The plant therapy

Constantly keeping ill has left me questioning the lifestyle we have. I have been suffering from the flu, and this made me search for the cause and ways in which I can make improvements to my life. Back in my home country, we are blessed with lots of trees, green mountains and rivers. Trees always allow us to breathe fresh air. Every year, the monsoons arrive with abundant rain and with the abundance of greenery, we are able to breathe clean air and satisfy our soul.

However, in cities I observe that my family and I keep falling sick. We have very frequent visits to the doctor and if one person catches the flu then surely the whole family gets the infection.

Remembering my childhood, comparing it to my daughter’s, I find that we were more fit. It was not like we didn’t fall ill, but we surely had a stronger immune system to fight diseases. Here, staying indoors with a central air-conditioning system, we lack fresh air. I bought indoor plants for our drawing room and corridor. I decorated my whole drawing room and corridor with different plants. Slowly and gradually they became part of our daily life and routine. My daughter started taking interest in plants. She started watering them with me and helped me clean the mud and surroundings.

I can clearly see that she is forming a gardening hobby. Our health started improving day by day. We all were happy and in a positive mood. Initially, me and then my extended family and friends started noticing the change in us. They started asking about the ‘secret ingredient’ of our life. With a broad smile I had would say: “Go green!” My house is now full of positivity, greenery and pure oxygen to breathe, taking away all illness and stress from life. If indoor plants can change one’s life and family, imagine the change it can bring for the rest of society?

-The reader is a resident of Abu Dhabi.