Sleep is vital to both our physical and mental health. The restorative process repairs the body, boost energy and supports daytime performance.
Despite the essential role sleep plays in our lives, the majority of Americans aren’t getting enough rest. In fact, an estimated 35 percent of U.S. adults don’t get the recommended amount of sleep per night.
There are a number of reasons you may not be getting enough sleep.
There are several medical and psychological causes of insufficient sleep, including insomnia, sleep apnea and anxiety.
Additionally, your lifestyle might be keeping you awake: poor diets and the lack of a sleep schedule can keep you awake at night.
Fortunately for those of us who often find ourselves tossing and turning late into the night, there are many natural sleep remedies that aren’t disruptive and don’t require medication.
The Sleep-Promoting Power of Plants
Plants have a number of restorative powers.
In fact, studies have shown that just keeping potted plants in your space has the ability to lower blood pressure, raise productivity and increase the overall sense of happiness.
Many indoor houseplants also have qualities that promote sleep. For example, the spider plant has the ability to remove toxins from the air, creating a more effective sleep environment.
Other plants, like lavender, have the ability to calm and ease the mind, making falling asleep easier.
Adding a plant to your bedroom is an effective way to promote better sleep, improve your sense of well-being and liven up your space.
Read on to learn more about the sleep-improving qualities on certain plants, or go to the infographic below to see the 15 most soothing bedroom plants.
Jasmine
One bedroom plant perfect for promoting sleep is jasmine. Inhaling the smell of jasmine before going to bed can lead to reduced sleep movement and greater sleep efficiency.
Additionally, jasmine’s smell can affect your next-day performance as well.
The same study found that people who smelled jasmine’s scent before bed woke up feeling more refreshed and had more energy throughout the day.
Characterized by it’s small, star-shaped flowers, jasmine is a beautiful addition to any bedroom. To grow it in your bedroom, place it where it can receive direct sunlight and water it approximately twice a week.
Lavender
Lavender is a powerhouse plant when it comes to promoting restful sleep. This plant is perfect for people who suffer from insufficient sleep due to anxiety.
Lavender’s scent has the ability to decrease the heart rate, relax the mind and soothe anxiety.
The lavender plant also has the ability to increase deep, or slow-wave, sleep according to a study conducted by the University of Maryland.
Lavender, characterized by long stems and purple buds, thrive in Mediterranean conditions. For best results, keep it in direct sunlight and lean soil.
If you don’t have a green thumb, you can still benefit from the sleep-promoting powers of lavender essential oil.
Snake Plant
For an easy-to-grow indoor plant that helps promote sleep, look to the snake plant. One of NASA’s air-purifying plants, the snake plant has the ability to filter household toxins out of the air. Toxins it can remove include benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene.
The snake plant has thick, stiff leaves. An ideal indoor plant, it can tolerate all levels of light and irregular watering.
Valerian
If you suffer from insomnia, adding the valerian plant to your bedroom is a great way to help promote sleep.
The plant has over 150 chemical constituents that help relax the central nervous system and have been shown to help treat patients with insomnia.
Valerian can be a high-maintenance plant to care for, however. It needs approximately six hours of sunlight a day to thrive, and needs to be watered regularly.
However, dried valerian root, which can be used in teas, is a good alternative.
Gardenia
The classic gardenia is a great bedroom plant for people suffering from anxiety.
According to one study, the plant has the same ability to relax and soothe as anxiety medications containing barbiturates and propofol.
The gardenia is a beautiful flower with smooth, white leaves, but brown thumbs beware—it’s extremely sensitive and difficult to care for.
Sleeps plays a vital role in keeping us healthy.
The restorative process is essential to our overall physical and emotional health. In fact, according to the CDC, insufficient sleep can be extremely dangerous and increase the likelihood of chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, depression and obesity.
Busy lifestyles and demanding responsibilities can make it difficult to get enough sleep. Additionally, medical and lifestyle factors may keep us from getting the amount of sleep we need.
Luckily for the millions of us who don’t get enough sleep at night, there are many natural remedies to promote sleep. One such remedy is putting a plant in your bedroom.
From purifying the air to relaxing the central nervous system, sleep-promoting plants have a number of abilities to improve the quantity and quality of sleep you get.
About The Author
This article was written by Taylor Jones, the director of digital marketing at Soft-Tex International.
