| [編輯轉貼] 加拿大 Homewood Health Centrer 精神療養機構的Mitchell Hewson先生(加拿大第一位園藝治療師),分享許多園藝治療的實際經驗,並且將十多年來的心得歸納出「十種推薦花卉」、「十種推薦蔬菜」、「十種推薦香草」。
 
 Ten of the Best Therapeutic Plants:
 Plants should have functional qualities that the therapist can use to help patients develop or improve physical or cognitive skills such as daily living tasks or decision-making.
 
 Plants should be:
 • non-poisonous
 • multi-dimensional, with more than two uses
 • of interesting colour, shape and texture
 • easy to grow and propagate
 • ideal for multi-tasking
 • used for meaningful and creative tasks
 
 1. Dwarf Orange Tree – tropical
 • orange colour is highly visual
 • fruit can be used for jam
 • orange blossoms are used as an antidepressant (neroli)
 • extract from the leaves is used for skin conditions
 • smell of citrus promotes reality and stimulates memory
 
 
 
 矮性柑橘:開花時濃香對嗅覺退化的老人有刺激作用,果實可以食用且富含營養,矮個子品種則方便行動不便的患者施行園藝管理作業。這植物在其他地區可替換為金桔。
 
 
 2. Scented Geranium – annual and perennial
 • clean and refreshing smell
 • highly visual
 • many varieties used for olfactory and taste
 • stimulates thought and energy
 • the oil from the flowers is used as an antidepressant and antiseptic ideal for skin disorders
 
 
 
 香葉天竺葵:葉片具有令人愉悅的芳香,生長強健迅速。
 
 
 3. Lavender – perennial
 • highly fragrant – stimulates the limbic system
 • used for sleep disorders
 • most recognized fragrance for older people
 • used for skin disorders and headaches
 • ideal for crafts and potpourri
 • used in bath water gives an enormous amount of relief from muscular pain, rheumatism and arthritis
 
 
 
 薰衣草:重要的芳香植物,氣味與花色可以刺激感官,提煉的精油可以作為舒緩心神與筋肉之用。
 
 
 4. Coleus – annual
 • highly visual
 • easy to propagate – roots in 10 days or less
 • square stems provide texture and strength, ideal for arthritic hands
 • colour and growth provides instant gratification
 • ideal plant for task analysis
 
 
 
 彩葉草:葉片色彩瑰麗,栽培容易生長迅速,尤其扦插幾乎百分之百的成活率,會讓栽培的人得到滿足的成就感。
 
 
 5. Spider Plant – tropical
 • highly visual
 • name suggests what the plant looks like
 • easy to propagate and grow
 • promotes the good exchange of gases
 • pendulous structure adds dimension to a room
 
 
 
 吊蘭:葉片呼吸作用旺盛,可以調節溼度改善微氣候環境,在植株叢間伸出的小苗,可以輕而易舉的用來繁殖,給人有生生不息的意象。
 
 
 6. Mint – perennial
 • ideal for sensory stimulation
 • easy to grow and propagate
 • used in an array of projects
 • cools the body and aids in digestion
 • has many culinary uses
 • ideal for headaches and pain
 
 
 
 薄荷:繁衍迅速繁殖容易的重要香草植物,葉片鮮用泡茶,具有降壓寧神的效果,夏天燥熱時來杯薄荷茶,是不是讓心頭火頓時涼了半截。
 
 
 7. Pansy – annual
 • colour and texture stimulates attention and memory
 • reality orientation to time of year
 • used for many culinary and craft projects
 • candles, potpourri, stationery, etc.
 • flowers are edible and ideal for salads
 
 
 
 三色堇:春季主要花卉,花朵色彩豐富且鮮艷,可刺激視覺。花朵適合製作押花。
 
 
 8. Wandering Jew – inch plant
 • grows under a variety of conditions
 • easy to propagate
 • colour and texture ideal for visual impairment
 • used for sensory stimulation
 • plant produces roots within five days – instant gratification
 • non-toxic
 • colour patterns vary according to variety
 
 
 
 吊竹草:好種易活的蔓性植物,葉片正面有美麗的銀色斑紋,葉背則是亮麗的紫色,是成本很低廉的植物。
 
 
 9. Succulents
 • easy to grow
 • survive heat and drought
 • variety of textures, colours and shapes
 • withstand high temperatures and dry conditions
 • provide interest, and stimulate the mind
 • ideal for visual and physical impairments
 • sturdy plant that is easy to work with
 • some varieties good for skin conditions (aloe vera)
 
 
 
 多肉植物:生長在困苦艱難環境的多肉植物,具有堅強的生命力,能帶給栽培者許多正面的啟發。
 
 
 10. African violet
 • thousands of varieties of flower forms and colours
 • texture and size ideal for many projects
 • blooms throughout the year
 • soft-textured plant that increases attention span and helps to lessen agitation
 
 
 
 非洲堇:室內盆花之后,僅靠室內燈光久能成長開花。花朵美麗且栽培容易,用葉片扦插繁殖更能帶給栽培者領會生命的奧妙。
 
 
 |