Buying flowers is a great way to add some personality to your home. But suppose that flowers could also actually help alleviate physical pain? Surprising as it may sound, a new study indicates that these plants could do just that.
A Room With a View
This report was conducted by the American Society for Horticulture Science, and focused on a group of ninety people recovering from appendix removal surgery, or appendectomies. These participants were divided into two groups; one group recovered in rooms adorned with plants, while the other resided in plant-free rooms.
When the study authors followed up with their subjects, they found that the presence of foliage had a notable impact on the patient’s health. Compared to those who rested in rooms with no flowers, the authors found that people who recovered in rooms filled with flowers enjoyed the following benefits:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower heart rate
- Lower self-reported levels of pain, anxiety and fatigue
- Higher levels of satisfaction with their rooms
Seeking Relieve from Stress
In summarizing their report’s conclusions, the study authors wrote that “findings of this research suggest that plants in a hospital environment could be noninvasive, inexpensive, and an effective complementary medicine for patients recovering from abdominal surgery.”
This wasn’t the first study to suggest that flowers could be more than just something to make your home look better. A 2017 study, published in the journal Complementary Therapies In Medicine, asked a group of college-aged women to place a fresh vase of roses in their dorm rooms. Upon adding the flowers to their rooms, the college students found that their overall emotional state improved. Specifically, the women reported less overall stress in their daily lives.
