Since ancient times, people have known gentle and pure lotus flowers. The essential oil from this plant is today widely used for cosmetic purposes. With it they massage and aromatize the rooms.
We learn in more detail how the lotus grows, what are its beneficial properties, are there any contraindications in use, and also how to use it.
Description
The plant has large leaves, beautiful flowers with yellow stamens and a very pleasant smell. Cultivating it artificially is an extremely difficult task. All labor must be manual. After all, a gentle lotus needs care and warmth.
Flowers
Fascinating flowers have a different, but always attractive color. Their diameter sometimes reaches thirty centimeters. In addition to their excellent shape, they have a surprisingly delicate aroma, thanks to which the petals are often added to the composition of teas.
To obtain a healing effect, the collection should be done before dawn. It is at this time that they smell the most. If you pick a flower and damage the plant, its healing effect may be lost. Lotus oil is obtained from the petals of these incredibly quivering plants.
Leaves
These parts of plants contain substances that are very valuable to humans, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and others. Together with other medicinal herbs they are used as a restorative, diuretic, antiseptic and hemostatic agent.
The main property of leaves is to lower the level of lipids in the blood, rejuvenate the body, soothe and relieve spasms, swelling, as well as tidy up the heart rhythm.
Seeds
Seeds are one of the most beneficial parts of the whole plant. In Chinese traditional medicine, they find a variety of uses: they treat the problems of the cardiovascular, central nervous system, fight insomnia and help recover with the most severe psychological stress.
Using seeds in cooking, it is possible to strengthen the immune system, intestines, kidneys, heart and organs of reproductive activity.
Root
In addition to a pleasant taste, a decoction of the roots is effective as a calming, antipyretic and antiseptic. Gonorrhea, liver and kidney diseases, spleen, dysentery and vitamin deficiency are just a small part of the list of diseases that lotus can treat (the photo below illustrates all parts of the plant).
In the Far East, they were treated with pneumonia and bronchial asthma, and the Japanese used the root to save from the bites of poisonous insects.
He was recognized even in official medicine and included in many drugs.
White, Red, Blue Lotus
White flower can be found in Mexico, Brazil and Guatemala. This is a water lily with a strong root and stems up to thirty centimeters long.
The red lotus, the photo of which you see below, is the emblem of modern India. It contains a huge variety of vitamins and nutrients. It has a rejuvenating effect and helps metabolic processes, as well as the work of the liver and pancreas.
Blue lotus grows in India, Thailand and East Africa. Based on it, from ancient times perfumes were made. In ancient Egypt, it was often used in various rituals.
Interestingly, in Russia, this type of flower is classified as a prohibited drug. A psychotropic effect on human consciousness has been proven. But in oriental medicine, blue lotus is traditionally added to dry red wine and medicinal teas are made on its basis.
There are other types of this flower, for example, walnut, American yellow or five-petalled.
Lotus oil
Oil is obtained from all three petals of a beautiful plant. They differ not only in color but also in smell. Lotus essential oil may seem the same at first. But each of the flowers is made in different places of the Earth and has different notes of aromas.
Lotus oil for Hindus is sacred. They are sure that thanks to him the mind clears up, the heart opens with unconditional love, and a person begins to flourish. It softens, soothes and moisturizes the skin, giving it elasticity and rejuvenating.
Since ancient times, lotus oil has been used in folk medicine. For treatment, couples with a flower aroma were often used. They were relieved of pain and cramps, treated with hemorrhoids and diarrhea, restored cardiac activity, relieved stress and depressive states.
Useful properties and contraindications
Useful properties are manifested depending on the constituent plants, substances. White, red and blue lotus have different properties. A nut-bearing species can be eaten, but in Russia it is listed in the Red Book and it is not so easy to get it. But residents in many Asian countries, Australia and New Guinea can not imagine a daily diet without a lotus.
When choosing a remedy for treatment, it is necessary to be interested in the place of growing the flower. Egyptian oil is considered one of the highest quality of all. It has a floral and slightly exotic scent. The oil is clear with a light yellow tint.
Official science has not studied what contraindications a plant may have. As a general rule, it is forbidden to take it to pregnant women and mothers during lactation. It is also undesirable for children. Lotus can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, oil should only be used in diluted form. Try to avoid getting on mucous membranes. Before starting the application, it is necessary to consult a specialist.
Application
Often a lotus is called a sacred plant. It personifies natural purity. Despite the fact that the roots are in the mud, the flowers are located above the water, tender and clean. Inhaling healing scents, a person as if protects himself from the dirty fuss and gains internal independence. In addition to the floral smell, hints of herbs and even a honey tint has lotus oil.
Application, of course, should not be carried out in a concentrated form. It is diluted in water or used in combination with other oils, such as sandalwood, neroli, cinnamon.
The aroma of this wonderful flower does not immediately show itself. At first a slightly watery and earthy smell will be felt, giving way to an unusually delicate aroma. So you can easily distinguish the original from fakes.
To achieve the tranquility of the spirit, oil is added to the aroma lamp. Inhaling the aroma, however, is possible not only for meditation, but also in the treatment of the respiratory tract, asthma, etc. The lungs open and the body relaxes completely. Breathing should be slow and deep. The concentration of attention occurs in enhanced mode, and the mind synchronizes with the body.
In addition to its widespread use in aromatherapy, it is often added to base oils for massage. The concentration should not exceed 2%. To take a bath, a few drops are added to the emulsifier and mixed in water. This procedure will give a great relaxing effect.
Face lotus oil will also soothe the skin, relieve irritation and itching. Most often it is used to care for oily and mixed skin types. It not only perfectly cleanses, but also moisturizes the skin, refreshes and restores tone.
Typically, the lotus is mixed with lotions, creams and other skin care products. Thus, the effect of the action of cosmetics is enhanced. But the addition should be carried out immediately before application.
The stimulating effect starts the process at the cellular level, prevents the appearance of wrinkles and smoothes the skin.
If you have nervous strain, stress, or even less depression, lotus oil will show its beneficial properties and help to cope with difficult conditions.
In addition to using oil, they often drink tea made from the petals and stamens of the plant. It must be done in compliance with all the rules so that the beneficial properties are preserved.