The Meaning of Flowers

Well, this writer is still single, for sure he does not know anything about love. However, being a herbalist wannabe has its advantages. At the very least, I am trained in the Flower Language. I am listing a few common flowers here and their symbolism, then you can decide which one to give then. However, the recipient(s) might not know the meaning though. It's advisable to include a small notes to forward the message.

So, here goes nothing...

Acacia – Sacrifice; 'Wait for me; it might not be long.'

Anemone – Estrangement; 'I no longer find you appealing.'

Apple Blossom – Goodness; 'Your inner and outer beauty shines as bright.'

Basil – Animosity; 'I loathe at your sight.'

Begonia – Warning; 'Walls might have ears.'

Borage – Brusqueness; 'I am embarrassed by your whim.'

Broom – Devotion; 'I will be yours forever.'

Burdock – Persistence; 'I will never be discouraged.'

Buttercup – Radiance; 'Your magnificence is as radiant as the sun.'

Camellia – Loveliness; 'How radiant is your beauty.'

Chamomile – Fortitude; 'I admire your courage. Do not be despair'

Carnation (pink) – Encouragement; 'Yes'

Carnation (red) – Ardour; 'We must meet soon.'

Carnation (white) – Pure Devotion; 'A chaste love I offer you.'

Cherry Blossom – Increase; 'May our friendship grew stronger and firmer.'

Chrysanthemum (bronze) – Amity; 'We can just be friends.'

Chrysanthemum (red) – Requited love. 'I love you also.'

Chrysanthemum (white) – Honesty; 'I trust you completely.'

Chrysanthemum (yellow) – Coolness; 'I belong to another.'

Cleavers – Tenacity; 'I shall strive to win your love.'

Clover (pink) – Hurt pride. 'Do not belittle my affections.'

Clover (red) – Entreaty. 'Will you be faithful with my absence?'

Clover (white) – Promise. 'I shall stay true to you.'

Coriander – Hidden Qualities. 'Do not judge a book by its cover.'

Daffodil – Rebuttal; 'I do not share your feelings.'

Dahlia (red) – Dismissal; 'You presumed too very much.'

Dahlia (white) – Rebuff; 'Keep your distance.'

Dahlia (yellow) – Distaste; 'Your attentions are not to my liking.'

Daisy – Delay; 'Await my answer in a few days.'

Daisy (Michaelmas) – Goodbye; 'Do not contact me, I am unable to love you.'

Dandelion – Absurdity; 'I find your presumption laughable.'

Dog Rose – Purity; 'Your purity is comparable to this flower.'

Fern (Maidenhair) – Virginity; 'I am yours completely.'

Feverfew – Protection; 'Let me take care of you.'

Forget-me-not – Remembrance; 'Think of me often.'

Foxglove – Fickleness; 'Your love is superficial.'

Gardenia – Sweetness; 'You are like this flower.'

Geranium (pink) – Doubt; 'I am expecting your explanations.'

Geranium (red) – Duplicity; 'Be gone, you are not trustworthy.'

Geranium (white) – Indecision; 'My mind is not made up.'

Hawthorn – Hope; 'Even though you love me not, I will keep trying.'

Holly – Recovery; 'I am grateful that you have recovered.'

Honeysuckle – Love; 'With this I pledge my loyalty.'

Hyacinth (blue) – Dedication; 'I shall pledge my life to you.'

Hyacinth (white) – Admiration; 'I esteem you highly.'

Iris (purple) – Ardour; 'My heart is aflame.'

Iris (yellow) – Sorrow; 'I share your sadness.'

Ivy – Tenacity; 'I want you above everything else.'

Jasmine – Elegance; 'I admire your poise.'

Lavender – Sad refusal; 'I only like you as a friend.'

Lilac (purple) – Spring love; 'You are my first love.'

Lilac (white) – Innocence; 'A sign for your purity and beauty.'

Lily (tiger) – Passion; 'Till the end of the earth, my love is there.'

Lily (white) – Purity; 'I kiss your fingertips.'

Lily-of-the-valley – Modest Detachment; 'Friendship suffices me, touch not of love.'

Magnolia – Courage; 'Be not disheartened, better days are arriving.'

Marigold – Jealousy; 'You jealousness is of unfounded reasons.'

Marjoram – Maidenly Innocence; 'Your outburst of emotion blushes me.'

Mimosa- Sensitivity; 'You are too frank.'

Mint – Homeliness; 'You fare better with someone your age and background.'

Mistletoes – Sweet Kisses; 'My kisses is abundant for you.'

Myrtle – Fragrance; 'Be my love.'

Narcissus – Self-love; 'Your love is only for yourself.'

Nettle – Coolness; 'I feel offended.'

Oak Leaves – Courage; 'Pay heed, love will have its course.'

Orange Blossom – Virginity; 'Your fairness and beauty are untouched.'

Orchid – Luxury; 'I pledge a sweet life for you.'

Pansy (purple) – Memories; 'I treasure the happy times we have together.'

Pansy (white) – Loving Thoughts; 'I always think of you.'

Pansy (yellow) – Memento; 'Oceans part us but my heart stays with you.'

Passion-flower – Denial; 'I belonged to another.'

Peony – Contrition; 'Forgive my carelessness.'

Periwinkle – First Love; 'My heart is mine till we met.'

Phlox (pink) – Friendship; 'My wish is that we can be friends.'

Phlox (white) – Awakening Interest; 'Tell me more about yourself.'

Poppy (red) – Moderation; 'We shouldn't rush, take our time.'

Poppy (white) – Indecision; 'My mind is not made up yet.'

Primrose – Novel love; 'I may learn to love you. It's too soon to tell.'

Rocket – Competition; 'You are not without a rival.'

Rose (moss) – Timid love; 'I watch you from afar.'

Rose (red) – Love; 'I Love You.'

Rose (white) – Refusal; 'I love you not.'

Rose (yellow) – Misplaced affection; 'I love another.'

Rosemary – Remembrance; 'Your memory will never fade.'

Snapdragon – Refusal; 'You are nothing to me.'

Sunflower – Showiness; 'Outer splendour impressed me not.'

Thyme – Homely Virtue; 'I love a home-maker like you.'

Tulip – Confession; 'With this flower, I declare my Love.'

Valerian – Concealed Merit; 'Though lowly, I aspire to love you.'

Vervain – Enchantment; 'You've bewitched me.'

Violet – Modesty; 'You are a pure as this sweet flower.'

Wormwood – Sorrowful Parting; 'Farewell is a common thing. I bid you well.'

Well, there you have it. A list of useful flowers and their meaning. I wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day!

The Side Effect of Lavender and Tea Tree Oil?

Recently, there has been an outrage that prepubescent boys using products containing Lavender or Tea Tree Oil products will produce enlarged breast. This is as reported in issue of New England Journal of Medicine published on 1^st of February 2007. As this is a rather recent discovery, the exact mechanism of how the essential oil affect development of enlarged breast in boys is unclear. They speculate that both of these essential oils can mimic the action of female hormone oestrogen and block off male hormones which suppresses breast development and promote masculine characteristics.

The lesson to be learnt here is that, do not take herbs lightly as I ever said in my very first post titled 'Herbal for You'. It is not bad to incorporate herbal extract in toiletries but it is bad enough to not do sufficient research before using them. Herbs has become almost a pop-culture among users and almost every hygiene products now contains at least one natural ingredients or its mimics. One has to be aware though, that plants contains a lot of oestrogen mimics. This includes soy bean and Lady Fingers.

My suggestion is to use these products sparingly. However, surprisingly, these two essential oils are the two most useful one in aromatherapy and can be used neat without dilution. Also, if we notice, only male adolescences are affected which might suggest a pre-puberty link. However, whether such side-effects are present in adult males are not known and unstated.

"Whether such side-effects are present in adult males are not known and unstated."

The reason of incorporating Lavender and Tea Tree Oil in toiletries is more than just a pop-culture. Lavender has been appreciated for centuries for its exquisite fragrance and healing properties while Tea Tree Oil is internationally renowned for its antimicrobial properties. I would suggest that, if there is a need to use these oils, there is absolutely no need to avoid them (as this might worsen the condition).

Our Philosophy

Our motto has always been clear: Do not use/add-in ingredients that are unnecessary for the conditions. We have never used an oil because of its scent; we used them because of their functions. Hence, the inclusion of Lavender Oil in our famous cream: the Soothing Skin Salve, as a skin regenerative.

Moderate usages of the oils and its products are definitely not harmful but if you are still concerned, I'd suggest the following:

Lavender Substitute

Lavender is a wonderful skin regenerative and a gentle oil, hence its inclusion in many products. Moderate usages (less than ten drops in a day) would not produce any harmful effect! However, if you are still concerned, one oil that has similar properties to Lavender would be Palmarosa Oil and Patchouli Oil. The scent would not be as lovely but the effect would not be far-off.

Tea Tree Oil Substitute

Tea Tree Oil is an excellent anti-microbial. Again, moderate usages (less than ten drops in a day) would not cause any harmful effect. Good substitute would be Pine Oil, Thyme, or Oregano (Try to not used it externally for too long). There are a lot of products containing Pine Oil in the market. Most notably are soaps and shampoos. Try avoiding synthetic antiseptic soaps and the like. Pine Oil is a quite safe oil to use in a household provided it is diluted less than 2 percent in a suitable carrier oil. For this purpose, refer to my previous post titled 'Base Oil for Aromatherapy'

Notes on Infants

However, on infant I do not recommend the usage of any herbal or commercial products. However, natural products that used common essential oils such as Orange Oil and/or Eucalyptus Oil would be fine.

In conclusion, only use essential oils whenever you need them. if you are concerned about the ingredients used in our formulations, do give us a buzz and we will tailor-made one for you.