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Fukien tea tree (Tsaang Gubat)
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
Garlic •
Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
Fukien tea tree (Tsaang Gubat): - Ehretia microphylla Lam
Grown throughout the Philippines, Tsaang Gubat is a shrub growing to about 5 m tall. Leaves grow in clusters with rough jagged edge towards the tip. The plant bears white flowers that developed into a fleshy, yellow-orange fruits when ripe. Leaves are used for medicinal purposes.
Medicinal Uses:
- Tea extracted from leaves is taken to ease stomach aches, diarrheas, and dysentery.
- Decoction of leaves is effective as dental mouthwash.
- Leaves concoction is used to stop bleeding cause by snakebites, and a cure for plant-based poisoning;
- Decoction of leaves is also used as body cleanser after childbirth.
News About Fukien tea tree
10 Herbal Wonders Every Pinoy Should Know Before Wasting a Peso on Western Medicine
- Source:http://www.topten.ph/2014/12/29/10-herbal-wonders-every-pinoy-know-wasting-peso-western-medicine/
- (TopTen.ph)
There you go. That was sure such a long title. But for all its worth, just have to stay that way. The fact remains Pinoy look at health on the losing end. Classic example: Going to the heart doctor after suffering from a heart attack. Don’t you think it odd? It’s like going to the vulcanizing shop when your tires are out. Sounds logical. Except that tires can be replaced with tires. But your heart cannot be replaced. Unless you want a mechanical one and go for an open heart surgery. Herbal Wonders Every Pinoy Should Know Before Wasting a Peso on Western Medicine Before we get into a drift, here’s a look at 10 of the most powerful herbal plants in Planet Philippines. Assuming you want to save some.
10: LAGUNDI LAGUNDI This 5-leaved chaste tree maybe small but for its wonderful effects it definitely is no push-over. Lagundi is one herbal plant that has gained wide popularity in Planet Philippines. Not only has it been useful in the treatment of rheuma, it has been utilized to counter cough and fever. Fact is, it has been tapped by big pharma advertised as a natural medicine for fever.
Also it is used for:
- • Asthma
- • Pharyngitis
- • Dyspepsia
- • Boils
- • Diarrhea
Scientific Name:Vitexnegundo
9: NIYOG-NIYOGAN NIYOG-NIYOGAN A vine, Niyog-niyoganis a large, climbing woody shrub native to the Philippines. Growing tall even up to 20 feet, you can distinguish the plant with its colorful flowers and pointed leaves. Its fruit is edible. More than that however, it has been traditionally been used in the fight against intestinal worms.
It is also known as Chinese honey suckle.
Added benefits:
• Anti-cancer properties
Scientific Name: Quisqualisindica L.
8: SAMBONG SAMBONG This flowering plant is not only filled with beauty, it is also oozing with health benefits. It is most especially effective in the treatment of common cold and as a diuretic. Traditionally, Chinese and Thai people have made use of the herbal plant since ancient times.
Other uses:
- • Kidney stone
- • Rheumatism
- • Anti-diarrhea
- • Anti-spasms
- • Hypertension
It is also commonly-called Ngai Camphor or Blumea Camphor in the Western world.
Scientific Name: Blumeabalsamifera
7: TSAANG GUBAT TSAANG GUBAT Growing wild and free in tropical Philippines, Tsaang Gubat is one good natural resource in the fight against skin allergies, scabies and even for mothers suffering from itchiness in child birth. Traditionally, it is taken as a tea preparation.
Other properties:
- • Antibacterial
- • Anti-inflammatory properties
Scientific Name: Ehretiamicrophylla Lam.
6: ULASIMANG BATO ULASIMANG BATO Also popularly known as Pansit-pansitan, this fleshy, shallow-rooted herb has been used extensively for its analgesic, anti-arthritic, diuretic properties. What is amazing is that the entire plant is edible. For the uninitiated, diuretics are also called “water pills” as they facilitate the removal of fluids from the body via urination.
Other benefits:
• gout
Scientific Name: Peperomiapellucida
5: YERBA BUENA YERBA BUENA Most would know this herbal plant as peppermint. Its name, Yerba Buena is of Spanish origin meaning “good herb”. It’s mainly used as an analgesic and has been effective in the treatment of body aches and pain due to rheumatism and gout.
In Colombia, 7-Up (that Pepsi drink) is available in the flavor of Yerba Buena.
Added benefits:
- • against coughs
- • colds
- • and insect bites
Scientific Name:Clinopodiumdouglasii
4: BAYABAS BAYABAS Most would equate the fruit-bearing guava tree or bayabas that tree which provides delicious round fruits that are sometimes hard to eat – unripe that is. But there is more to the plant than its amazing fruit. It has been extensively used as an antiseptic (antimicrobial), anti-allergy and as a strong antioxidant.
And if that were not enough guava has been also effective as a:
- • anti-plasmodial
- • anti-cough
- • antidiabetic
Still, it has also been widely used in the treatment of:
- • eczema
- • ringworm
- • scabies
Scientific Name: Psidiumguajava
3:BAWANG BAWANG Perhaps the most common in the kitchen, garlic has been utilized in Planet Philippines to treat infection because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. That alone would be great properties other than the fact that it is one of the key ingredients in a wonderful dinner preparation. But that is not enough. The rather diminutive vegetable is also known to contain:
- • anti-cancer
- • anti-hypertensive properties
- • cholesterol-reducing
Scientific Name: Allium sativum
2: AKAPULKO AKAPULKO Also dubbed the “ringworm bush or schrub” in the Western world, this Pinoy herbal medicine has been widely-utilized in the treatment of tine infections and to counter insect bites.
In time is has also been effectively utilized to fight:
- • ringworms
- • eczema
- • scabies
- • itchiness
Because of this, the shrub with the beautiful yellow flower has been prepared as an ointment preparation. Scientific Name: Cassia alata
1:AMPALAYA AMPALAYA This vine maybe bitter but don’t be fooled by its taste as it is big on health benefits. It has been popularly called bitter melon. Its bitterness is actually the result of the presence of momordicin and has been widely-believed as the most bitter in the vegetable world.
But that does not stop the Ampalaya to reign supreme. Its benefits include treatment of diabetes, coughs, hemorrhoids, burns and scalds. Added to this, it has been found to contain anti-cancer properties and has been officially endorsed by the Department of Health of the Philippines.
Scientific Name: Momordica Charantia
Uses and Propagation of Tsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa)
- Source:http://traditional-medicinenews.blogspot.com/2011/09/uses-and-propagation-of-tsaang-gubat.html
- (Traditional Medicine News)
Scientific name: Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam.
Common names: Putputai (Bikol); alangit (Bisaya); forest tea, wild tea.
Indications and preparations: Pills, leaf decoction for gastroenteritis; as gargle to prevent cavities.
Description: a shrub about 5 meters in height. This is sometimes used as an ornamental plant or bonsai. Leaves are darken green and glossy.
How to Plant Tsaang Gubat: Plant seeds or cuttings of 20 centimeters long with 3 or more nodes in a shady area. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for it to grow roots, then may transfer the plant in the prepared plot.
How to Take Care of the Plant:
- • Water the plant everyday. Remove the weeds and the grass around it.
- • Remove branches or leaves that have been destroyed by pests or by plant disease to prevent them from spreading to the rest of the plant.
- • DO NOT use pesticides because the chemicals may remain in the plant.
Used for:
- Stomachache Preparation:
- • Chop the leaves and place them in an earthen jar according to the following amounts:
•• For Dried Leaves: ADULTS = 2 tbspful 7-12 y/o = 1 tbspful
•• For Fresh Leaves: ADULTS = 3 tbspful 7-12 y/o = 1 1/2 tbspful
- - Pour in 1 glassful of water. Cover it.
- - Bring the mixture to a boil.
- - Remove the cover and let it continue to boil for another 15 minutes or until the glassful of water originally poured has been reduced to 1/2 glassful.
- - Let it cool, then strain mixture.
How to Use:
- • Drink the warm decoction. If the stomach ache is still present an hour after drinking the decoction. If there is no change in condition, consult a doctor.
Care guide for the Carmona Bonsai tree (Fukien Tea)
- (Bonsai Empire)
Specific Bonsai care guidelines for the Carmona
Position: The Fukien Tea is an indoor bonsai which can only be kept outside all year in very warm climates. It needs a lot of light and in the house it should be positioned behind a window pane where it gets the best light. The perfect temperature is around 20 degrees C (68F), make sure it doesn’t experience much lower temperatures. In summer the Carmona can be placed outside as long as the nights are warm enough. In most cases the winter in our heated flats is a problem for the Fukien Tea. In addition to the few hours of daylight there is the problem of dry air. You can use a plant lamp if necessary and put a large tray filled with wet gravel or foamed clay under the pot for more humidity. When you open the windows in winter, take care that the Fukien Tea is not exposed to cold or even frosty air.
Watering: Keep the tree moist, as it doesn’t like droughts. But be careful not to water too often because it doesn't like soil wetness either. As soon as the soil surface gets dry the tree needs to be watered generously but it must not be left standing in excess water.
Feeding: Solid organic fertilizer is appropriate for the Fukien Tea because its roots are sensitive. Liquid fertilizers can also be used in carefully measured dosage and only on moist soil. Feed the tree well from spring to autumn following the directions for use, but in winter less often.
Pruning: The Fukien tree can take pruning quite well and regular trimming will make the tree grow a dense branch structure. Young shoots are tender and flexible so that they are easy to trim or wire. Mature twigs and branches are hard and brittle, so use appropriate tools for pruning and be careful when you want to wire and bend them.
Repotting: Repot the Fukien Tea in early spring about every two years. Root pruning should be done with care because the Fukien Tea does not take a great loss of roots well. A well-drained but on the other hand water buffering soil is very important because the Fukien Tea is sensitive to drought as well as excess wetness. A mixture of Akadama with a little humus and pumice is well-proven. Propagation: From seeds or by using cuttings in summer.
Pests and diseases: Under inadequate conditions the Carmona bonsai can suffer from spider mites, scale and whiteflies. Customary insecticide sprays and sticks to push into the soil will help but for long-term success also light and humidity must be improved. If the Fukien Tea is watered with hard water the leaves can show signs of chlorosis which can be treated with iron fertilizer. In rare cases fungal diseases can enter through wounds. They can kill single branches or even the whole tree and are hardly treatable. Use clean tools and treat fresh wounds with cut-paste.
How to Keep Carmona Bonsai Watered
- By Melissa Lewis (Demand Media)
A tree grown in a pot and trained as a miniature plant is known as a bonsai. One tree often grown as a bonsai is Carmona microphylla, commonly called a fukien tea tree. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and warmer, fukien tea tree is noted for its dark gray bark, white flowers and knobby wood. Because a bonsai is grown in porous soil, watering it regularly is an essential task to keep it healthy and thriving.
1) Feel the soil with the palm of your hand. If it feels completely dry, it is time to water a fukien tea tree. If it is still slightly moist, don't water it at this time to avoid over-watering your plant. Check the soil later in the day or the next morning because it can dry out quickly.
2) Pour water at the base of the fukien tea tree until you see it drip out from the bottom. Wait a few minutes, then water it again in the same way. This double watering ensures the entire root ball gets watered, advises The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University.
3) Discard the water that accumulates in the plant's drainage dish.
- Things You Will Need:
- • Watering can
- Tip:
- • Check the soil for moisture once or twice a day, especially in spring and summer to ensure the soil does not completely dry out. Look for signs of over- or under-watering and adjust your schedule as necessary. Yellowing leaves may mean you're over-watering a fukien tea tree, and dark, limp leaves are signs of under-watering.
- •Apply any fertilizers after a watering to prevent root burn.
DOH to manufacture 2 more herbal drugs next year
- Source:http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/10/20/doh-to-manufacture-2-more-herbal-drugs-next-year/
- By Lorie Ann Cascaro (MC/MindaNews)
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health’s drug-making unit would begin manufacturing two more herbal drugs from the list of 10 certified herbal plants in the country.
This will raise to five the total herbal drugs produced by the government.
Wilfredo P. Principe, quality assurance manager of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (Pitahc), said the herba buena (Mentha abvensis Linn.) and ampalaya, or bitter gourd, would see production next year for distribution to government hospitals nationwide.
Already in production are lagundi (Vitex negundo L), sambong (Blumea balsamifera) and the tsaang gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.).
The herba buena is an analgesic, which relieves pain, while ampalaya controls blood sugar and would be recommended for persons with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Lagundi is used to treat cough, sambong for kidney and urinary tract disorders because of its diuretic property, and tsaang gubat for diarrhea.
But the three manufactured drugs are being distributed only in the government hospitals, with Principe admitting that production could not cope with the demand.
The sambong drug is being manufactured in the Davao City plant located inside the DOH office along J.P. Laurel Ave. near the Southern Philippine Medical Center. The plant could produce at least five million tablets per month.
“This number is less than the actual demand nationwide,” Principe said.
The bulk of the production goes to Metro Manila hospitals, and the DOH central office would allocate the rest to the regions, he added.
The Davao plant relied on its sambong herb supply only from the production farms in Malaybalay in Bukidnon and in Batangas.
The tablets are sold at P180 per 100 tablets, or P1.80 per tablet.
Principe said that the commercial drug made by private companies sells for as much as P3.50 per tablet.
Lagundi is being manufactured in the DOH Tacloban, Leyte plant, where it has a plantation area.
The other Pitahc plants are located in Tuguegarao in Cagayan Valley and in Cotabato City, where the herba buena would be likely manufactured.
Philippiness’ first ‘green’ billboard absorbs pollutants on Edsa
- By Tina G. Santos (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Not all billboards are created equal.
While many billboards in the metropolis have recently been found wanting in taste and morals, one has found a unique way to stand out.
Located on the northbound lane of Edsa near Forbes Park, the pollution-absorbing billboard of Coca-Cola Philippines is probably the country’s only environment-friendly outdoor advertising sign.
The eye-catching ad which measures 60 feet tall and 60 feet wide makes use of thousands of live Fukien tea plants that are spread across its body, leaving only enough space in the center for the curvy shape of the bottle of the product being promoted.
Written on the ad is the phrase “This billboard absorbs air pollutants.”
“This is the first billboard in the country that makes use of live plants as cover for its surface. And I wouldn’t be surprised if this is also the first in the world,” said JB Baylon, Coca-Cola Philippines’ public affairs and communication director.
According to him, the billboard was an original concept of the company in cooperation with environmental organization World Wide Fund (WWF).
“We wanted to be different. And what better way to do it than to come up with a unique billboard that actually achieves a couple of things—promote the product and send a message of concern for the environment at the same time,” Baylon said. “So together with WWF, we decided to embark on a campaign to reduce pollution in the congested cities of Metro Manila.”
According to botanist Anthony Gao, each Fukien tea plant can absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide a year on the average.
“This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate,” Gao, who works with WWF, said in a statement earlier released by the soda company.
Baylon said they used 3,600 bottles of different Coca-Cola products as pots for the plants.
“The bottles were recycled and they were specially designed to contain the plants securely and to allow the plants to grow sideways,” Baylon added.
The bottles were filled with a potting mixture made up of a combination of industrial by-products and organic fertilizers—a formulation that is stable and lightweight. Holes were also drilled in the bottles to ensure proper drainage.
The live plants survive on a “drip irrigation system” which was especially installed for efficient water distribution. This method allows water mixed with nutrients to be dispensed slowly to the roots of the plants.
The drip irrigation system is also operated on a schedule, allowing the plants to get what they need when they need it.
According to Baylon, their longstanding partnership with WWF to make a positive difference in the environment spans across the two areas—water stewardship and climate protection—which are part of the soda company’s “Live Positively” sustainability program.
Since 2008, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with WWF in an effort to help conserve critical watersheds in the country.
“It is one of the environmental initiatives implemented by the company to strive to be a water sustainable business and replenish the amount of water equivalent to what the company uses in all of its beverages and its production,” Baylon said.
Guillermo Aponte, Coca-Cola Philippines president, said in a statement that the plant billboard was “an embodiment of our company’s Live Positively commitment to making a positive difference in the world by incorporating sustainability into everything that we do.”
“In every campaign that we do, we ensure that as much as possible, there is additional help that goes to the society,” added Baylon.
He said that they hope to produce more environment-friendly billboards in the future.
“We would love to do more,” Baylon said, as he cited feedbacks they got since the billboard was unveiled last month.
“We have been getting so many positive feedbacks through texts and e-mails from people from all walks of life, expressing how they appreciate the billboard. It’s unique and amusing. And they were used to seeing a Coke ad in red but this time it’s green,” Baylon told the Inquirer.
He said he hopes other companies would also follow suit as far as advertising is concerned.
“With all the eco-friendly mechanism this billboard employs and the relevant advocacy it stands for, may this serve as a reminder to Filipinos to take an active hand in protecting and saving the environment,” Baylon added.
“Also, we hope this billboard starts a trend and becomes a challenge to advertising creativity. This project raises the bar for us not only in promoting our product, but also demonstrating our commitment to green efforts,” Baylon said.
Tsaang gubat (Wild Tea) as Herbal Medicine
- (medicinalherbs4u)
A shrub prepared like tea, it is now commercially available in tablets, capsules and tea bags. This medicinal herb is effective in treating diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis and other stomach ailments. It has high fluoride concentration making it a good mouth wash for the prevention of tooth decay. English name: Wild Tea.
Properties
- - Considered analgesic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antispasmodic and anti-mutagenic.
Parts utilized Leaves.
Uses Leaf decoction or infusion for abdominal colic, cough, diarrhea and dysentery.
- - Root decoction used as an antidote for vegetable poisoning.
- - For diarrhea: Boil 8 tbsp of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes; strain and cool. Use 1/4 of the decoction every 2 or 3 hours. Decoction has also been used as a dental mouthwash.
- - Decoction of leaves used as disinfectant wash after childbirth.
- - In Sri Lanka, used for diabetes: 50 gm of fresh leaves or roots are chopped; 100 cc of water is added, and 120 cc of juice is extracted by squeezing, and given once or twice daily.
New Application
- • Being promoted by the Department of Health (DOH) as an antispasmodic; for stomach/abdominal pains.
- • One of a few herbs recently registered with the Bureau of Foods and Drugs as medicines
Banaba, tsaang gubat vs cancer?
- (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino scientist has discovered the potential of two indigenous plants as cure for cancer, the third leading cause of death in the country.
Dr. Gerard Penecilla, a pharmaceutical scientist of the National Research Council of the Philippines, found that banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn) and tsaang gubat (Carmona retusa Var.) have high potential in fighting growth and multiplication activities of cancer cells.
NRCP is an agency under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The DOST said Penecilla’s study found that a dosage of 30ug/ml of banaba bark extract is efficient in fighting cancer cells.
“The test further noted that it would take about a dosage of 5ug/ml to be economically feasible for pharmaceutical companies in producing anticancer medicine,” the agency said in a statement.
“Penecilla has recommended more chemical and structure-activity-relationships to reach the said level,” it said.
While for the tsaang gubat, out of the many sample extracts tested, a certain dosage was found effective against cancer cell, the DOST said.
Penecilla’s findings were determined by a laboratory technique called yeast bioassay or microtiter assay, a method used to determine various pharmacologic activities of medicinal plants such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, etc, the science department said.
“Penecilla used this technique for the first time in determining the anticancer potential of medicinal plants,” DOST said.
It added that the scientist hopes this technique “could pave the way for the strong interaction and cooperation among the Filipino chemists, botanists, biologists, physicians and the government research funding institutions as well, in coming up with solid scientific research on medicinal plants that could aid local pharmaceutical companies to produce anticancer medicine at very low cost.”
“In the end, the health and welfare of the Filipinos will be the beneficiaries of this scientific collaboration,” the DOST said.
Cancer is largely considered a lifestyle-related disease in the country, according to the Department of Health.
In the Philippines, the most common sites of reported deaths from cancer are the trachea, bronchus and lung (8.4 deaths per 100,000 population), breast (4.4 per 100,000) and leukemia (2.9 per 100,000), it said.
Among men, the leading sites are the lungs, prostate, colorectal area and liver, while for women these are the breast, uterus, cervix and lungs.
Among children, the leading cancers are leukemia and lymphoma, the DOH said.
Office plants that are good for your health
- By REBECCA PERRY (Special Contributor)
Conjure up a standard office cubicle: There is the gray desktop with filing drawers, the ubiquitous computer monitor, a keyboard and mouse, a few (or a lot of) papers. Now place a peace lily, with its dark green leaves and elegant white flower, into the mental image. With that addition, most of us would say the office cubicle has just become a much nicer place to work.
It’s not just common sense that says the addition of plants makes an office space more inviting. Decades of scientific research detail the benefits plants add to the workplace: improved concentration, performance, job satisfaction, health and mood.
Just last year, for example, a Norwegian study added further support to the idea that plants in the workplace can help improve workers’ attention. Research participants were given an attention-demanding task to complete, then given a short break, then another task. Half of the participants completed the set of tasks in a room with flowers and plants; the others were in a room without plants. The attention capacity of the workers in the room with flowers and plants showed greater improvement on the second task than those sitting at a bare desk.
In addition, a 2008 University of Michigan study found that memory performance and attention spans improved by 20 percent after people spent an hour interacting with nature — either by going outside or just by viewing pictures of nature, as opposed to walking urban routes or viewing urban photographs.
Other studies suggest the presence of plants also seems to improve attitude. Workers primarily in Texas and the Midwest were surveyed for a 2008 study on “the effect of live plants and window views of green spaces on employee perceptions of job satisfaction.” Texas researchers found that individuals — without regard to age, ethnicity, salary, education levels or position — “who worked in offices with plants and windows reported that they felt better about their job and the work they performed.”
The particular plant that will make an office a happier place is somewhat subjective. “Orchids are among my favorites for atmosphere and mood,” says Cody Hoya, general manager at North Haven Gardens. “They’re beautiful, unique, colorful and very long-lasting.”
Both Hoya and Josh Addison, manager of Redenta’s Garden Dallas location, agree that tillandsias, also known as air plants, are natural choices for adding a touch of whimsy to the office. There are a number of varieties available due to their current popularity, and they are not expensive, unless you choose a large specimen. They require little care, and they should survive under typical office fluorescent light, says Addison. “But if you have windows, put them close by.”
If you think you might tire of looking at the same plant on your desk day after day, try Hoya’s mix-and-match technique. “I like to use an interesting basket or ceramic vessel in which I can group several different interior plants, both blooming and foliage, in their nursery pots dressed with a bit of moss,” he says. “This allows for flexibility to rotate the plants and change the composition every couple of months so that the plants get a change of location and the interest stays fresh.”
Studies of various benefits of indoor plants were perhaps inspired by the NASA Clean Air Study in the 1980s that suggested certain common indoor plants might provide a natural way of removing toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air. Hundreds of toxic chemicals can be outgassed by furniture, carpets and building material and then trapped in the closed ventilation systems of tightly sealed, energy-efficient buildings. The chemicals can lead to headaches, fatigue and allergic reactions now called Sick Building Syndrome.
Purifying the air is an often-touted benefit of indoor plants, but the plants in these clean-air studies typically have been grown in sub-irrigated soil media or clay pebble hydroculture. The author of NASA’s Clean Air Study, B.C. Wolverton, also found that the more air that moved across the plant’s roots, the more toxins could be removed from the air.
This research led Wolverton to develop the Plant Air Purifier, an air-filtration system that includes a planter with a built-in electric fan, ceramic growing medium and activated carbon. The idea is that when the planter is plugged in, it sucks dirty air down into the root area, where activated carbon captures pollutants and holds on to them until the root system can use them as a food source. At the end of the natural process, the plant releases fresh air into the room.
If living indoor plants help mood and possibly contribute to cleaner air, common sense might dictate that dying indoor plants might do just the opposite. The first tip to good plant health is to “place plants suited to various light levels accordingly, and keep them from constant drafts from heating and cooling vents,” says Hoya.
Signs of insufficient light can include yellowing or dropping leaves, says Addison. “Succulents may get leggy, reaching for light.” If you have an office with a window, it may help to rotate your office plant periodically so that it gets a more even exposure to the stronger light.
Don’t overwater indoor plants. “Water behaves differently in soil in a pot inside than it does outside,” Hoya says. “Always water deeply, until water drains freely from the bottom of the pot, but less frequently. For most plants, averaging a soil that feels mildly damp but not soggy is ideal.”
When to water will vary with an office’s environmental conditions. If the potting medium is damp, do not water until it is dry. Just know the recommended care for whatever plant you choose. Tillandsias, for instance, should be dunked in water once a week, says Addison, or spritzed with water about every third or fourth day.
Wipe plant leaves occasionally to get rid of dust, as well.
Finally, the actual action of gardening has its benefits. A 2011 study found that gardening restored a positive mood after a stressful task. Bonsai and small terrariums are gardening activities that could take place indoors in an office.
“People become pretty relaxed when they work with houseplants, because you forget your troubles. Your mind tends to focus upon the plant, and you become meditative. And that meditative state is, of course, very calming and stress-reducing,” says Richard Sunshine, owner of Sunshine Miniature Trees in Dallas.
Ming aralias and Fukien tea trees are among the plants that have the twisted, aged look and other characteristics that people often desire in a bonsai. Both do well in typical office fluorescent lighting. In fact, Sunshine tells how he learned how well the Ming aralias can survive in an office setting. Years ago, his company was caring for plants at Zale Corp.’s national headquarters. Then-Zale chairman Ben Lipshy, a bonsai collector, often came to the store to pick out new bonsai trees.
“He kept coming into the store buying Ming aralias. And we found out that he was taking the bonsai aralias and placing them all over the office where they were getting absolutely no natural light. It was an example of the student teaching the teacher. That’s how we learned that the Ming aralia was one of the very best plants for interior offices.”
Suitable plants
Which plants are likely to thrive in an office and help you thrive, as well? It depends to some degree on the light conditions. Most of the plants listed below have multiple species, which provide options in leaf and flower color and mature size.
Low light
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Dracaena
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Sansevieria, also known as snake plant and mother-in-law’s tongue
Haworthia, including Haworthia fasciata, a succulent also called zebra cactus
Gasteria, a fleshy succulent
Ming aralia (Polyscias fruticosa)
Intermediate light
Philodendron
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Calathea
Pothos ivy
Cryptanthus
Ferns
Fukien tea bonsai (Carmona retusa)
Bright, but indirect light
Orchids
Bromeliads
Tillandsias
Palms
Succulents
Banyan fig bonsai (Ficus retusa)