Healing Properties of Common Flowers

Posted on 28/02/2024

As the world becomes increasingly industrialized and digitized, there can be a tendency to forget about the natural power of plants and flowers. It may come as a surprise that flowers have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to help treat and heal physical ailments. Just as impressive, many common flowers are known to have healing properties - properties which, in some cases, are still being studied and explored today. In this article, we will take a look at several of these common floral remedies, including their purported uses and benefits.

One flower believed to carry significant healing power is the daisy. Daisies belong to the family Asteraceae, which is one of the largest flowering plant families on Earth. The white petals of the daisy have been used historically as an anti-inflammatory remedy for conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis. There is evidence that daisies may also possess antiseptic qualities and could be used topically to cleanse wounds or treat minor skin infections. In addition, parts of the daisy plant, such as its leaves and stems, may be boiled into tea and taken orally as a digestive aid or tonic for other ailments such as headaches, cramps, or muscular fatigue.

The rose is another beautiful flower with long-standing medicinal properties. Roses were used extensively in Ancient Greece, where they were applied topically by crushing the petals into paste form and treating cuts and bruises; additionally, users would apply a poultice made from powdered rose petals to areas affected by rheumatism or joint pain. Today Rose essential oil is most popularly applied through aromatherapy for relaxation purposes, stress relief, migraines and even depression; however rose oil's topical use on wounds is still practised today since it has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties comparable to those found in chamomile oil.

Another flowering plant believed to have healing properties is Lavender. This fragrant herb has been used since medieval times for its aroma's calming effects on both body and mind. Recently studies have revealed that lavender oils hold powerful antibacterial qualities, which could be beneficial for the treatment of issues ranging from yeast infections to psoriasis. One study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine suggested that lavender oil could improve sleep quality in participants suffering from insomnia. While not proven directly related to sleep problems, applying either lavender essential oil or rubbing crushed lavender buds directly onto temples or pulse points has helped many individuals reduce anxiety levels before bedtime and induce better restful sleep patterns overall.

The Marigold flower belongs to the genus Calendula, which contains around 100 species worldwide. While all hold medicinal value due to their naturally occurring polysaccharides and triterpenoids compounds, all of which possess ointment-like qualities perfect for topical application on skin disorders such as eczema or minor burns, the calendula officinalis species (commonly known as "pot marigold") is most widely accepted as holding healing power since it has demonstrated anti-inflammatory actions as well as antimicrobial qualities when ingested internally through tinctures or tea infusions. It was even noted by 17th-century botanist John Gerarde that Marigolds had "a special faculty to heal all hurts...without any other medicines"

Finally, let us take a look at chrysanthemum's potential use in natural medicine practices. Chrysanthemums belong to the same family as marigolds (Asteraceae) but are distinguished by their distinct yellow petals rather than orange/reddish hues. Although chrysanths are often reduced simply down to being nice looking ornamental arrangements, they too can hold medicinal value namely through their antioxidant compounds known collectively as flavonoids (some studies suggest chrysanthemums contain higher amounts of this antioxidant compared to green tea). Chrysanthemum teas can act similarly to how chamomile tea would - helping calm jittery nerves while soothing upset stomach but they also boast antispasmodic effects, which can relax muscles spasms associated with restless leg syndrome as well as mild forms of asthma attacks.

Though research conducted so far on these common flowers offers some insight into their healing potential, it is important to note that there may be more benefits discovered. For example, one study conducted earlier this year comparing rose essential oils against a synthetic version found that despite similar unit structure counts roses may provide a higher level of potent bioactive compounds, offering improved efficacy over other artificial substitutes available on market shelves today - proof enough that nature truly holds many secrets worth uncovering!