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For the Love of

Biophilic Design Part 1

3 Reasons why plants are good for you

If you’re reading this, then you’ll Diversion theory also comes into play There are a mass of chemicals that are
already be a plant lover. You’ll also here, having something else to focus hidden in the paint we use, the cushions
know that Biophilic Design is the your mind on away from the stressful and chairs we sit on, the clothes we wear,
practice of implementing biophilia situation helps you recharge and gives the carpets we walk on… it can cause
into design, whether that’s interior you respite. Having a pot plant next everything from coughs, allergies, skin
design, urban planning, architecture to you on your desk while you work, problems, dry eyes, right down to cancers
or any other field of design. You really helps. and inflammatory diseases of the respira-
know “biology” is the “law of life”, tory tract.
“biophilia” is the “love of life, of liv- Following on from this point.
ing things”. It refers to our need to Way back in the 1980s a NASA study
surround ourselves with nature and Plants help concentration and focus showed that plants would help people
natural things, if we cut ourselves off living in a confined space for long periods
from that our wellbeing suffers, not In a study with students showed that of time and also the adverse is true that it
only our physical health but also our real plants brought about a significant is not possible to survive without contact
minds are impacted too. decrease in theta waves of the frontal with nature. It concludes which plants
lobe” which shows there are is an im- clean the air more than others, for in-
Of course, plants add life and energy provement in the attention and con- stance English Ivy, Peace Lily, Parlour and
to a space but here are five positive centration of these students. Also the Lady Palm, chrysanthemum morifolium.
reasons to bring more plants into presentation of the living plants was There are others, but these are like the su-
your workplace and home. associated with “more positive mood per heroes of the plant world, they seem
states, such as feelings of comfort and to the best at removing various volatile
Plants help reduce stress and en- naturalness”. organics and other chemicals such as for-
courage self-care maldehyde, benzene, ammonia, xylene,
The psychological benefit of hav- And finally probably the most impor- trichloroethylene variously linked to can-
ing plants in your office and home tant one: cer, anaemia, nausea, tiredness, etc found
is quite profound. Not only having in plywood, glues, cleaning products etc.
something to care for stimulates Plants clean the air, absorb carbon
compassion, it also prompts self-care dioxide and toxins You may have Dr Vanessa Champion
and a knock-on effect in caring for heard of the “sick building syndrome” Editor Journal of Biophilic Design /
what you’re doing (whether that’s where the actual building we live and The Space Doctors
finishing the report you’re work- work in is making us sick. www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com
ing on or running your side hustle www.thespacedoctors.com
‘Plants help reduce stress’
alongside).
If you are working in or living in a
stressful environment, you might
be interested in learning that there
have been many studies showing
how tending plants (even on an al-
lotment or window boxes) can really
help your mental wellbeing. 12
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