A RECENT study in Japan has shown that one way of reducing your stress is to have a vase full of flowers near to you. The study showed that employees who had a bunch of flowers on their desk became calmer even after just a few minutes.

Many other studies have shown that people in hospital can recover faster when they can see nature rather than a wall, and that students can perform better in the classroom when they can see greenery.

Why would this be? Behavioural scientists have suggested that we are predisposed to pay attention to nature and that looking at vegetation can help us deal with stress. This may be due to our evolution when we looked to nature to help us survive.

Apparently, it is not just looking at nature that can be of benefit to us. Our sense of smell can also help us deal with our emotional state. Many trees emit a compound known as pinenes which is responsible for the scent of trees such as conifers and just a few seconds breathing this compound has been shown to help reduce blood pressure. Other scents such as cypress and juniper may help to boost your immune system.

How can we apply the findings of these studies to help improve our own wellbeing?

We can do things such as going for a short walk in nature and taking time to notice the smells and sights around us. Other helpful suggestions include getting some house plants, putting some plants outside your front door and spending some time (when the weather allows) out in the garden enjoying the sights and sounds around us.

So plants and flowers are not just to look at but can also be good for your health. I am now off to water my house plants.

Lesley Pallett

Zenara Therapeutics