How can plants cure insomnia and help you sleep better? They help remove toxins and pollutants from the air, improve the air quality, and add oxygen and humidity to the air. What plants are the best ones for your bedroom?
Plants Help You Get Better Sleep
Are you tired of not getting enough sleep? Are you tossing and turning all night? Do you find yourself looking at the clock again? Do you feel like you’re dragging through the day?
All of these conditions are probably because you aren’t sleeping well at night.
If you can get a good night’s sleep, you will have more energy when you wake up. You’ll find yourself being more productive and maybe in a better mood. Think of how your quality of life will improve once you are getting better sleep!
Lack of sleep or insomnia can be caused by everyday stress and anxiety. It might be caused by the air quality inside your home.
What is Indoor Air Quality?
A survey by the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) found that Americans spend 87 percent of their time indoors. That’s a lot of time inside!
The EPA also found that indoor levels of pollutants might be as much as 100 times the levels found outside! This is due to all of the toxins released into the air. The most common toxins in your home are ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene.
These indoor toxins can come from everyday things inside your house: furniture, carpets, building materials, cleaning products, personal care products, and improper maintenance of heating and air conditioning systems. It’s almost guaranteed that you have some level of pollutants in your home leading to an air quality problem.
Poor air quality can impact breathing and lead to sleeplessness. Since we spend so much time indoors, healthy indoor air quality is vital for good health and should be a top priority! Here’s a post about the best indoor plants for cleaner air inside.
How pure is the air inside your house? Can you sleep in it? Perhaps you can create your own fresh air!
WITH PLANTS! Having the right plants can help you sleep better. Plants should be placed in your bedroom. Plants can help cure insomnia and aid in better sleep.
Bring the Plants Inside
Houseplants can naturally absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds from the air, acting as living air purifiers and removing chemical pollutants. As a bonus, houseplants produce oxygen and naturally add humidity to the air. Most houseplants release oxygen into the air during the day through photosynthesis. There are some that release oxygen during the night instead.
While most leafy plants can purify indoor air, some are better than others at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and formaldehyde. VOCs may have short- and long-term adverse health effects and might affect sleep.
However, not all plants are equally good at purifying the air. How can you know which plants are the best?
NASA conducted a Clean Air Study that recommended using plants in the house to help remove contaminants from the air. They ranked 50 plant species by the best for air purifying. There are several subsequent studies that support using houseplants to remove toxins and add oxygen.
They say plants can cure insomnia and aid in better sleep. Plants have been shown to induce sleep and reduce anxiety levels. You will definitely sleep better with one or more of these plants in your bedroom!
We’ve found some plants that might cure insomnia but will definitely help you sleep better. Let’s look at the best of the best houseplants for helping cure insomnia.
These Plants Can Help You Sleep Better
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera (Aloe genus) is a succulent plant species originating from the Arabian Peninsula.
Rich in antioxidants and antibacterial agents, it’s known for its topical benefits, including wound healing and moisturizing skin. Aloe Vera removes toxins like benzene from the air and is one plant that emits oxygen at night. You’ll breathe easier with Aloe Vera in your bedroom.
Aloe Vera is very easy to grow indoors. This plant will definitely pay for its space, as it can serve double duty as an air purifier, medicinal burn relief/moisturizer, and can even make delicious additions to dinner recipes!
Areca Palm
Areca Palms (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), native to Madagascar, are also called Butterfly Palms. These palms are one of the most popular indoor houseplants sold today.
They’re also one of the most efficient houseplants at purifying indoor air. The areca palm removes toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air and acts as a natural air humidifier.
Bamboo Palm
Bamboo Palms (Chamaedorea costaricana), also known as Reed palms, originated from Central and South America. The plant features a bamboo-like clustering trunk pattern and can add a relaxing, tropical feel to any room.
NASA found it to be a plant that fights air pollution and removes smells and toxins from the air. It filters out benzene and trichloroethylene and is excellent at adding humidity back into the air.
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata) is one of the most well-known ferns. It has been a desirable houseplant since Victorian times due to its display versatility. Today, it’s known for its ability to purify the air.
Ranked #9 in NASA’s list of 50 air-purifying plants, Boston Ferns were shown as the most efficient at removing formaldehyde. This plant removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air and adds humidity into the air.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) originated from the tropics and subtropics of Asia.
It is one of the easiest plants you can grow inside. It tolerates poor light, dry air, and drought. In fact, it’s one of the best plants for low light locations and will look great in your bedroom.
Chinese Evergreen removes formaldehyde and cleans the air of air pollutants and toxins. You can look like a plant expert with the resiliency of this plant!
Corn Plant / Mass Cane
Corn Plant or Mass Cane (dracaena fragrans) originated from Africa. Popular for its foliage, it is one of several varieties of Dracaena. It has stalky stems and long, green leaves with green and yellow stripes.
Corn plant or mass cane remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
Dragon Tree
Dragon Trees (dracaena marginata) look a bit like palm tree plants, though they have a unique appearance to them and are a great conversation piece!
They pull trichloroethylene, xylene, and formaldehyde from the air.
English Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing vine. It is an aggressive plant when used outdoors, though can be better controlled when planted indoors, and provides an old English, cottage feel. When used in the house, plan on trailing vines.
NASA listed English Ivy as their #1 best air-purifying plant. It absorbs formaldehyde, fights mold and bad odors, and even removes fecal matter particles from the air.
Gardenia
Gardenia smells so good and will fill your room with its lovely fragrance. NASA determined that jasmine has antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used for natural sedative purposes.
Gardenia contains Crocetin which has been proven to aid with improved sleep quality in one study.
Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera Daisy, (Gerbera Jamesonii) is also known as the Transvaal or Barberton Daisy. They originate from South Africa and are available in a variety of sizes and colors and can easily cheer up any home.
NASA recommended using gerbera daisies to clean the air of trichloroethylene, commonly found in dry cleaning. The Gerbera daisy also releases oxygen into the air.
Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also known as devil’s ivy, is a trailing vine with pointed leaves that are shaped like hearts. Native to the Solomon Islands, there are several varieties with different colors of leaf variegation.
Golden Pothos is often mistaken for Philodendron, but the Pothos has larger waxy leaves. The Golden Pothos can be used to create a cozy, cottagey feel in your bedroom. It looks great as a hanging plant in a basket or macramé.
These plants are good for removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene from the air.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a bushy plant that has white or pink flowers and a refreshing scent.
Jasmine acts as a mild sedative. It reduces anxiety levels and has been shown to work as a natural sleeping aid. The smell of jasmine can be as calming as valium according to this study. Plus, it has been shown to help give you a better quality of sleep once you get to sleep.
Keep a jasmine plant in your bedroom and you’ll experience more restful nights!
Lavender
What is everyone’s favorite natural potpourri? Lavender!
Lavender is known for its relaxant properties. Inhale its scent and feel soothed and less stressed.
Studies have shown the efficacy of lavender as a sleep aid. It eases anxiety and insomnia and increases slow-wave sleep during which the heartbeat slows and muscles relax.
And lavender’s beautiful flowers make a nice addition to your bedroom décor.
Place a lavender plant by your bedside and cure your insomnia. Sleep better!
Peace Lily
Native to tropical rainforests of America, Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) are not true lilies (lilium spp.) but are a member of the same family (Aracheae) as Calla Lilies. The white flower features a hood-like sheath which resembles a white flag of surrender. Hence, the “Peace” name. The Peace Lily is in the NASA Top 10 Household Air Cleaning Plants. It is very resilient, so if you forget to water it, it will spring back quickly once you remember!
NASA’s superstar Peace Lilies will filter out benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, acetone, and xylene. They will also increase moisture in the air by 5%! This will help your slumber and maybe even cure insomnia.
Snake Plant
The Snake Plant (Sansaveria trifasciate) is a succulent native to West Africa, Madagascar, and southern Asia that can easily be grown by even the brownest of thumbs. It is an architectural plant with upright leaves that is used for interior design. There are around 70 different species of Snake Plant, though Mother-in-law’s Tongue is one of the more interesting to look at, with a yellow border on the leaves.
Snake Plants are one of the best indoor plants at removing formaldehyde. They also remove trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and benzene from the air. They suck in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen at night.
All snake plants are recommended as a pollutant filter that will also improve oxygen purity in your bedroom.
Spider Plant
One of the most adaptable and very prolific plants is the Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum. The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container. Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or spiderettes, that form on their dangling stems.
NASA tests showed that spider plants remove around 90% of formaldehyde from the air. That’s pretty good, but they also remove benzene, carbon monoxide, and xylene.
Spider plants are good candidates to hang from the ceiling. Have at least one in your bedroom to cleanse the air, remove odors and fumes, and help sustain oxygen levels. Sleep tight!
Valerian
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, valerian is a tall, flowering plant. The flowers smell wonderful and can waft through your bedroom.
Valerian is known for its sleep-inducing properties, and it relaxes muscles and the central nervous system. You can make a valerian root tea to drink before bedtime to relax you and help you sleep, or you can have the plant by your bedside. Breathing up its scent will make you drowsy and help speed you into a natural sleep.
Want to Sleep Better?
Plants will cure insomnia and help you get better sleep. Add house plants to your bedroom and enjoy their beauty and fresher air around you. Plants are natural air purifiers that reduce pollutants, providing a simple way to help keep your home healthy. Healthier air will help you sleep better and help cure insomnia!
I hope you are able to incorporate some of these plant recommendations into your bedroom space. They are beautiful, easy to care for, and will add a healthy touch to your lives!
If you want to explore different types of pots for your plants, here’s our post about planters and pots.
* Where can you get these house plants?
Each indoor plant listed is available at Amazon.com. I have added the links for your convenience.