Healing power of plant

Seeking inner calm? Look no further than your garden. Research from the Texas A&M University has found that green spaces have direct effect on our health. When patients' rooms had a view of hospital gardens, they recovered faster from surgery, had shorter hospital stays and needed fewer painkillers. The team also found that showing patients photos of nature reduced blood pressure in five minutes or less.

Nature stops us from worrying and obsessing over detail, according to environmental psychologist Clare Cooper Marcus.

"Gardens create a state of 'diffuse awareness' rather than focused attention. All our senses sight, smell, etc are aroused, making us aware of our surroundings. This relaxes our mind and restores our ability to pay attention when we return to work."

Quoted by Health Smart, Reader Digest