Tension Relief Gel to soothe aches, soreness, and fatigue.

• Sage: This herb offers antiseptic, astringent, and anti-bacterial properties with an invigorating and stimulating aroma. It is also reported to reduce redness and irritation and is featured in the Phyto-Gel Cleanser - making it suitable for the entire family. Plus, it goes great with winter squash, stuffing, and sausage dishes!

• Basil: Another herb in the Phyto-Gel Cleanser, the leaves provide stimulating, tonic, and purifying effects, making them ideal for those with oily and combination skin. And there is nothing like fresh Basil in pasta, pizza, or marinara sauce.

• Thyme: Not just great for seasoning foods, this herb has antioxidants, antiseptic, circulation stimulating, and calming properties that make it excellent for staying healthy. Thyme extract is shown to inhibit 99% of bacteria and fungi growth in 30 seconds. Because of its phenomenal purifying effects and capacity to help reduce scarring, it is used in our ProCorrective® Clear-Control Blemish Treatment and Clear-Control Moisturizer to help manage breakouts.

You can also branch out with an attractive plant stand, hanging shelves, or create a vertical garden to incorporate these healthy plants into your home:

• Rose: If you love roses, you will be happy to know that nearly all types of roses thrive indoors. And with their aromatherapeutic ability to assuage depression and anxiety, and the potential of rose essential oil to minimize PMS symptoms, they could be your new best friend. While some varieties can survive with artificial light, they will do well in a sunny corner or near a window. Cannot get enough roses? Our RS2 Collection and De-Stress Escape Aromatic Oil are infused with its beautiful, calming aroma.

• Ivy: An excellent plant to grow indoors, Ivy has the potential to purify the air. If you want to take advantage of its cleansing effects, use our Phyto-Gel Cleanser with this pore-clearing extract.

• Aloe Vera: One of the highest oxygen-producing plants, Aloe Vera is an exceptional air-purifying plant, making it a no-brainer to grow indoors. Its skin-repairing abilities can come in handy when you burn yourself on the stove or get minor nicks or cuts.

Spritz on its soothing goodness with our Sensitive Skin Lotion, Hyaluronic Acid HydraMist, or Phyto-Aromatic Mist. Or, try the face moisturizer products in our Essentials Collection for skin prone to sensitivity, t-zone shine, and dryness, the Power Repair® Firming Marine Elastin Cream, and Hydrating Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40. And for your body, check out our Silky Skin Body Scrub and Dry Oil Body Moisturizer.

• Lemon: Many people are unaware that small lemon trees can also be grown indoors. They can purify the air and provide a dose of antioxidant Vitamin C to help protect against free radicals when squeezed into water, tea, or over your fish and other foods.

They also contain fiber and compounds that may minimize the chances of developing anemia, cancer, digestive issues, heart disease, and kidney stones. Lemon Oil and Extract in our Micro-Retinol® Collection and Myoxy-Caviar® Timeless Repair Collection will give you more of its uplifting effects throughout the day. Want to maximize results for your healthiest skin ever? Boost skin health with an in-depth consultation for your ideal products and professional treatments. For more of the above plant goodness, visitFind A Spa for an oasis near you offering Pevonia and ask for the BodyRenewTM Jasmine & Lavender Pure Splendor, SkinFit Myoxy-Caviar® Facial Treatment For Him, Peel & Recapture Micro-Retinol®Treatment, Myoxy-Caviar® Mask Treatment, or RS2 Rosacea Mask Treatment.