Did you know that your flower bed may contain medicine? That’s right -- Mother Earth provides us with medicine of many sorts.
Houseleeks, Daffodils, Heart’s Ease, Lily of The Valley… the list really could go on, but I’m guessing out of those 4 flowers you recognized at least 3 of them. Think of how beautiful a medicinal flower garden could be…the possibilities are endless! Today I would like to share with you 7 garden flowers that contain healing powers.
Orchids: Orchidaceae or Orchis – Orchids are very popular due to how fragrant and colorful they are. This perennial herb is one of the two largest families out of all flowering plants. Studies and various research show that different varieties of orchids produce different healing properties. In many cases the whole plant can be used to treat different ailments, such as Tuberculosis, Body Aches, Burns, Wounds, Ulcers, Boils, and even Fevers.
Lily of The Valley: Convallaria majalis – The name of this flower should ring so many bells. Of all of the medicinal flowers, this is a very important one. It is also very important that this plant only be used under supervision by professional and licensed practitioners and herbalists. Lily of The Valley can be dangerous if not prepared properly and must be administered under caution. The cardiac glycosides in this plant have a similar effect as Digitalis. The plant is used to increase blood flow and help slow, regulate, and strengthen the heart.
The flowers are sweetly scented and shaped like bells. It is used by herbalists as a restricted herbal remedy. Just as someone without any heart issues shouldn’t take another person’s heart medication, a person should not take another patient’s natural heart medication; it can be harmful.
Foxglove: Digitalis purpurea – Foxglove is a very beautiful plant with flowers that are white with some shades of light pink. This flower has the same medicinal properties as Lily of The Valley except the medicine is more potent. This is also a medicine you would only want to use under the care of a professional herbalist or practitioner.
Houseleeks: Sempervivum tectorum L. - Houseleeks are also known as hens & chicks, hens & peeps, and Live Forever. This is truly a plant that keeps on giving -- it multiplies pretty quickly and can take over the garden, so hold on tight. According to research, the antimicrobial properties provided from the plant, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties, help ease the pain and inflammation of an ear ache. There is also different information available stating that this plant has many other healing properties but the only one with solid proof is the earache.
Daffodil: Narcissus pseudonarcissus – The daffodil is a very common perennial found in gardens all over the world. You can even find the flower in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. This plant is cultivated for one very distinct purpose and that is to treat the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The leaves & bulbs produce something called galantamine, which is a cost effective medicine. However, it can take up to 10 tons of daffodils to make just a kilogram of galantamine.
Heart’s Ease: Viola tricolor – This plant is also known as the wild pansy. It gets its name from the tricolored leaves: purple, white, and yellow. The flowers are used to make different colored dyes, as well as medicine. Herbalists consider Heart’s Ease to be a purifying herb. It contains a long list of healing properties and uses. Heart’s ease is a beautiful flower with amazing medicine.
Dittany of Crete: Origanum dictamnus L. - Named Dittany of Crete because it originates from Crete, Greece. The flowers grow wild in the rocks and crevices on high cliffs so it is hard to get to. Studies show that the essential oil of the flowers possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-ulcer properties. This perennial plant is actually a part of the mint family.
Mother Earth made sure there was medicine for us everywhere. You can look to the earth, air, fire, water, and the many plants that grow. Learning these very things helped me to look at healing in a different light: it helped me see just how many life forms provide life. Medicine goes far beyond the modern day pharmacy; it goes back to our roots.
