Amazing Benefits Of Some Plants, By Stanley Ugagbe

Often time, most of us only see plants as beautifiers and shades for our environment. Little did we know that most plants have lots of amazing benefits to human beings. Today, we bring you a collection of some plants with crucial benefits.

1. Lavender

It is a flowering plant in the mint family that’s easily identified by its sweet floral scent. It’s believed to be native to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India, with a history dating as far back as 2,500 years. Lavender has lots of benefits that human beings can tap from. Among others, it has the following benefits.

a) It helps to improve sleep: A study published in March 2017 in the British Association of Critical Nurses found lavender essential oil to be an effective remedy in improving the sleep quality of intensive care unit (ICU) patients who had difficulty sleeping. All you need to do is to place a few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow before going to sleep. Just be sure not to ingest it, or any other essential oil, for that matter, as doing so may pose health harms.

b) Research has also said it could help treat skin blemishes. It is said if you have acne, eczema, or skin inflammation, applying lavender oil to affected areas may play a role in treating blemishes and ease inflammation, according to a paper published in May 2017 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

c) It helps to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. A small study published in 2017 in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research found that when 40 people inhaled lavender essential oil after open-heart surgery, they reduced their blood pressure and heart rate, suggesting the oil had a positive effect on their vital signs.

d) It has also discovered that it lessens menopausal hot flashes. According to a study published in September 2016 in the Journal of Chinese Medical Association, lavender aromatherapy for 20 minutes twice a day may help reduce menopause flashing and improve quality of life.

e) Remarkably, it potentially promotes hair growth. A study revealed that lavender essential oil applied to the backs of mice once a day, five times a week, for four weeks, resulted in an increase in their number of hair follicles and a thicker dermal layer. This leads researchers to believe that lavender could potentially be used as a hair growth promoting agent, though more research is needed.

2. English Ivy

Also known as Hedera helix, English ivy is an evergreen perennial. It is also classified as a woody vine. English ivy can act as a ground cover, spreading horizontally and reaching 8 inches in height. It has the following benefits among others.

a) Great medicinal plant: A study by the Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, India, said hedera helix extract is potent against inflammation and arthritis. It also contains antioxidants and has antiallergic and antispasmodic properties. It can also reduce cough and found useful in asthma, allergies, and bronchitis. It is applied to the skin to treat burns, infection, joint pain, swelling, and nerve pain.

b) It has been found that it improves air-quality. It is said to be one of the best air-purifying plants. Research has shown that it can remove VOCs like benzene, toluene, octane, and trichloroethylene. It is a great plant to improve respiratory health, especially for people who are suffering from allergies and asthma.

c) English Ivy humidifies indoor air. According to research, it has one of the highest transpiration rates, which immensely boosts the humidity levels of a small room. It also reduces carbon monoxide from the indoor air.

d)  It has also been said that it is a late season source of nectars for the bees. During Autumn, the outdoor ivy plant will produce yellow flowers, rich in nectar which becomes a source of food for bees and other beneficial insects.

e) Remarkably, It keeps your home cool in summers & warm in winters. A test carried out by the Oxford University found that ivy kept the homes 36% cooler in summers and 15% warmer in winters!

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum, usually called spider plant but also known as spider ivy is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant. It is native to tropical and southern Africa, but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including western Australia. It has the following benefits.

a) Air purification: The plant which can be used to clean the air in your home or office, work by getting rid of formaldehyde, a chemical that is emitted from furniture and building materials. They have been shown to remove up to 95% of toxins commonly found in homes like fuming solvents, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylenes, and ammonia.

 

b) Increase humidity: Research have shown that if spider plants are placed near an open window, you will notice that there is more condensation on the windows.

 

c). Spider plants are edible. Their edibility nature makes them great for indoor and outdoor gardens.

 

d) Spider plants are therapeutic. It has been gathered that they are therapeutic because they offer so many benefits including reducing depression, anxiety, anger, and tension. In one study, it was found that adding spider plants in hospital wards reduced stress levels in patients.

 

e) They absorb ozone. It should be noted that ozone is a colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms and is created by the reaction between sunlight, water vapor, NOx (nitrogen oxide) or SOx (sulfur oxide), collectively called oxides of nitrogen. It can be harmful to human health if breathed in high concentrations for long periods of time. Spider plants can absorb ozone from the air because of their ability to breathe through the leaves as well as having a porous structure that allows for gas exchange.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, also called Aloe barbadensis, is a thick, short-stemmed plant that stores water in its leaves. It is best known for treating skin injuries, but it also has several other uses that could potentially benefit health.

a) It contains healthful plant compounds. Researchers have stated that each leaf contains a slimy tissue that stores water, and this makes the leaves thick. This water filled tissue is the “gel” that people associate with aloe vera products. The gel contains most of the beneficial bioactive compounds in the plant, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.

b) It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Its antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties are part of why it may help heal wounds and treat skin problems.

c) It accelerates wound healing. The United States Pharmacopeia describe aloe vera preparations as a skin protectant as early as 1810-1820. Studies suggest that it is an effective topical treatment for first and second degree burns..

d) It helps treat canker sores. Multiple researches have shown that aloe vera treatment can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers.

e) It may improve skin and prevent wrinkles. Some preliminary evidence to suggest that topical aloe vera gel can slow aging of the skin. Other evidences also suggest that aloe vera could help the skin retain moisture and improve skin integrity, which could benefit dry skin conditions.

Jasmine

Wildly popular and cultivated for its fragrance, Jasmine is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family. Its flowers are mostly white, however, there are species that bear yellow ones and some rare species with pink flowers. Among others, it has the following benefits:

a) Relaxes and Relieves Stress. Jasmine flowers are notable for their enchanting fragrance. If you have a jasmine plant indoors, then its smell can relax you in no time. This plant can soothe you, eliminating stress with its great fragrance.

b) It is great for skin. Have stretch marks and scars? Crush jasmine flowers and apply its paste with coconut oil on the affected area to tone the skin and enhance its elasticity. Its essential oil has ketone, which carries the same amazing smell as the flowers. Using its essential oil in the bath also softens and moisturizes the skin.

c) It has antiseptic properties which makes it a natural wound healer. It has benzyl benzoate, benzoic acid, and benzaldehyde, all three of which are antiseptics. The application of its fresh oil on minor wounds and cuts will offer instant relief.

d) It helps in weight loss. Inclusion of tender jasmine flowers in tea helps to manage weight. Just boil few flowers in hot water along with tea leaves and including it in your diet, three times a day, aids in metabolism.

e). Jasmine oil is also an effective emmenagogue, which helps to ease out pain experienced during menstruation. Mixing a few drops of jasmine essential oil along with sesame oil and rubbing it on lower abs greatly reduces the pain.  It is also helpful in Diabetes – the presence of bioactive catechins in Jasmine tea promotes the production of pancreatic B-cells which play a vital role in converting the starch that we consume on a daily basis, to glucose. Also, According to a Japanese study, the aroma of the jasmine plant has sedative qualities that promote stress-free sleep. So, having one in your bedroom is the best way to have a goodnight’s sleep!

Gardenia

It is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Madagascar and Pacific Islands, and Australia. Some of its benefits include:

a) It helps fight inflammatory diseases and obesity. It is been found that Gardenia’s essential oil contains many antioxidants that fight free radical damage, plus two compounds called geniposide and genipin that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory actions. Also, it could help reduce high cholesterol, insulin resistance/glucose intolerance and liver damage, potentially offering some protection against diabetes, heart disease and liver disease.

b) May help reduce depression and anxiety. It has been discovered that the smell of gardenia flowers is known to promote relaxation and help people who are feeling wound up de-stress. One study out of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that the extract (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects via instant enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the limbic system (the “emotional center” of the brain).

c). It could help reduce fatigue and pain (headaches, cramps, etc.) Multiple sources have it that Gardenia extract, oil and tea are used to fight pains, aches and discomfort associated with headaches, PMS, arthritis, injuries including sprains and muscle cramps. Also, it’s been found that it can improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and help deliver more oxygen and nutrients to parts of the body that need healing. 

d) It can help improve cognition and protect memory. This benefit was affirmed by a study published in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. Two major components found within gardenia extracts, geniposide and gardenoside, seemed to help suppress the expression of immune-related genes in the brain, meaning they have anti-inflammatory effects that address the underlying mechanisms of memory deficits.

e) Fights infections and protects wounds. The plant contains many natural antibacterial, antioxidant and antiviral compounds. It is been recommended that to fight colds, respiratory/sinus infections and congestion, try inhaling gardenia essential oil, rubbing it over your chest, or using some in a diffuser or face steamer.