Houseplants have more to offer than beautifying a room or improving air quality in your home. There are several varieties of houseplant that are considered to have healing properties, so when selecting plants for your home, consider choosing a few varieties that complement your wellbeing goals. Here are three plants that might suit your needs.

English Marigold

The English marigold is a striking orange flower that will brighten up any room, and it is considered by herbalists to have pain-relieving properties. You'll have to dry the flower and store it in an airtight container for use as required. To use, simply rub the flower on the area of your body that's experiencing pain. This type of plant is said to be particularly good for treating insect bites and reducing localised inflammation.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera plants are very easy to take care of and require little water, as they belong to the succulent family. The long, thin leaves contain a clear gel, and it is this part of the plant that is said to have healing properties. The gel can be scraped out of a leaf and applied topically to treat cuts, burns, acne and bites. Alternatively, you can add the gel to water and drink it in order to soothe digestive discomfort and treat constipation. Aloe vera is also considered to be a prebiotic, meaning it feeds the good bacteria in your gut.

Passionflower

The passionflower plant has strikingly beautiful purple and white petals with extending stamen. They grow well in sunny spots and are used in herbal medicine to reduce stress and anxiety and evoke feelings of calm and peacefulness. The effects of consuming the plant have been studied several times, and a clinical trial concluded that passionflower can be an effective treatment option for generalised anxiety disorder. To reap the benefits of this plant, simply make a tea using the dried flowers and drink it throughout the day.

These are just a few suggestions of houseplants that are considered to have medicinal properties. A visit to your local plant nursery is wise before committing to buying any variety of plant, as staff can advise about the best plants for your needs and answer any plant care questions you may have. It also provides you with the opportunity to see the types of plants you're interested in, which can help prevent costly mistakes if any are not suited to your home.