What Is Good About Flowers?

Physical Health

• Flower have many physical health benefits and have been used in alternative medicine for centuries. For example, the flowers of the chamomile plant can be boiled to make a relaxing and lightly scented tea. Scented flowers such as gardenias or lilacs are also commonly used to create essential oils that are used in a variety of different ways to treat health conditions and anxiety. Care must be taken, however, when using flowers for physical health as allergies may occur.

Mental Health

• A 2001 study conducted by Rutgers University found that elderly people who received flowers were 81 percent less likely to be depressed, and 72 percent actually scored higher on memory tests after receiving flowers. Flowers naturally brighten one's mood, and receiving them as a gift is typically linked with being remembered and feeling appreciated. Feelings of well-being, happiness and generosity toward others have also been linked with receiving flowers, not to mention simply having them present in the home or office.

Natural Pest Repellents

• Many flowers serve as natural pest repellents. For example, marigolds can be used in between rows of a vegetable garden to discourage rabbits and bugs from bothering other plants. Geraniums also act as a natural pest repellent, and can deter mosquitoes and flies from gathering around porches or even picnic tables. These plants can even be distilled down to create natural insect repellents that can be worn on the skin to further discourage pests.

Beauty

• The natural beauty of a flower cannot be overlooked when discussing what is good about them. Simply looking at a flower has the power to improve a mood and instill a feeling of well-being in the viewer. Flowers placed as decorations in offices can have a dramatic impact on productivity. Gardeners often spend cold winters gazing at seed catalogs and pictures of flowers in their full beauty to get them through those depressing seasons.