The jasmine flower, a symbol of purity and elegance, is a fragrant delight that has captivated hearts for centuries. Its delicate white petals, often tinged with yellow, exude a sweet aroma that fills the air with a sense of tranquility. Jasmine, belonging to the genus Jasminum, is a diverse group of flowering vines and shrubs, each offering its unique charm.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, jasmine holds cultural and medicinal significance in various traditions. In many cultures, it is associate with love, beauty, and spirituality. Its fragrant blossoms are use in perfumes, teas, and aromatherapy, believed to promote relaxation and well-being. Additionally, jasmine has been use in traditional medicine for its potential therapeutic properties.
Whether adorning gardens or gracing hair, the jasmine flower continues to inspire poets, artists, and perfumers alike. Its timeless beauty and enchanting fragrance make it a cherished symbol of nature’s grace.
Basic Introduction of Jasmine flower
Jasmine flower, also known as Baimoli, Naihua, and Molihua, is an upright or climbing shrub up to 3 meters high. Its twigs are cylindrical or slightly flattened, sometimes hollow and sparsely pubescent. Leaves are opposite, simple, with petioles 2 to 6 mm long, pubescent, jointed, and papery, round, ovate-elliptical, 4 to 12.5 cm long and 2 to 7.5 cm wide. The cymes are terminal, usually with 3 flowers, sometimes single or up to 5 flowers, and the peduncle is 1 to 4.5 cm long and pubescent.
The flowers are very fragrant, the calyx is glabrous or sparsely pubescent, the lobes are linear, the corolla is white, the corolla tube is 0.7 to 1.5 cm long, and the lobes are oblong or nearly circular. The fruit is spherical, about 1 cm in diameter, and purple-black. The flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from July to September. It is widely cultivated in southern my country. It is harvested when the flowers first bloom in summer and immediately dried or baked for medicinal use.
Modern pharmacological research
Modern pharmacological research shows that jasmine oil can be extracted from jasmine flowers, and its main biologically active ingredients are benzyl alcohol and its esters, jasmine, linalool, linalool benzoate, etc. These ingredients have central sedative, hypnotic and analgesic effects. Foreign studies have pointed out that the effect of jasmine fragrance on relieving symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and irritability is comparable to that of sedatives.
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum and University of Düsseldorf in Germany found that the fragrance of jasmine can enhance the effect of aminobutyric acid in animals by more than 5 times, thereby significantly
soothing the nerves . In addition, the volatile oil in jasmine can also increase human appetite, promote gastrointestinal motility, and
improve digestive function . Jasmine oil also has a certain
calming effect and can accelerate the patient’s sleep time.
Effect
“Compendium of Materia Medica” records: “Jasmine is spicy, slightly sweet, warm in nature, and enters the spleen, stomach, and liver meridians. It has the effects of regulating qi, relieving depression, eliminating filth, and harmonizing the middle. It can be use to treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, conjunctivitis, sores, etc.”
Jasmine flower is warm in nature and sweet and spicy in taste. It enters the liver, stomach and spleen meridians, can regulate qi and relieve depression, and stop pain. It can treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, red and swollen eyes, sores and other symptoms.”
“Bencao Qiuzhen” also states: “Jasmine, spicy and warm, can dispel filth and harmonize the stomach, clear away heat and detoxify. It can treat symptoms such as abdominal distension, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, foamy mouth, loss of appetite, sticky and uncomfortable stools or loose stools caused by dampness blocking the middle burner.”
