flower

Flowers are a part of the most important occasions in our lives. They are conspicuously present on birthdays, funerals, graduation, weddings, etc. forming an integral part of our lives. Some flowers have religious significance too.

It is impossible for any person to be completely unaware of flower meanings. Everyone knows that a red rose stands for romantic love and that one does not send yellow roses to anyone in mourning. However, meanings are associated not only with roses but also with other flowers.

Giving flowers is a time-honored tradition and a beautiful expression of love. But flowers hold many secrets beyond their amorous appeal. They are an expression of sex!

According to recent behavioral research the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed. "Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy," Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being It turns out that the 1960s activists who chanted "flower power" were onto something important, in more ways than they probably knew. Flowers, just like peace, are good for our mental health.

Research consistently links indoor flowers (and plants, but they haven't been mentioned in many protest slogans) with wellbeing. Park and Mattson in 2008 confirmed what visitors to sick people have known intuitively forever. They found that patients in hospital rooms brightened with flowers and potted plants needed less postoperative pain medication, had lower systolic blood pressure and pulse rates, were less anxious and tired, and generally were in a more positive psychological state than patients in rooms without plants. Your living room isn't a hospital room (at least in the best of times), but if flowers and plants do so many good things for hospital patients, they must make your day at least a little better. Flowers in dining rooms are also a good idea -- researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands studied restaurant diners and found that people with fresh flowers on their tables seem to be in better moods.

Flowers grab the attention of passing insects with a wild display of fantastic colors and designs. Makes perfect sense, since it is the flower's job to manage the reproduction of the plant. Plants produce beautiful flowers to advertise their sexual organs hidden inside. The flowers then release powerful aphrodisiac scents, an instinctive incentive for insects to come in and play. Not only does the insect benefit from the flower's nectar, but the plant benefits as well. The insects carry the pollen to other plants which insures rapid fertilization and reproduction. Flowers are smarter than you might think, but there's more to flowers than just sex.

As spring emerges and flowers bloom, consider the fact that flowers do much more than just look pretty. We have depended on flowers for our food supply as rice, wheat and corn and of course, tea. Cotton flowers are used for clothing and flowers have been used as herbal medicine for thousands of years. Long before pharmaceutical drugs, flowers were used as herbal remedies and recorded use goes back to 500 A.D. Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic and Western herbal doctors all have a rich history of using flowers for medicinal purposes to heal a variety of afflictions. As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, here are just a few examples of flowers I use in my practice:

In Victorian times, certain flowers had specific meanings because the flower selection was limited and people used more symbols and gestures to communicate than words. But today, with so many flower choices, there are no rules - it's the sentiment that gives the gift its meaning. Your florist can help you send the right message. Many people assign their own personal meanings - a flower or color that might remind them of a special event or moment in their lives. For those interested in the historic meanings of flowers, the Society of American Florists has compiled this list from a variety of different sources:

Smelling floral scents also seems to put us in a good mood and make us feel less anxious. Flowers clearly aren't going to eliminate the need for medication, but they may take the edge off during exams or before a major presentation -- and smelling daisies doesn't leave you with a hangover.

When you're picking a bunch of flowers in your yard or at the local farmers' market, remember that less saturated and brighter colors are generally more relaxing, while bold saturated colors will energize you. A bunch with colors that fall near each other on the color wheel will also be more calming; with the opposite effect ensuing if the colors are opposite each other. Curvy shapes have generally been shown to be relaxing -- make an informed choice.

Reading the messages sent by flowers is a well-practiced art. Think about what roses of different colors seem to "say." Ever been disappointed when a potential partner you fancy shows up at your door with yellow roses instead of red ones? In the Internet era, symbolic snafus are harder to explain away. When in doubt, Google.

Enhancing the interior of your house with flowers and plants isn't an excuse to throw environmental responsibility to the wind. Local will probably last longer, anyway.

Flowers and plants in your home have positive psychological payback. Think of them as part of your mental health treatment program