Plants for Cleaner Air
NASA’s Study on Chemical Pollutants
In 1989, NASA conducted what became one of the most widely referenced studies on indoor plants and air quality. Originally designed to support astronauts in sealed environments, the research explored how plants interact with indoor ecosystems and airborne toxins.
What they discovered was simple but powerful: Plants don’t just sit quietly in a room — they actively interact with their environment, absorbing and transforming certain pollutants through their leaves, roots, and soil microbiome.
While modern science shows plants alone won’t replace ventilation or air filters, they still offer meaningful support for wellbeing, humidity balance and subtle environmental regulation. From an energetic perspective, plants also act as living frequency stabilisers — bridging the gap between natural rhythms and modern indoor environments. They can…
- Increase humidity
- Influence ion balance
- Create subtle bioelectric fields
- Support nervous system regulation
This means plants can indirectly support how your body responds to environmental stressors, including technology-heavy spaces, furniture, soft furnishings, cleaning products & fragrances, building materials and clothes. The main culprits studied were benzene, flame retardants, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene (TCE). List of toxins and where they can be found in your indoor areas.
Nasa’s top 12 Plants
1. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
1. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, Trichloroethylene
Growing tips: Prefers indirect light, keep soil lightly moist
Insights: Soft, humidifying energy — supports calm nervous system states
2. Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans / deremensis)
Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde
Growing tips: Low light tolerant, avoid overwatering
Insights: Grounding, stabilising — ideal for workspaces
3. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde
Growing tips: Thrives in low light, very resilient
Insights: Adaptability — supports emotional resilience
4. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
4. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Bright indirect light, well-draining soil
Insights: Structural clarity — good for focus and decision-making
5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Prefers cooler environments and airflow
Insights: Flow and clearing — helpful in stagnant spaces
6. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
6. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Needs sunlight to bloom
Insights: Uplifting, heart-opening energy
7. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
7. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Very easy, thrives in most conditions
Insights: Expansion and growth — great for abundance energy
8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
8. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)Supports reduction of: Formaldehyde, Xylene
Growing tips: Bright indirect light, easy propagation
Insights: Light, cleansing — great for bedrooms
9. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
9. Snake PlantSupports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde
Growing tips: Very low maintenance, tolerates neglect
Insights: Protective, grounding — often used in EMF-conscious homes
10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)Supports reduction of: Ammonia, Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Likes humidity and shade
Insights: Harmonising — balances emotional environments
11. Chrysanthemum (Pot Mum)
11. Chrysanthemum (Pot Mum)Supports reduction of: Benzene, Formaldehyde, TCE
Growing tips: Needs sunlight to flower
Insights: Bright, detoxifying — energetic “reset”
12. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
12. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)Supports reduction of: Formaldehyde
Growing tips: Stable environment, dislikes sudden change
Insights: Anchoring — supports consistency and routine
While plants won’t remove all toxins on their own, they contribute to a supportive micro-environment by:
- Interacting with airborne compounds
- Supporting beneficial soil microbes that help break down toxins
- Increasing humidity (which can reduce airborne particles)
- Creating a calming sensory environment that supports the nervous system
Creating a High-Resonance Indoor Ecosystem
To maximise benefits:
- Use 1 plant per ~10m²as a general guide
- Mix leaf sizes and plant types
- Focus on root health (soil microbiome = key)
- Place plants near: Workspaces, bedrooms, WiFi-heavy areas
Tips
- Plant identifier app Picture This can also diagnose issues, provide solutions, identify toxic plants nearby and give tips and tricks for plant care.
- To keep your plants healthy, in your Healy blue app, you can add your plant in as a client with the name and type of plant, place the Healy near the plant and records its vibration. Then run an analysis and apply the frequencies it needs for a short time eg. 2 minutes.
- If you have a MagHealy there is a program for plants in the atmosphere application.
- In the MagHealy water application there is a program for plants, it structures the water you feed plants for improved water distribution and transport.
- If you would like to understand how plants have emotions/feelings, there is a fabulous book called “The Secret Life of Plants”.
- For an beautiful audible experience and new appreciation of plants, the video below shows the music plants can play.
