Yes, says Julia Volet. Smell is the most powerful and emotional of all the senses. Scents connect with you at a deeper emotional level, resulting in well-being and memorable experiences. Whether you’re working with flowers in your own garden or are buying a bouquet to lift your mood or tackle a gloomy situation, they bring emotional, physical, and spiritual beauty into your life.
WHAT IS FLOWER THERAPY?
Flower therapy is one of the most natural and universal ways to express feelings and heal through the power of plants. With the help of flowers, we express happiness, congratulations, sympathy, love and friendship with each other. Whether a single wildflower, a grand bouquet, or a dose of a medicinal flower remedy or essence, these gifts of nature have the power to heal, inspire, and touch our hearts. We are instinctively drawn to flowers. Young children, with no judgements of weed or flower, naturally gravitate to chery yellow dandelions. They pick them by the fistful as springtime bouquets for moms and loved ones. Sometimes what we cannot say in words, we let flowers say for us. A bouquet of red roses speaks of love and passion. Amaryllis and Poinsettias herald winter holidays. Cheery daisies and forget-me-nots help you say, “I’m sorry, let’s think of happy memories.” The beauty and intoxicating aroma of lilacs and honeysuckle are the perfect flower remedy for chasing away the last of the winter blues as they announce the beginning of warm days ahead. Just being in the presence of flowers touches our spirits. Whether we experience them as a gift of nature along a country road, in our gardens, or by receiving or giving a gift of flowers, these beauties are a welcome and positive addition to our lives. It is no wonder that flower therapy is an age-old form of healing.
TYPES OF FLOWER THERAPY
There is much more to flower therapy than the good feelings they evoke just by looking at them. As the reproductive part of the plant, flowers have a lot of life force energy. Flower medicine is powerful and effective for mind, body and spirit. Depending on which flowers you are using, and how you are using them, they will primarily work on a physical level or an energetic level. For example: stress-relieving herbs taken as tinctures or teas work because they calm the nervous system. The result is a more relaxed mind.
THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FLOWER THERAPIES ACT ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL:
FLOWER OILS AND OINTMENTS
Oils and ointments are helpful for external use. They may be used for wound healing, relaxing muscles, acne and more. They are made from fresh or dried flowers infused in a carrier oil. A good carrier oil, such as olive, jojoba, apricot and grape seed oils may enhance the benefits. Two wonderful medicinal flower oils are calendula and dandelion.
TEAS AND INFUSIONS
Dried flowers and plant parts must be used for teas and infusions. Otherwise the cell walls remain intact and no nutrients or constituents escape into the water. Drying breaks the cell walls. Teas are sipped for enjoyment, relaxation and medicinal benefits. Infusions provide the added benefit of supplying easily absorbed vitamins and minerals. Flowers are commonly used in teas, but not so much in infusions.
MEDICINAL TINCTURES
Tincturing with a solvent such as vodka is necessary to extract some medicinal qualities. Glycerine is sometimes used for children and people who are sensitive to alcohol. It does not extract as many constituents as alcohol. Tinctures are easy to use and are readily absorbed. They are a good way of taking bitter flower medicine. They can be mixed with a little water or juice and downed quickly. Sometimes dried flowers are used to make high quality tinctures, but usually fresh flowers are best.
PHYSICAL AND VIBRATIONAL FLOWER THERAPY
The following flower remedies work primarily and on a physical level. They are also used to heal the aura or energy body.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are usually made from the steam extracted volatile oils of flowers and other parts. When you pick up the scent of flowers in the air, that is their volatile oils escaping. Molecules enter the blood stream as you inhale. They can also be absorbed through your skin. Aromatherapy primarily heals on a physical level. Certain flowers and resins, such as frankincense and jasmine, are sometimes used as vibrational remedies for spiritual healing, energy healing, or raising the vibration of a space. Rose, jasmine and lavender are three flowers that make flower therapy a joy because of their heavenly smelling healing essential oils.
HOME BOTANICAL REMEDIES
Are a combination of herbs to address certain conditions. Most remedies include tinctures made of flowers along with other plant parts. These remedies work on a physical level, because they contain actual plant material. They also work on the energetic, or vibrational, level, because they are dilute and potentized like homeopathic remedies.
VIBRATIONAL FLOWER THERAPY FLOWER ESSENCES
Flower essences are a class by themselves. Unlike tinctures, oils, teas and other herbal reparations that use any and all plant parts, they are made solely from flowers. The only exception I am aware of is Bach’s rock water. Flower essences are vibrational healing remedies because they primarily work on the emotional, mental and spiritual energy levels. If a physical healing happens, it is usually because a related core issue is released at one or more of those levels. Bach remedies are the most wellknown. The Flower Essence Repertory profiles the Bach remedies and many other flowers as well. Each flower in a system is linked to specific emotional, mental, and spiritual states. You introduce the energy signature of the flower and those positive qualities into your energy field with each dose. Flower essences combine beautifully with home botanical remedies and may be mixed in the same bottle for one convenient remedy.
LIVE FLOWERING PLANTS
Whether in field or garden, flowers offer the same benefits as essences. You can benefit from the vibration of a flowering plant just by sitting in its presence. Ask for mental and emotional healing, open your heart, and meditate on its positive qualities. Find this information in a book or online source. Better yet, let your intuition guide you to a flower. Visit a nursery and choose flowers that make you feel good when you look at them and/or smell them. Whether you take essence drops or sit with a living plant, your vibration raises to match the vibration of the plant. As your vibration rises, negative states fall away and shift to more positive ones.
MIND AND BODY HEALING WITH FLOWERS
Flower therapy, in all its forms, helps you heal and transform in mind, body and spirit. One flower, depending on the constituents that are extracted from different parts of the plant and how it is prepared, may have very different actions.
EXAMPLE 1 -HYPERICUM PERFORATA
Saint John’s Wort is not limited only as a flower medicine for depression. Hypericum means over the spirit. Its hypericin sensitizes us to light, so you must be careful of too much sunlight when taking it. As a tincture, hypericum is useful for mild to moderate depression, menopausal symptoms, and for those who manifest their mental states as body symptoms. Hypericum flower oil helps with wound healing, scar formation, and nerve pain. The flower essence of hypericum is for people who are highly sensitive. These people carry a lot of light within and it is difficult for them to incarnate and contain their light. It is also for sustaining light when feeling melancholic or depressed due to light deprivation. It provides protection during the dark of night and helps with sleep disturbances and negative entities.
EXAMPLE 2: ACHILLEA MILLIFOLIUM
Yarrow offers flower therapy physically and emotionally. On the physical level, white yarrow relaxes smooth muscles, making it good for cramping in the digestive tract and uterus. It may reduce fever when taken internally because it makes you sweat. Yarrow is astringent and helps stop external and internal bleeding, which made the tincture a popular remedy for heavy menstrual bleeding and nosebleeds. It is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic for infections inside the body and out. Make an infusion of yarrow flowers and drink to help relieve congestion and stimulate digestion. Also use the infusion as a wash for eczema, oily skin, and wounds. From a flower essence perspective, yarrow is useful for those who are particularly affected by their surroundings. It is wonderful for counsellors, teachers and healers. It helps strengthen the aura and harmonizes one’s spiritual nature with the physical world. As you can see, flower medicine has far reaching effects for mind, body and spirit. Whether enjoying a single wildflower, an herbal brew, or flowers for emotions, flower therapy has the power to heal, inspire, and touch your heart. We all know flowers are beautiful to look at, but that’s not their only merit. In fact, many blooms also have healing properties that make them just as useful as they are pretty to look at. For instance, sunflowers are known for being bright and cheerful, but they can also be brewed into tea that helps soothe sore throats and menstrual cramps! Here are a few other flowers with practical healing properties:
LAVENDER
Lavender has long been used in aromatherapy as an essential oil that helps many people relax and manage stress, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Lavender oil also has some surprising anti-inflammatory and antiseptic benefits as a topical treatment. It’s sometimes used to treat wounds, burns and even acne, as well as heal some throat and chest conditions.
JASMINE
Jasmine is very popular in tea form, and not just because it makes a delicious drink. Jasmine eases many body aches and cramps and can also benefit the digestive system. People use jasmine to manage ulcers and indigestion, along with anxiety and sleep issues.
CALENDULA
Calendula is one of the most well-known floral healers. Also called pot marigold, calendula petals have been used for centuries to heal cuts, burns and wounds. This is no surprise, considering calendula’s incredible antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory glycosides. The flower is also commonly used to heal many skin conditions, including rashes, acne and athlete’s foot.
ROSE
Roses, one of the most popular flowers for cut arrangements, are also commonly used for medicinal purposes. Roses contain a great deal of vitamin C, an important antioxidant for overall health and fighting some more serious conditions like heart disease and stroke. Rose petals can help increase circulation, fight depression and anxiety, relieve infections and combat viruses, among a number of other health benefits. If one of your friends needs a mood lift, send them Teleflora’s Joyful Hearth Bouquet, which contains healing roses along with chrysanthemums.
ECHINACEA
Echinacea’s uses in medicine and healing date back to early Native American tribes who used the flower to treat various wounds and diseases that afflicted them. Echinacea contains compounds called alkylamides that are effective at treating both internal and external conditions. For example, echinacea has been used to manage sore throats, colds and the flu.
PASSIONFLOWER
Passionflowers are one of the most interesting looking flowers, known for their unique petal formations and vibrant colours. As far as healing goes, these flowers are adept at treating many mental and emotional conditions, including stress, insomnia, depression, anxiety and panic. The relaxant can also aid those with asthma, shingles and epilepsy. Passionflowers are such a great sedative that they’ve been used medicinally since the Aztecs first discovered their healing properties.
HAWTHORN
Hawthorn flowers are small and dainty, but their health benefits are enormous. Actually, a member of the rose family, hawthorn contains several antioxidants that have amazing hearthealth benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving circulation and even strengthening the heart muscle. Its cardiovascular benefits are so great that it’s often recommended for use by seniors with a history of heart disease in their family.
Note: Please use flowers to treat specific conditions under expert advice and exercise caution.
When JULIA VOLET set up Julia Volet Flowers and Botanics in 2014, she had one aim in mind. “I wanted to sell simple, yet stylish flowers, beautifully presented to the UAE market. And I knew people would love it.” With a strong sense of colour and design and genuine passion for flowers, it has proved to be winning combination, establishing\ Julia Violet Flowers and Botanics as the premier name in Dubai’s flower market – and beyond. Widely considered as a trendsetter in the art of floral design. Julia Volet, an entrepreneur and founder of the platform for representing personal identity with her Dubai based studio has expanded her passion for flowers into a collection of exquisitely scented candles and luxury fragrances dedicated to creating a sensory experience of how the scent can transform space; mood and atmosphere. Visit: www.juliavolet.com