Heal Through Nature’s Blooms: Discover Natural Benefits of Flowers

Arisha S.
Sep 10, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Feb 25

Flowers have long been revered for their beauty, fragrance, and symbolic meanings. From skincare to relaxation, flowers have been used in herbal medicine, cosmetics, and even culinary arts, as an innate human existence.

Explore natural benefits of some of the most powerful healing flowers, highlighting their seasons, origins, and how to apply or adopt them for optimal results.

Heal Through Nature’s Blooms: art poster, Retro Blooms — Feel the *healing vibrations* through nature's blooms

1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Season: Blooms from late spring to early summer.
Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region, particularly France, Spain, and Italy.

Benefits: Lavender is known for its calming properties, making it perfect for reducing stress, anxiety, and insomnia. It also has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities that soothe skin irritations and promote healing.

There is growing evidence in the scientific world about the effective medicament in treatment of several neurological disorders (1).

How to Use:

Topical: Apply lavender essential oil diluted in a carrier oil to soothe burns, insect bites (1), or dry skin.
Aromatherapy: Add a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser for relaxation or better sleep through its anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, sedative and calming properties (1).
Tea: Steep dried lavender flowers in hot water for a calming tea that aids in digestion and sleep.

2. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Natural benefits of flowers: art poster, Retro Blooms — Sleep better after a cup of calendula flower tea.

Season: Blooms from early spring to late autumn.
Origin: Southern Europe, Mediterranean regions, and parts of Asia.

Benefits: Calendula is highly effective for skin healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (3). It promotes wound healing, reduces redness, and helps with certain burns and skin conditions (3).

How to Use:

Topical: Use calendula-infused oil or creams to soothe irritated or dry skin.
Tea: Drinking calendula tea can aid digestion and support the immune system.
Bath: Add calendula petals to bathwater to soothe skin and relax muscles.
Culinary: Add Calendula petals in salads (2) for garnishing.

3. Rose (Rosa damascena)

Season: Blooms in late spring and early summer.
Origin: Originally from the Middle East, especially Iran (Persia) and Bulgaria.

Benefits: Rose is celebrated for its hydrating and anti-aging properties (4). It helps to restore skin’s natural moisture, reduce redness, and balance skin tone. Its scent also promotes emotional well-being, reducing stress and anxiety.

A 2020 study, for example, found that rose water “evokes skin whitening and anti-wrinkle formation activity” and acted as an antioxidant in human subjects, for example, likely by inhibiting inflammation.

(4)

How to Use:

Topical: Use rose water as a toner (4) to hydrate and soothe the skin or rose oil to reduce signs of aging.
Aromatherapy: Diffuse rose essential oil to uplift your mood and reduce stress.
Culinary: Add rose petals to desserts, teas, or infused water for a subtle floral flavor and digestive benefits.

4. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Season: Blooms from late spring to early autumn.
Origin: Europe and Western Asia.

Benefits: Chamomile is known for its calming and anti-inflammatory effects.

It promotes relaxation and sleep.

The chemical constituents of chamomile contain terpenoids and flavanoids (5) that help with gastrointestinal problems like indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting (5).

How to Use:

Topical: Apply chamomile-infused oil or creams to soothe sensitive skin, rashes, and eczema.
Tea: Chamomile tea is a popular remedy for insomnia, digestive issues, and stress (5).
Aromatherapy: Add chamomile oil to a diffuser to calm nerves and promote restful sleep.

5. Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

Season: Blooms from spring to late summer.
Origin: Jasminum officinale, or Common Jasmine is the national flower of Pakistan, while Jasminum sambac, or Arabian Jasmine, is one of three national flowers in Indonesia and is the national flower of the Philippines (6).

Benefits: Jasmine is prized for its ability to boost skin’s elasticity, balance moisture levels, and enhance mood. Its exotic aroma has calming effects and is often used to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

The Jasmine flower embodies an androgynous aroma, with a decadent balance of both feminine sweetness and masculine muskiness.

(6)

How to Use:

Topical: Jasmine oil, when added to lotions or oils, hydrates the skin and improves elasticity.
Aromatherapy: Use jasmine essential oil in a diffuser to support the nervous system (6), relieve stress and uplift your mood.
Tea: Jasmine tea aids digestion and offers antioxidant benefits.