Growing up, I didn’t have much in common with my grandparents with the exception of a deep love, respect, and fascination for houseplants which I shared with my paternal grandmother. As a young child I would regularly visit each of her many plants. I didn’t really think why I was so drawn to them, but I was.
Working as a healer now, I believe I intuitively knew that plants were far more than what meets the eye, although I was every bit attracted to their unique beauty. Plants are healers as well. Our ancestors knew this and used them regularly to cure ailments whether by steeping them for teas, bandaging with poultices, extracting their oils to use topically or smoking them for purification purposes. Today almost everyone uses plants in some medicinal way, consciously or otherwise, from drinking herbal teas to aromatherapy.
Plants also have another less known but invaluable perk, that of the air purifier. Having had issues with a myriad of allergies and intolerances which seem never to plateau, I decided with my last move four and a half years ago, that I needed further support my health as much as humanly possible. When I bought my condo, it was but a sketch, so as much as I was excited to move into a new, freshly constructed building I was equally concerned with the possible adverse reactions to all the toxins emitted by the building materials as well as all my new furnishings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency our homes are three to five times more polluted than the air outside. Frightening reality to be sure, and let’s be honest, our outside air is really not that healthy, especially in cities.
Building materials such as paints and lacquers emit xylene. Trichloroethylene is found in adhesives and formaldehyde is emitted from upholstery, and in my case, would be concentrated seeing that I was going to furnish entirely new as well. A fresh start with, ahem… a not so fresh environment. This is when I delved deeper into the benefits of plants for air purification. I read a variety of articles including several articles published about plants used by NASA for air purification in their space shuttles. I immediately set about purchasing a dozen or so plants for my new home, eight of which were on their list. I have since added a half dozen others and I am happy to say that I never experienced any adverse effects living here.
In a world where so much feels out of control, where pollution continues to propagate exponentially, it is comforting to know that we have some means by which to protect our health, to be proactive. So, I encourage you all to take in some green friends, of course, only if you have, a green thumb or are willing to learn. There is nothing sadder than plants left to slowly die off. Love them, and they love you back tenfold.
For those looking for additional support for their overall health then by all means book a Reiki session with me.
May green be with you,
Michelle Rose
I would love to hear about the plants that you have adopted for the purpose of supporting your health and well-being. Please leave me your comments below. Thank you.
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