Flowers that Soothe and Heal

Our world is filled with an abundant array of colorful and scented flowers that soothe the soul, calm frayed nerves and cheer the spirit. Their beauty and blossoms grace our gardens, yards, window boxes and tables. What many do not know is that flowers can have healing properties with tangible effects on our minds and body. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been using flowers in foods and teas to prevent chronic disease and ease ailments.

The rose is aesthetically pleasing and a symbol of love. Its elegant beauty contributes to an overall feeling of wellness. It’s used in Ayurveda medicine for its medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties, and for its ability to balance disorders of the heart both emotionally and physically. The rose is also synonymous with beautiful skin, and there are numerous rose-infused beauty products on the market to prove it. The rose’s essential oils and chemical composition keep the supple, soft, and sensual. Rosewater is an ideal skin toner, it reduces excess redness and inflammation. Sipping rose water is said to cool a bad temper too.

Jasmine has a sweet and exotic scent that many find intoxicating. Jasmine oil has multiple uses from culinary to aid in depression to a sedative to an aphrodisiac. Rub a little on your temples to promote feelings of happiness and wellness. Jasmine has been known to help with impotence and increase spermatozoa. It’s been used for liver disease, liver pain, and severe diarrhea. It eases breathing and calms respiratory spasms associated with bronchitis. Apply a drop of jasmine oil to your wrist for energy, or add a few drops to your bath for relaxation. It makes the skin supple and is beneficial for skin elasticity.

The peony is a big frilly flower with a very delicate aroma. Peonies have excellent calming and anti-seizure properties. They are often used for nervous disorders and conditions, including nightmares. Because it has the antibacterial compound paeonol, it’s beneficial in treating inflammation, wounds, skin irritations. It’s also used to alleviate live ailments, gastrointestinal disorders, and to rejuvenate the skin.

Lilacs have the most heavenly scent and come in a variety of purple, pink, and white hues. The flowers are edible and have some medicinal properties, but they’re used more for energetic and emotional healing. It is said they protect our home from psychic attacks, so planting several bushes around your home is advantageous. They have a calming and soothing effect that eases anxiety. In the past lilacs were ingested to remove parasitic worms from the intestines, treat fevers, malaria, and treating kidney disease. The results were too erratic, so use was discontinued. There are other claims that lilac oil can be used to remedy various skin conditions including rashes, cuts, scrapes, and sunburn. Lilac oil has been added to personal care products, cleaning products, and air fresheners.

Pansies are dainty flowers with adorable multi-colored faces. Their entrancing and spread their joy all summer long. Dried and fresh pansies have been used for generations for a number of ailments. Every part of the plant, including its root, has its purpose. As a tea, pansies have been useful in treating skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and blemishes. An infusion is useful for high blood pressure, gout, jaundice, blood purifier, sores, ulcers, varicose veins and so much more. They’ve been used as mild painkillers, and as a demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and for healing wounds. Pansies are also edible and have decorated many culinary dishes.

It’s wonderful that flowers have been used in medicine for their healing benefits. Sometimes we need to turn to Mother Nature because she knows what’s best. Personally, I think most of us love flowers for their fragrance, color, and the positive effect they have on altering moods. I cannot imagine my yard or home without them. Next time you feel down, stop and smell the daisies, the roses, the lilies!