Cubicle Culture – The Best Plants for Your Office

In the January 2010 issue of Men’s Health magazine, the one with Vampire Diaries’ Sean Faris on the cover, there is an article discussing which plant would best keep a man company in the comfort of his own cubicle.  The answers are interesting – isn’t learning fun?  Hopefully you take these words to heard and bring a leafy friend into your workspace – if for nothing else but to impress your coworkers with your knowledge of everything flora.

1. Areca Palm – Thanks to its huge fronds (which can reach 6 ft in height and feature 60 leaflets), this palm is especially effective in filtering airborne particles.
2. Peppermint – Sniffing mint can increase your alertness and enhance your memory, according to a study in the International Journal of Neuroscience.  Bonus: it can also help suppress your appetite.
3. English Ivy – Tests at the University of Georgia show that English Ivy is particularly efficient at absorbing volatile organic compounds, airborne pollutants spewed by office machinery, that cause headaches and nausea.
4. Lemon Balm – Researchers at Ohio State University found that the scent of lemon improved peoples’ moods and raised levels of norepinephrine, a brain chemical linked to mood and behavior.
5. Golden Pothos – This hardy vine reduces indoor ozone, Penn State researchers found.  Exposure to low ozone levels can cause chest pain and throat irritation.
6. Gardenia – It’s like a long-acting anti-depressant.  A gardenia can live for 25 years, and every time you smell its flowers, your emotional outlook improves…according to research from Rutgers.

Aloe: Power Plant

This little gem came from the UK edition of Men’s Health magazine.  Most major magazines have a UK edition.  They are a bit more expensive, but it allows you to get 24 issues a year versus 12, and you get to have fun converting punds and euros into US Dollars!  Who could ask for more?  In the November 2009 issue of Men’s Health’s UK magazine, in the Health Bulletin, there is a snippet about the Aloe Vera plant.  “You can drink it, brush your teeth with it, even cure burns with it. Is aloe the most versatile medicinal plant of all?”  Here are the magazine’s featured uses of this power plant:

Teeth – “According to a study published in General Dentistry, aloe vera tooth gel is as effective as regular toothpaste in preventing cavities.  It also helps soothe sore and irritated gums. Try Aloe Dent for a change from fluoride.”

Diabetes – “A study in the Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin reported that phytosterols, substances which are contained within aloe vera, have been found to help control blood glucose levels in people suffering from type-2 diabetes.”

Skin Disorders – “A study undertaken by Kaen University researchers in Thailand found that aloe vera gel was an effective anti-inflammatory when applied to the skin to treat psoriasis, a disorder that is characterized by itchy, red, scaly skin.”

Minor Burns – “Researchers from Iran’s Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences compared the healing of second-degree burns using either aloe vera or silver sulfadiazine (a topical burn cream), and found that aloe was more effective and faster working.”

Going Green is Fad-tastic…

…but considering the fad never really seems to go away, why not post about it?  In the September 2009 issue of Men’s Journal magazine, their “green life” (lower-cased because upper-case letters take more ink?) section, the magazine calls attention to a breathable and waterproof Zegna Sport Ecotech Solar jacket, pictured below. The Ecotech line of jackets is made of completely recycled polyester yarns (from other garments – think re-usable plastic bottles).  The solar version includes detachable solar panels for each arm to charge your personal gadgets – iPod, phone…whatever else that is chargeable and fits in an over-sized jacket pocket) using just the power of the Sun.  Let’s hope your time outside is a sunny one…