Flowers are loved and liked by everyone. Flowers are just so eye appeasing, such a soothing delight for us. We must always have fresh and beautiful flowers around as it pushes negativity away from us. They are really much more than just pretty faces. Centuries back, we used flowers in many different types. In early times, we used flowers as colours, also for adding different flavours to our food, for medicinal purposes and so on.
Nowadays, uses of natural flowers is coming back in trend. There are so many different uses of flowers that you might have never thought of them. And you may be surprised to know them. Personally, I just love making flower teas, using flower essential oils, and even adding them to my salads. I would like to encourage you to try adding flowers to your diet as well as to your crafts.
Tea
Tea is prepared in many different ways. It is not only tea leaves which are used to make tea, but there are few of its types are also prepared with flowers. Flowers like Jasmine, Chamomile, Hibiscus, as well as Bee Balm, are being used for making tea on a very wide scale. And not only these flowers, but many more of them are used for the preparation of tea. Apart from Flowers, even roots and leaves of various plants are used to make tea as well. For instance, tulsi leaves are also used to make tea, and is found useful for those suffering with cold. These beverages usually have health benefits, and hence, they are not merely tasty drinks. I personally love Chai, tea which is made with milk, flavoured with ginger.
Medicinal Uses
Multiple medicines and drugs are made out of plants, which many of us already know. But these medicines are made from natural flowers – not merely with leaves or roots. Passionflower has numerous medicinally properties, which are helpful in treating insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. Nasturtium has in it anti microbial quality which helps in cold and flu. Lavender flowers are largely used for aromatherapy and are known for their calming properties. Gels made of Lilac soothes skin burns and wounds.
Ayurveda
Traditional medicinal and herbal qualities are possessed by diverse varieties of flowers. Flower like Marigold, has capabilities of curing stomach and mouth ulcers. Night Flowering Jasmine has been used for Homeopathy and also as Ayurvedic medicine. Edible lotus seeds are used for curing Cholera, diarrhoea and fever, based upon Ayurveda. Sunflowers are a rich source of phosphorus and also helpful in improving bone health.
Food
Flowers are even good enough to be consumed in our diet. There are so many flowers which are delightful for our taste buds, apart from being beautiful and eye appealing! Various dishes and cuisines around the world use flowers. Edible flowers make a blooming and beautiful addition to baked items, salads, and meals. Nasturtiums, chive blossoms, and violets are just a few flowers that add flavour and interest to salads. Squash flowers and dandelion flowers are made into deep fried snacks which tastes delicious. Spanish Jasmine makes desserts even more yummy.
Lavender flowers, one of my personal favourite, flavourful addition to cookies. Whereas, pansies and violas can be candied and can be used for cake decorations. Also, we must know that not all the flowers are fit to eaten. Because, there are many flowers that can even make you sick if you consume them. Cornflower are used for preparing salads. Moringa oleifera flower (sahjan flower) are coated with a batter and deep fried into pakodas.
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Natural Colours or Dyes
Many of the first dyes were made out of flowers. Artificial colours were not used earlier, natural colours were extracted out of different colour flowers. For instance, flowers like Chrysanthemum, Yarrow, Anemone, Rose, etc. are used for making red colour.
Bellflowers, Iris, Blue Anemone and Cornflower are used for extracting blue colour. Marigold, Asiatic lily, and Sunflower are used for yellow colour. Whereas, foxglove flowers gives chartreuse color. Hollyhock flowers helps producing different coloured dyes based upon the colour of flowers.
Ornamental
You must never throw that bouquet away! Even those dried flowers can be used in variety of ways. Wreaths, art pieces, potpourri, collages, mobiles, and jewelry are just few among them. These flowers can be used for decorating candle stands. Nowadays resin jewelry is a lot in fashion, and these resin ornaments are made using dried and pressed flowers and orchids. Isn’t it amazing!
Air purifiers
There are number of studies published stating that houseplants have potential of reducing air pollution indoors. Pollutants like Benzene, formaldehyde, hexane are just a few of those which plants can easily break down. Chrysanthemums and Gerbera daisies are two of the flowering plants that are proven to be effective for reducing indoor air pollution. In addition to filtering air, plants also increase humidity.
Beauty products
Flowers can be even more better and effective for our skin and thus, many of them are used for various beauty products. Skincare products such as facial oils, moisturisers, toners and so on contain flower extracts in them. Many bathing soaps are also made out of flowers as they work really good for skin. Rose water is one of the most commonly used product which we use in many different ways on our skin. Rose water is used as toner, mixed with face pack, makeup remover. And you can even make fresh rose water by yourself, using rose petals. This toner helps in tightening pores as well as in cleansing skin- also it smells lovely! Dried flowers like lavender and chamomile, are also added to handmade soaps or even to bathing water. Calendula flowers can make an excellent moisturiser or lotion.
Perfumes and Fragrances
Natural flowers are natural perfumes with their natural fragrances without any chemicals. Numerous different flowers like Roses, Plumerias, Lavenders, Violets and Jasmines are mostly used for making perfumes. Petals of flowers are mainly utilized for extraction of fragrances. Essential oils are stored in the petals of these flowers which give them their unique and wonderful smell.
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Clothing
I have been encountering this very often that many fashion designers these days using fresh flowers for making there clothes even more attractive. One man in China had a dress which was covered with fresh red roses, and he made it for his girlfriend! Fashion shows featuring clothing made of flowers are not uncommon and can be quite spectacular. On a more realistic note, linen and cotton are both made from flowering plants.
Pesticides
Flowers and insects might seem to be like a natural combination-but this is not the case every time. Some plants are even used for manufacturing pesticides. Taking an example, of chrysanthemum flower which is used for making pyrethrins. Pyrethrins is a powerful pesticide potential for killing lice, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, and roaches. Another, plant of citronella is yet another common insecticide; which you might have encountered in the mosquito repellant aisle at stores.
Real and fresh flowers are more of attraction these days. In this artificial world, fresh and natural flowers can be your best companion. Flowers always bring in positivity and calm our minds.