ANTHURIUM⁣

ANTHURIUM⁣
You may know her as tailflower, flamingo flower, or laceleaf.⁣
⁣
This humble houseplant was studied by NASA. The Clean Air Study was conducted to find methods to purify air in space stations. Anthurium was proven to effectively remove toxic airborne agents, including but not limited to formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and ammonia. ⁣
⁣
But beware! Her sap if eaten raw can be poisonous due to calcium oxalate crystals. She can also cause irritation to the skin if she is not handled with care. ⁣
⁣
Interestingly, studies have been conducted in isolating antioxidants and phenolic constituents such as flavone glucosides, which could have anti-inflammatory potential and have shown to be cancer preventive. ⁣
⁣
The famous late herbal healer Hortense Robinson from Belize called upon her as a remedy. She would chop the leaves and encourage her patients to breathe in the medicinal properties under a blanket over a steaming pot to ease the discomfort of arthritis and rheumatism. ⁣

AIR PURIFICATION
As there is not just one plant ally for each aliment and there are plenty of other safer plants to use, I would not use her other than an office or bedroom plant for air purification.

But it’s good to know how others have used her because that is what herbalism is about, sharing and passing down medicinal plant information so we can heal ourselves, naturally.