6 Plants That Can Actually Help You Get Better Sleep
by Alli Echelman
When it comes to your health, there are few things that are as important as sleep. Yet for many, getting a good night’s rest can feel like an impossible feat. There are lots of products that help aid with sleep, from essential oils and white noise machines to weighted blankets. But one of the most effective tools is something you probably already have in your home: plants.
Plants can reduce stress, boost your mood, and improve overall wellbeing. Besides the mental impacts, they also create an optimal sleeping environment by increasing humidity levels and improving air quality. In a study conducted by NASA, it was concluded that houseplants can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 24 hours. Now that’s something we can get on board with.
Despite these benefits, there are some who worry that having plants in the bedroom can be dangerous since they release carbon dioxide as part of their respiration process. While this sounds scary, the amount of CO2 they release is so minuscule that it won’t have an adverse impact on you. In fact, humans and animals emit higher amounts of CO2 throughout the night than plants so it is completely safe to sleep next to them.
So now the big question is how to pick the ones that will help you catch those zzz’s? Below, we list our favorite plant picks to help you unwind and get a great night’s sleep. And as a bonus, we also included our selection of plants that provide positive energy so you can take on the day.
Best plants to help you sleep:
Aloe Vera
Generally known as a remedy for healing a bad sunburn, Aloe Vera is great for sleep too. Aloe Vera releases oxygen at night rather than CO2, which cleanses the air to help you breathe easy.
Lavender
Lavender is widely known for having a relaxing, calming scent, which is why it is often found in essential oils, sachets and bath products. A study actually found that smelling lavender promotes more restorative sleep, so placing a lavender plant next to your bed is the perfect thing to help you unwind at the end of the day.
Snake Plant
Not only do Snake Plants convert CO2 into oxygen in the evening, helping to circulate fresh air, they are one of the most purifying plants around. They’re excellent for absorbing nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde, which absolutely no one wants to inhale.
Best plants for positive energy:
Calathea Plant
Calathea’s colorful leaves provide an uplifting pop to any room. But this plant has so much more to offer than just looks; its leaves actually close during the night and reopen in the morning, so they essentially wake up with you. Cool, right?
Peace Lily
This plant’s dark green leaves and gorgeous white flowers dramatically improve air quality by removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia. Now that’s what we call a breath of fresh air.
Lucky Bamboo
As the name suggests, this plant is thought to provide good fortune. According to feng shui, the number of stalks on the plant indicates what type of luck you’ll have. For example, one stalk means a meaningful life, three stalks mean happiness, and seven stalks mean good health.
Want to take the amazing health benefits of plants one step further? Try our EcoSleep mattresses for the ultimate night’s sleep. Made with 100 percent organic EcoPlush Wool, organic cotton and Natural Talalay Latex, this mattress is so cozy you won’t be able to get out of bed. Pair it with one of the plants from our list to transform your room into the zen den of your dreams.
