Ten plants that may reduce colds and insomnia

Speakers: Li Ningjing, Sam Duckett and Lu Sirui

[Photo: from VCG]

NASA scientists have revealed that keeping certain types of plant in your home could actually prevent you from getting sick.

While the benefits of bringing plants indoors has long been preached by experts, now scientists are saying that they could even prevent insomnia and improve your overall wellbeing.

This they say is because the presence of plants helps to reduce stress, anxiety and remove airborne pollutants.

So today our team will be going over some of their findings and give our two cents.

1. The first of which is Areca Palm – a Madagascan plant that researchers say is ideal for anyone prone to colds and sinus problems because it releases moisture in the air making it easier to breathe and sleep at night.

2. and 3. Similarly, aloe vera and English ivy are both recognized for their ability to purify air.

While the former fights chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde, the latter was found to remove an impressive 78 per cent of airborne mould in just 12 hours by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

4. Ninth on NASA's list of 50 air-purifying plants, the Boston Fern is also hailed for its ability to remove formaldehyde, as are Weeping Figs and Lady Palms.

Dubbed the easiest houseplant because it grows well in low light, the Chinese Evergreen is said to remove more and more toxins over time while the drought-tolerant Dwarf Date Palm is brilliant at removing indoor air pollutants like xylene - a chemical found in many cleaning agents and varnishes.

5.For those who struggle with dust allergies, investing in an Insta-worthy Spider Plant is your best bet as it has been found to remove up to 90 per cent of toxins from the air in as little as two days.

6. Alternatively, it seems the beautiful Peace Lily does a whole lot more than spruce up your surroundings. This clever plant can actually improve air quality by six per cent and absorbs mould spores through its leaves, circulating them to its roots to use as food.

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI. ]