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What is flower therapy and how does it improve our well-being?
Many practices have been attracting great interest in recent years, for their calming effect on our minds and the way they contribute to improving our well-being: mindfulness, nature, aromatherapy, aesthetic pleasure, manual and craft therapy, utilitarian art, creative expression… But practicing each of these disciplines would require a lot of time and effort! Wouldn’t it be fabulous if there was a concept that brought all these disciplines together? Well, there is! It’s called flower therapy (also called flower mindfulness), but what exactly does it consist of?
How does flower therapy work?
Flower therapy can be a passive experience, practiced simply by lingering in a florist's shop or the flower aisle of a supermarket, or by literally stopping to smell the flowers in your garden or on your walks. You can also make it a more hands-on experience, by making flower arrangements. It's that simple.
What are the benefits of flower therapy?
Flower therapy allows us to disconnect from our screens and forget our long list of obligations. It allows us to live in the present moment by focusing on a manual task that occupies our minds "just enough."
Mindfulness can sometimes seem difficult. We may wonder how we can stop the flow of our thoughts, or when we'll actually have time to take half an hour to meditate. Also, if you're not used to it, meditation can feel strange and uncomfortable, so you simply don't want to do it.
Using nature as therapy
We've all heard of Japanese doctors prescribing "nature bathing" to their patients as a form of preventative or even curative medicine. Or the Scandinavian expression that "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes," suggesting that we need to be in nature in all seasons. Some hospitals are also creating "wellness gardens" for patients. "Sylvotherapy" (a walk in the forest) has become popular. Its success stems from the fact that nature soothes and nourishes us. It is undeniably good for our health! 1
Besides, you don't have to go very far to find it. We often imagine nature as a distant place, and that we have to travel a long way to get there. But if we include even the smallest plants and flowers in the concept of nature, it becomes much easier to take a "nature bath" every day. This is why flower therapy is so interesting: it is extremely simple to apply.
Flower power: the incredible power of flowers!
It's important to remember that flowers smell wonderful. Have you ever walked past a patch of lavender or jasmine on a summer walk? Have you ever been delighted by the scent of your Christmas tree as you brought it home? That's because the smells of nature, especially those of plants and flowers, trigger our brains to release feel-good chemicals. The recent popularity of essential oils stems from the fact that they allow us to bring these natural scents into our homes or workplaces, and they soothe us. 2
When you arrange flowers in a bouquet, visit a florist, or spend time in a flower garden, you are actually giving yourself an aromatherapy session!
Besides their delicious scents, flowers are obviously a sublime sight. Human beings are drawn to aesthetic beauty. We love what is beautiful to look at. When we go on vacation, we pay extra for a room with a view! We can spend hours in an art museum simply to enjoy the beauty of the works. We want our homes to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. And of course, we like to make ourselves look beautiful by wearing beautiful clothes and taking care of our bodies, hair, and skin. It's pleasant to admire the bright, shimmering colors or the soothing whites and ivories of flowers.
Expressing your creativity through flower therapy
Bouquet making is a craft. Many of us work while sitting in front of a screen, primarily using our minds and social skills. But the benefits of a creative craft can't be overstated. Some people practice woodworking in their spare time or consider cooking as manual therapy. Flower arranging is another way to not only practice a craft, but also to create something enjoyable and useful for our home (or workplace!).
We all need creativity in our lives. Perhaps you enjoy painting or playing the piano. However, many of us haven't engaged in artistic and creative activities since childhood. Flower therapy allows you to express your aesthetic creativity. Start by choosing colors by purchasing or collecting flowers and foliage. Next, select a suitable vase. Finally, arrange everything to create a composition that highlights textures, colors, and shapes. It may sound simplistic, but flower therapy may well be the ultimate form of well-being.
- Song, Chorong, et al. “Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 13, no. 8, 2016, p. 781., doi:10.3390/ijerph13080781 [ ↩ ]
- Cho, Mi-Yeon, et al. “Effects of Aromatherapy on the Anxiety, Vital Signs, and Sleep Quality of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Patients in Intensive Care Units.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Feb. 2013, pp. 1–6., doi:10.1155/2013/381381 [ ↩ ]