USEFUL FLOWERS AND AROMAS
Flowers are not only for decoration but also contain several medicinal properties.
ROSE
We all know how good a rose is for us aesthetically and as an edible item. It is a source of a very loveable perfume and Gulkand, made only by rose. Its leaves have a cooling effect on the body, so in the preparation of Thandai, fresh rose leaves form an essential item. Gulkand is made by drying the rose petals in a vast glass jar with a a broad mouth. After putting enough rose petals and sugar candy (mishri) in the pot, it is kept in the sun. In about a fortnight, Gulkand (literally meaning sweets of a flower) is ready. This Gulkand has a variety of uses. If you go out in the sun, have a spoonful of Gulkand and gulp it down with cold water. Then you would be immune to the effect of heat. The Gulkand will keep your system cool and clean. The sugar candy in it would also provide enough energy for you to take up even a strenuous journey in the sun. Even for taste, this is a very good sweet. Many people have it in Paan (betel leaves) also. Those persons with chronic acidity should consume a couple of fresh leaves of rose early in the morning as the first thing. In a couple of days, the problem of acidity will vanish. Use rose perfume to provide relief to the body through the olfactory senses. It is a lovely perfume devised by Mogul Begum Noorjehan, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. If you have boils inside the nose, apply a little rose-perfume over them, and they will be cured.
BUDS OF KACHNAR
This is a freely available tree, and its buds are fantastic in stopping the lose motion. If you develop diarrhoeic conditions, you must take a handful of these buds and chew them properly to form a milk-like substance inside your mouth. The taste could be somewhat astringent, but the moment its juice enters your system, you would riot and lose motion. If you feel thirsty, don’t take water but have a couple of dates instead. If the thirst becomes unbearable, have a gulp of water only to rinse your mouth. If you drink water, you might again have the problem of loose motions. Since these buds have anti-diarrhoeic qualities, many have their trees in orchards. But instead of having them as a cooked vegetable, it is better if raita is formed of them because, with the addition of curds, their anti-diarrhoeic effect is considered neutralized. Kachnar is also rich in iodine; its consumption also helps in the healthy growth of hair.
CALENDULA (GENDA)
This is a plant cultivated all over India. Its yellow flowers are attractive and full of good smell and qualities. Its primary medicinal use is as an antiseptic. Its juice and pulp are used worldwide in several antiseptic lotions and creams. Under proper hygiene, its fresh pulp can be applied on new cuts and pimples.
USEFUL AROMAS
Aromas are generally essential oils generated from flowers and other plants. Aromas are beneficial in treating many diseases.
GERANIUM
The sweet scent of this oil is solid but fresh rather than cloying and blends well with a wide range of other oils, including lavender, rose, patchouli, neroli and bergamot. It has antidepressant and sedative properties and is suitable for anxiety, stress and mood swings.
Other Uses: Many skin problems, including eczema and acne; throat infections; diarrhoea; burns; as an insect repellent. Safe for children.
JASMINE
Jasmine is one of the most potent antidepressant oils. It has an exquisitely sweet floral fragrance that blends with other oils, such as rose. Clarisage and citrus oils. It is another expensive oil. As well as being an antidepressant, it has aphrodisiac and soothing properties. It should be used only in moderation—in terms of quantity in a blend (usually, two or three drops are sufficient) and frequency.
Other Uses: Coughs and catarrh, female reproductive problems, especially labour pains, to increase breast milk and for post-natal depression.
LAVENDER
If you had to choose just one oil to take to a desert island that would suit every circumstance, it would almost certainly be lavender. This versatile oil derives from the herb’s flowers, and it has a familiar fresh scent, often used in perfume. It is one of the safest essences to use, even for children and one of the few that can be used directly on the skin without being blended in a carrier oil. It is both antiseptic and healing, particularly on burns (where it promotes skin regeneration), bites and stings. It blends exceptionally well with most other oils (especially floral or citrus) and has strong soothing and calming properties, making it very effective for problems such as tension, depression and insomnia,
Other Uses: Headaches, skin problems, high blood pressure; respiratory and digestive disorders, cystitis; sunburn. It is helpful for any inflammatory condition as a pain killer and antiseptic.
ROSE
The rose has been praised since antiquity for its healing and regenerative powers. Its scent is heady and feminine, and it is commonly linked in aromatherapy to female problems, such as regulating menstrual periods. It is strongly antidepressant and aphrodisiac and works well for most emotional problems with its stabilizing and uplifting qualities. It blends well with most other flower essences. It works particularly well in skin preparations and is even said to have powers of rejuvenation! It is one of the gentlest oils, and its stabilizing effect works equally well on the heart, circulation, and headaches. It is one of the most expensive oils but it has such a powerful aroma, so little goes a long way.
Other Uses: Headache, eczema, hayfever, as an antiseptic. Safe for children.
BASIL
Basil is one of the most uplifting oils and works exceptionally well with emotional problems connected with anxiety and mental fatigue. Used in the bath or inhaled from a tissue, it gives an instant boost—concentrating the mind and strengthening confidence. It is also a powerful antiseptic and is excellent for respiratory problems such as bronchitis, colds, coughs and sinusitis. It blends well with clary sage, bergamot and geranium. However, it should be used only in moderation and never during pregnancy.
Other Uses: Muscular aches and pains: rheumatism, as an insect repellent.
SANDALWOOD
This warm, sweet, woody essence comes from the tropical sandalwood tree and has been known in the East for its medicinal, cosmetic and embalming properties for thousands of years. It has a calming, antidepressant effect and is also said to have aphrodisiac properties. Many men find it more appealing than the flowery essences; it combines well with resonating scents like rose and neroli and is an essential constituent in many perfumes.
Other Uses: For the respiratory system, especially sore throats and laryngitis, insomnia, and diarrhoea, as a diuretic, for dry skin.
BERGAMOT
The essential oil does not come from the herb called bergamot but from the fruit of the bergamot tree. It is extracted from the fruit’s rind, which resembles a small orange, and has a fresh, sweet citrus smell. Its uplifting, refreshing quality gives it as much value as a relaxing oil (for depression, anxiety and stress) as a therapeutic one. It is excellent as an antiseptic, notably a vaporizer against airborne infections. It is also very effective for skin problems such as acne, eczema and psoriasis but should not be used on the skin before exposure to sunlight.
Other Uses: As an insect repellent and on insect bites, sore throats, tonsillitis, cystitis and thrush.
ROSEMARY
As well as being an excellent antiseptic, rosemary has a warming, stimulating and balancing effect on all internal organs. It similarly impacts the mind to basil, invigorating and strengthening. It is beneficial for rheumatism, arthritis and general muscular aches and pains. It is traditionally used in many hair preparations. It combines well with other herbal oils and cedarwood. Please do not use it during pregnancy.
Other Uses: Coughs, colds and flu.
JUNIPER
Juniper is a diuretic that is very effective for urinary infections and fluid retention, especially during menstruation. It is the most potent ingredient in cystitis and, in expelling uric acid from the joints, it is also helpful for rheumatism, arthritis and gout. It stimulates the circulation, purifies the bloodstream and acts on the kidneys. It is also excellent for indigestion and flatulence. It blends well with lavender, cypress, rosemary and cedarwood. Use only the oil from the berry rather than the wood. It should not be used during pregnancy or for those with kidney disease.