[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
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
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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
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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
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
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
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
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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
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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)
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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
