By Eman Abdallah Kamel
Contact the author: emanabdallahkamel@gmail.com
Eman is a writer and an engineer. She is interested in writing about flowers and their facts.
This article contains information on the health benefits of flowers by listing some of the most popular plants whose flowers are used as a treatment, such as chamomile, linden, lavender, roses, violet, saffron, and Jasminum sambac.
Image source: sharechat.com
Flowers
A flower is a reproductive part of a plant, and it plays a significant role in our lives, directly or indirectly.
The rose is simple in shape and beautiful in appearance. If a person is angry, it can calm him down. Researchers have discovered that roses have calming properties. Consequently, they advise the angry person to put two drops of rose oil on a handkerchief and inhale the scent deeply to feel calm and relaxed afterward. Rose products include oil, water, and dried petals.
The essential oils enter the body through the skin and inhalation. Especially memory and emotion-related brain cells are affected by smells. One of the most famous oils is rose oil, which helps soothe the mood, especially when we are sad or stressed, and stimulates the heart and blood circulation.
Rose honey, made by mixing honey with liquid rose petal extract, is also said by some experts to be an effective treatment for mouth sores and gum disease.
Also, some recent studies conducted at the University of New Jersey confirmed that flowers make us feel that we are more able to communicate with others, increase our sense of satisfaction with our lives in general, and get rid of depression that sometimes afflicts us.
Did You Know?
Essential oils contain concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from aromatic plants, and they have multiple therapeutic properties. Fruits, flowers, herbs, trees, and spices are the sources from which it is extracted through distillation.
A Brief History
The ancient Egyptians used the blue lotus flower (Nymphaea caerulea) as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment. Lotus has also been used in aromatherapy; it is a treatment that depends on the use of some flower oils to activate the energy centers in the human body to help the body cure itself. Blue lotus oil is one of the strongest oils used in this type of treatment, and it improves the body’s immunity.
The flowers have been traditionally used in many types of cooking: European, Asian, East Indian, Middle Eastern, and American.
The Arab physician Al-Kindi (9th century AD) described rose products to treat stomach pain, ulcers, liver and mouth diseases, and sore throats. Rose oil was used for burns and sore wounds and as an ingredient in hemorrhoid ointments. The texts of Al-Dinawari, the founder of Arabic botany (9th century AD), refer to the refreshing effects of rose water and recommend it for treating fever. He also recommended applying rose oil to the head to reduce fever because of its calming effect. Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Zakaria Al-Razi, the Arab physician in the ninth century AD, drew attention to its curative value. Rose petals have also been used since ancient times because of their astringent and strengthening properties, especially in cases of lung bleeding, coughing, and treatment of throat diseases, as well as mouth ulcers.
The most Famous Plants whose Flowers are Used Treatment
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Linden blossom (Tilia cordata)
- Roses
- Violet
- Saffron
- Jasminum Sambac (Arabian Jasmine)
Chamomile is the common name for several daisy-like plants in the family Asteraceae. wikimedia.org
1. Chamomile
It belongs to the Asteraceae family; these aromatic herbaceous plants smell like apples or pineapples. Its flowers are used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. It can also help to calm the nerves and regulate the digestive process. Chamomile is used in making creams and hair products, and it can also be consumed as tea.
Lavender. wikimedia.org
2. Lavender
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, Russia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa. It has been used both cosmetically and medicinally throughout history. Currently, lavender is grown all over the world, and the aromatherapy essential oils from its flowers are used in aromatherapy, gels, perfumes, baked goods, candles, cosmetics, cleansers, massage oils, powders, shampoos, soaps, and tea. English lavender (L. angustifolia) is the most common type of lavender. Its flowers are widely used because of their antiseptic, calming, and anti-spasmodic properties.
It has long been believed that lavender essential oil possesses antibacterial, calming, carminative, and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Did You Know?
According to an article written on Science Direct, many activities attributed to lavender oil have not been proven in the scientific literature.
3. Linden Blossom (Tilia cordata)
Linden trees belong to the Tiliaceae family and consist of about 80 species native to Europe and found in northern temperate regions. The 5-petaled, fragrant, yellow-to-white flowers are collected after the spring to dry and preserve. It is used to calm children and help them sleep.
Studies are being carried out to ensure that the flowers of this plant contribute to lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.
The German Commission E study concluded that linden flowers are toxic to the heart, so heart patients should avoid taking linden, according to Drugs.com.
Rose Essential Oil. wikimedia.org
4. Roses
Rose is the name given to the thorny shrubs and climbing vines of the genus Rosa in the Rosaceae family. More than 100 species of Rosa have been recorded worldwide.
Rose oil is one of the most widely used essential oils in perfumery and scented products. According to Chemical Senses, rose oil can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood, so rose oil reduces the physiological symptoms of stress, including rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and sweating.
Rose oil should never be taken internally, as it may lead to nausea, confusion, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and possibly coma.
Did You Know?
Rosehip grows from the perennial rose plant, which can grow 3 to 5 meters tall. The thorny branches bear pink and white flowers, then scarlet fruits called hips. These rosehips are the ripe ovaries, or seeded fruit, of roses that form on the branches after flowering. The fruit is about 1 to 2 cm long and 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick and is oval in shape, shrunken, and wrinkled.
Fresh rosehip contains 0.5%–1.7% vitamin C. There is moderate evidence of the use of rosehip preparations for osteoporosis.
Also, rosehip contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, K, and folate. Other ingredients include pectin (11%), tannins (2%–3%), malic and citric acids, flavonoids, yellow and red dyes, polyphenols, inverted sugar, volatile oil, and vanillin.
Violet Flower. wikimedia.org
5. Violet
The violet family includes more than two hundred species, distributed between temperate and tropical regions. Ancient scholars, Arabs, and others spoke about violets and their many benefits. The Greeks used it to calm anger, bring sleep and relaxation, and strengthen the heart. Violet cream is a good paint for some skin diseases, such as scabies, and is also a soothing headache treatment and chest softener. The drinks are beneficial for lung, gastritis, and kidney pain. It is also a natural laxative.
In modern medicine, the violet flower is described as a drink like tea at a rate of ten grams per liter of water, and it is useful against coughing and colds. Its flowers are mixed with sugar and dried for use in treating constipation.
Saffron Flower. wikimedia.org
6. Saffron
Saffron is a valuable spice and also the most expensive culinary ingredient in the world. This plant is a member of the iris family. The word “saffron” carries in the Greek language the meaning of “thread,” which refers to the stamens of saffron flowers. The English word “saffron” comes from the Arabic word “zafaran.”
This type of spice appeared thousands of years ago and had many uses. High-quality saffron has a deep red color and is also known as red gold.
Numerous studies have proven the ability of the stems and petals of the original saffron to improve mood. The two substances safranal and crocin in saffron help to control the proportion of neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin in addition to the hormone norepinephrine, which helps to get rid of symptoms associated with depression, whether mild or moderate. Saffron also strengthens memory and improves learning abilities.
Saffron also strengthens memory and improves learning capabilities. Macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss, is due to an age-related condition due to the atrophy of cells within the retina called the macular. The two substances crocin and crocetin in saffron help avoid damage to these cells due to aging.
Jasminum sambac (Arabian Jasmine). wikimedia.org
7. Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac)
Jasminum sambac, or Arabian jasmine, is a type of jasmine in the jasmine genus that contains nearly 217–229 species and belongs to the Oleaceae family.
The plant has long been used as a sedative, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. The roots are used to treat wounds and snake bites. The leaves and flowers have antipyretic and decongestant properties. The flowers are used to treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, and dermatitis. Diarrhea, fever, and pain are treated with fruits and roots.
In addition to the beautiful scent of jasmine, which gives a feeling of comfort and relaxation, some studies have proven that the natural compounds found in it work to improve blood flow, raise oxygen levels, and provide healthy and vibrant skin. Due to all these reasons, Global Healing Center has included Jasminum sambac as one of the ingredients in its skin care products.
Some other studies on Jasminum sambac revealed that the plant is anti-fungal and anti-cancer. Both the methanol extract and the essential oil of Jasminum sambac have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Sources
- Drugs.com | Prescription Drug Information, Interactions, and Side Effects. Prescription drug information and news for professionals and consumers.
- Lavender essential oil: a review – ScienceDirect.
- Effect of “Rose Essential Oil” Inhalation on Stress-Induced Skin Barrier Disruption in Rats and Humans | Chemical Senses | Oxford Academic.
- Saffron: Potential Health Benefits
- (PDF) A review of Jasminum sambac: A potential medicinal plant. Int J Ind Herbs Drugs 2017; 2(5): 13-16. A review on Jasminum sambac A potential medicinal plant | Herbs and Drugs | Academia.edu.
©Eman Abdallah Kamel, 2023
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