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Plants improve the aesthetics of the surroundings we live in. And, when talking about survival, they form the basis of it. We, human beings, are making mistakes and repeating them continually, over the ages, considering ourselves superior to Mother Nature. The mistake has already started manifesting in various forms including extreme weather conditions, frequent natural calamities, exposure to diseases, worsening of water and air quality, etc. And, this trailer is already too scary! Isn’t it the time to embrace Mother Nature again in whatever way possible? Even a small effort from all of us will contribute to forming a larger but beautiful picture. I believe in that and I know many others too believe in this! Isn’t it a noble idea to contribute to a greener planet? Certain plants are appealing and require little effort to grow. One such plant is the money plant which is very visually appealing. Let me take you to the beautiful garden where we will chirp about the money plant and its numerous benefits.
Knowing Money Plant
The scientific name of the money plant is Epipremnum Aureum.
Money plant has a huge fan following because it can be easily grown indoors and outdoors in mild weather.
Some of the common interesting names of this plant are golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, and taro vine.
In India, it commonly goes by the name ‘Money Plant’.
It is also called devil’s vine or devil’s ivy.
The plant has earned this interesting name because of its audacity for survival.
Yes, it is almost impossible to kill it and it stays green even when kept in the dark.
Thumbs up to Money Plant!
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What is the Myth of Money Plant?
Is money plant really lucky?
The older civilizations had a deeper connection with the cosmos.
It is very well known that they used to worship plants and consider them sacred.
This has created many interesting myths surrounding the historical belief systems.
The ancient Chinese believed that money plants bring good luck and money.
As per Wikipedia, the concept of the money plant goes back to the times of the Han Dynasty.
In Sichuan, money trees made of cast bronze are found in the tombs.
Image: A Han dynasty money tree in Hong Kong Heritage Museum
In modern times, “money plant” is also used as a metaphor referring to something or someone capable of generating huge money.
Many people still believe that having a money plant at home can bring good luck and charm to them.
Is It Good to Keep Money Plants at Home?
Money plants can be a good addition to your list of indoor plants.
Indoor money plants can grow up to 2 meters when given adequate support.
Even though it can survive very well indoors, the plant must be shown sunlight frequently.
Going by the Vaastu Shastra, the perfect direction for money plants in the south-east.
This is believed to bring mental and financial luck by removing unnecessary obstacles in your way.
Another best place to keep the money plants in your home is at the entrance facing north direction.
What is the Lifespan of a Money Plant?
When taken care of well, a money plant can survive for years or even decades.
The best practice is to add good quality fertilizers to the plant at least every 2-3 months to ensure they get enough nutrients for their growth.
Despite the high survival rate, the money plant must not be exposed to direct sunlight for too long as it will burn the leaves.
The ideal temperature for a money plant is 17 – 30 degrees Celsius.
Adequate sunlight, water, good quality soil and fertilizers, and an ideal temperature can prolong the lifespan of money plants.
Having a money plant at home is a good idea because it has many benefits.
Let us delve into the money plant benefits in our next section.
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Money Plant Benefits
Money plants can easily be grown at home through cutting and have lower maintenance costs.
The money plant has many amazing benefits also.
1.) Removes Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor plants can significantly contribute to the health of human beings by purifying the air.
A Clean Air Study by NASA in 1989 found that certain indoor plants act as natural purifiers for indoor pollution. They absorb the pollutants and also convert them to harmless substances.
The air pollutants found to be removed by the money plant include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, trichloroethene, xylene, carbon monoxide, and nicotine.
The plant also detoxifies the soil and water by removing toxic pollutants and releasing harmless by-products.
2.) Anti-Oxidant & Anti-Microbial Properties
The money plant has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help fight off the damage caused by free radicals in our bodies.
A study published in ResearchGate found that money plants have many natural chemicals that possess medicinal properties.
The tests have shown that the plant extracts contain certain beneficial compounds known as phenols, which are known to fight off any damage caused to our cells.
Image courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Money_Plant_%28Epipremnum_aureum%29_1.jpg
3.) Reduces Anxiety and Stress
Feng Shui and Vaastu experts believe that placing money plants in front of a sharp corner or angle helps reduce anxiety and stress.
The study on 50 older Chinese women revealed some surprising benefits of money plants on the psychology and physiology of the human body.
Watching healthy money plants for just 5 minutes made people feel less anxious.
When participants looked at the money plant, this increased the alpha waves in the brain responsible for making people more relaxed.
Viewing money plants also increased the activity of beta waves responsible for making us active and alert.
The study proves that money plants around us positively impact our mental well-being.
4.) Helps in Lowering Blood Pressure
Another important finding from the study was that looking at money plants for just 5 minutes lowered systolic blood pressure.
It was found in the study that looking at money plants for even short periods can have immense benefits for our health like reduction in blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension.
5.) Anti-Inflammatory Properties
A type of money plant, Epipremnum pinnatum, was tested to see if it has inflammatory properties.
It was seen in the study, that the swelling in the paws of the rats reduced drastically in comparison to a standard drug, known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
The money plant is also found to possess properties that can reduce damage to fats in the body and provide pain relief.
Image courtesy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeepack/610587961/
6.) Anti- Fungal & Anti-Bacterial Properties
The extracts from the leaves and aerial roots of the money plants were taken and tested to see if they had anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Different liquids made using leaves and aerial roots of money plants with other substances effectively killed bacteria and fungi.
- · Water extracts from the aerial roots were effective against bacteria like E. coli, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis.
- · Methanolic leaf extracts killed bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It was slightly effective against the fungus Candida albicans.
- · The ethyl extract from the aerial roots of the money plant was found to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungus properties.
- · An extract prepared using petroleum ether, acetone, and ethanol from the money plant effectively killed bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
7.) Anti-Termite Properties
Researchers have found that all parts of the money plant, especially the root extract mixed with ethanol, have strong anti-termite properties.
The mixture, used in the test, was found to kill the termites with an accuracy of 96 – 100%, which is more than when crude ethanol is used.
The study gives enough reason to use the money plant to make herbal products that can control termites.
8.) Anti-Cancer Properties
Another study on the money plant was done to see if it has anti-cancer properties.
The chloroform extracts of the money plant were tested to see if they could stop the growth of breast cancer cells.
It was found that the extracts effectively stopped the cancer cells from growing.
The study also found that the extracts killed the cancer cells, using both the planned and unplanned cell death methods.
Interestingly, the locals in Malaysia and Singapore use a decoction of fresh leaves with meat or eggs or as tea as a traditional way of treating cancer or skin-related problems.
Image courtesy: https://pixahive.com/photo/money-plant-leaves-with-a-dark-background-2/
Takeaway Message
Our ancestors were probably aware of the many benefits of money plants which is why, this plant was such an integral part of traditions.
This plant always had many more valuable things to offer to humanity than merely holding superstitious values.
Recent research on money plants has proved that they contain helpful chemicals such as flavonoids and alkaloids which have medicinal benefits.
Is money plant poisonous?
Keep certain things in mind while dealing with money plants.
- · The care must be taken that pets do not consume money plants as it is toxic for cats and dogs, as per ASPCA.
- · The money plant contains calcium oxalate making it mildly toxic for human beings. The symptoms include eczema, swelling, or burning sensation in or around the mouth.
- · Excessive exposure to the plant can also irritate the skin.
However, looking at the immense money plant benefits it can be asserted that this plant should be a part of every home.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Please consult your treating physician for more details.
Readings & References
- · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipremnum_aureum
- · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_tree_(myth)
- · https://www.ugaoo.com/collections/money-plant
- · https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350516265_Indoor_Air_Purification_through_Plants
- · https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285541328_Phytochemical_investigation_and_antioxidant_screening_of_crude_leaves_extract_from_Epipremnum_aureum
- · https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213343721011118#:~:text=It%20can%20withstand%20bright%20sunlight,the%20phytoremediation%20potential%20of%20E.
- · https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6710203/
- · https://www.jcreview.com/admin/Uploads/Files/61c72281812a91.70204394.pdf
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