How flowers in the home impact our body and mind

On the first of September, we celebrate the start of spring in South Africa. It’s a fragrant, colourful time when nature begins to bloom anew and we’re reminded how flowers and plants brighten up our lives. In this article, we explore how their colours and scents can influence how we feel and function.

How floral colour influences us

During the pandemic, public health restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of the virus. These measures kept people at home (fundamentally changing how we live and work) and limited access to natural green spaces, resulting in widespread social isolation. The outcome was a heightened experience of anxiety, depression, and stress, particularly in individuals without an open space, such as a terrace.

A group of researchers investigated the matter by conducting a study that was later published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, examining the way floral colours can influence human physiological and psychological states.

Socially isolated participants were asked to examine three flowers of different colours (white, red, and yellow) for three minutes each. The researchers measured electroencephalograms (EEGs), heart rate variability, and skin conductivity to assess physiological responses. They also used a questionnaire and a mood survey to evaluate psychological responses. When participants looked at the yellow and red flowers, their brains showed more alpha waves in the prefrontal cortex. This is the area of the brain linked to emotions, planning, and decision-making. Alpha waves are often a sign of relaxation and calm focus. These bright colours also help the body slow down, recover, and feel at ease.

The self-assessment questionnaire and survey confirmed the findings: participants felt more energetic, cheerful, and relaxed after looking at vivid yellow and red flowers compared with white ones.

In short, the sight of bright yellow and red blooms lifted mood, boosted relaxation, and increased energy.

The healing power of floral scent

And it’s not only the colours of flowers that are beneficial. According to Johns Hopkins University, essential oils from steamed or pressed plant extracts travel directly from the olfactory (smell) nerves to the brain when inhaled.

These compounds from plant extracts positively stimulate the brain's emotional centre. 

In aromatherapy, essential oils are used in an oil diffuser for safety (and not during pregnancy without medical advice). It appears that essential oils are beneficial for most adults, particularly:

• Lavender oil for better sleep
• Eucalyptus oil to clear airways and relieve congestion
• Tea tree oil (topically, diluted) to treat acne, athlete’s foot, and insect bites
• Peppermint oil to relieve tension headaches
• Lemon oil to encourage a vibrant mood

How flowers change behaviour

Whether you’re most positively influenced by the scent or colour of flowers in your home – or those growing outside – their superpowers can change your behaviour for the better. This was shown in a study by psychologist Nancy Etcoff of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Her Home Ecology of Flowers study found that flowers in any environment feeds compassion, chases away the blues, and provides a boost of enthusiasm.

“As a psychologist,” Etcoff muses, “I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowering plants around them report fewer episodes of anxiety and depression.” Her findings also point to a more positive mood on waking, which then spreads to others – an effect known as ‘mood contagion’.

Any flower will do

While it can be pricey to buy fresh flowers every time you go shopping (we’re not all Elton John, who once spent £293 000 on flowers over a 20-month period), picking up an inexpensive bunch now and then can lift the mood and productivity of the people you live or work with.

Alternatively, if you’re a newbie gardener and keen to plant aromatic and medicinal flowering species that are also water-wise, you can get some great tips in this YouTube video by horticulturist Cherise Viljoen of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

More exposure to nature for better well-being

Anton van Niekerk, Biodiversity chairman at the Greater Kyalami Conservancy, adds that the greater the level of biodiversity to which people are exposed, the better their sense of well-being.

“The pandemic provided an excellent study on the positive impact of nature upon our psyche. Those with little to no access to greenery definitely experienced more negative psychological and emotional states than those who had ready access to gardens and green spaces. There was also a significant move from urban areas to green areas post-pandemic,” he says.

Referring to numerous studies on the beneficial impact of plants on our well-being, van Niekerk concludes, “The positive response humans have to floral scents, in particular citrus varieties, has been observed repeatedly. They have a clear uplifting effect, which we should all try to capitalise on.”

Written by Vanessa Rogers, with editorial refinements by Medihelp