We all have a responsibility to care for the Earth, and the environment which sustains us. While we need to take many “big” steps, we can also take small ones to both care for our planet and improve our own immediate environment. Here are three small changes you can make for a more eco-friendly lifestyle at home.

Shelter A House Plant.

Besides their aesthetic value, houseplants can be good for your overall health. They naturally purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into their immediate environment. Studies by NASA have found that houseplants can remove about 87 percent of harmful air toxins within a 24-hour cycle. Cleaner indoor air can improve your mood, and their beauty can help reduce stress, turning your home into your own personal oasis.

With such a large variety of houseplant species to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the right one. The key to choosing the perfect houseplant is to take into consideration the conditions and level of care it needs. The ing Ming Aralia plant is a great start for beginners. These plans can thrive in both indirect light and bright light and require minimal maintenance as they can go for days without water. Indigenous to the Pacific Islands, their beauty lies in the green upper sides, and purple undersides of their leaves.

Despite being a great air purifier, the Ming Aralia was traditionally hailed for its medicinal components, as early research showed it helped reduce inflammatory, fungal, and bacteria-related illness.

Consider Using CBD Products.

Cannabidiol is fast becoming a natural remedy to help in the treatment of common illnesses. Popularly referred to as CBD, it is one of the active ingredients (cannabinoids) found in the industrial hemp plant. Whilst THC is another well-known cannabinoid and has a psychoactive effect (meaning it gives the user a “high,”) CBD has no psychoactive effect, making it the preferred option for individuals seeking relief from their discomfort.

Some common CBD products include CBD oil, CBD supplements, CBD edibles, and CBD tinctures and topicals. Of these, CBD oil is the most commonly used. It is made from CBD that has been extracted from the cannabis plant, then diluted with hemp seed or coconut oil. The wellness industry is fast embracing it and has found CBD oil is commonly used to help those with insomnia, as well as reduce anxiety and depression in people with an over-active mind, and alleviate discomfort NOTE: I have rubbed CBD oil on my hands to help reduce joint pain related to arthritis).

NOTE: Never ingest anything intended for health or wellness reasons without speaking to a medical professional or doctor first!

Opt for Natural Insect Repellent.

Most people use insect repellent to prevent bug bites and the infections that they transmit. However, most consumers are not aware of the chemicals used to make insect repellents. DEET, for instance, is an active ingredient found in a majority of synthetic insect repellents. But some studies show that DEET has a toxic effect on the body’s central nervous system, with the added side effect of causing a skin rash.

Stop The Bites insect repellent is a natural repellent for ticks with none of these downsides. Hailed as having the same efficacy as synthetic tick repellents, when properly applied, it can repel ticks and mosquitos for a period of up to one week. It can be applied as a spray on shrub and vegetation, as well as on swing sets and the patio.

Instead of DEET, it consists of active ingredients like lemongrass oil, geraniol, castor oil, cedarwood oil, corn oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate, plus water, soap, oleic acid and 1-monolaurin, a byproduct of coconut fat.

NOTE: Take special care not to apply it on or near food and vegetables, or food-bearing plants. Apply late in the day or early evening and not directly on bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Keep children and pets off lawns that have been treated until the product dries.

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  One way we can do so is by installing plants in the rooms where we work and live.  Gaddy’s Plant Hire, a company based in Australia that specializes in renting out plants to offices and special events (and our sponsors for this post), has taken to heart the recommendations of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use plants for air purification.

Plants for Air Purification

 Though plants don’t particularly look like air filters, they are. Plants emit water vapor that helps pull contaminated air down around a plant’s roots, where it is then converted into food for the plant. The more air circulates through the roots of the plants, the more effective the plants are at reducing pollution.  As you might expect, some plants are better air purifiers than others. For example,

·  A    * Aloe vera, an easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in the sun, helps remove by-products of chemical-based cleansers, paints and more, including formaldehyde and benzene.

·          * Spider plant is a quick grower with copious foliage that is almost impossible to kill, despite the worst neglect. In addition to formaldehyde and benzene, it will also filter carbon monoxide.

  * Snake plant (shown right), also known by its Latin name Sansevieria trifasciata or its other common name, mother-in-law’s tongue, is also effective at filtering out formaldehyde. It loves low light and the warm, moist conditions found in many bathrooms.

·          * Golden pothos is a fast-growing vine that brightens up any room with its yellow and green, heart-shaped leaves.  Keep it watered, but it can do well in low light as well.

Other effective botanical air purifiers include English Ivy, Dracaena, Rhododendron, Chinese Evergreen, Bamboo Palm, Heart Leaf Philodendron, and one of my personal favorites, the Peace Lily, pictured above left.  (I’ve had a big Peace Lily in my living room for over ten years; in addition to its air purifying properties, I love the beautiful white flowers it sends up a couple of times a year).

If it’s not enough that plants freshen your air, consider how much more content you are in a room filled with at least some plants. Again, research tells us why: According to a University of Agriculture study conducted in Norway, indoor plants can combat fatigue, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses, in part by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust. Other studies report that hospital patients whose windows have a garden view recover more quickly than those who have to look at a wall. Many companies have also noted that both productivityand creativity increase when employees work around plants.

For me, I particularly enjoy seeing bulbs bloom in the winter months. It sounds so simple, but it really gives me something to look forward to when everything outside is dormant and forlorn.

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