The stress is real as we enter the middle of spring semester; I know I have been feeling it. Balancing work, school, internships, and a social life can be difficult sometimes, but there are always little things you can do for yourself to get through it. I, myself, choose to practice yoga, drink warm tea every night, and make sure I clear my mind with meditation at least once a day. Among those, there are some less involved things you can do to relieve stress. I am personally a plant lover, and I choose to surround myself with greenery and flowers on the daily because it makes me happy. In this article I will detail some of my favorite plants that also have the benefit of reducing stress.
1. Aloe Vera Plant
The Aloe Vera plant is known to be good for relieving pain from burns and healing other injuries. Throughout history, it has been used for many different medicinal purposes, including, but not limited to, supposedly slowing the spread of breast cancer, to curing heartburn when spread on the chest. Aloe Vera can also be very beneficial to the skin in that it allows for skin hydration which keeps the skin looking fresh and hydrated. The plant is also known to purify the air by removing harmful chemicals, which, in turn, reduces anxiety.
2. Holy Basil
Holy basil is another plant that can be good for reducing anxiety. This plant is known for its ability to be used for medicinal purposes. These purposes range from bronchitis, to eczema, to eye diseases. Basil is also high in nutrition as it has vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, zinc, iron, and chlorophyll. Research has shown that people who eat basil have a reduced stress level along with many other benefits including feeling more awake due to a reduction in sleep problems. There has also been research that has shown that people who take 500 milligrams of basil on a daily basis have shown signs of experiencing less anxiety and depression based on the anti-anxiety and anti-depression properties of the plant.
3. Chamomile
The Chamomile plant is well known for being in the form of tea. Research done in 2016 has shown that people who drink Chamomile tea on a daily basis experience less severe signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder due to the calming properties of the plant. The three main uses for chamomile in medicine are treating anxiety and insomnia, along with reducing inflammation in the body. The plant, when ingested is also known to improve metabolism and easing an upset stomach. Chamomile has calming properties that come from the antioxidant apigenin, which is responsible for the initiation of sleep.
4. Lavender Plant
Lavender is known to be used in herbal medicine specifically to treat many different mental disorders including insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It has also been used to treat things such are headaches, hair loss, and skin irritations. I mainly use Lavender in the form of aromatherapy, meaning I diffuse it into the air which gives a calming scent to the room. The essential oil is also said to reduce anxiety and sleeplessness. On a more physical level, lavender can be massaged into the skin to initiate a calm state of mind and encourage sleep. Many people also use lavender in their hair to treat alopecia which stimulates hair growth.
These are just some of the plants I have around my apartment that help me to move through my day in a tranquil and positive manner. Besides being gorgeous, they also serve a vital purpose to my everyday life!