you know i'll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat

The cherry blossom symbolizes both life and death, beauty and violence. As the coming of spring promises new life, so the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy. At the same time, their short lifespan is a reminder that life is fleeting. While cherry blossoms can be visually appealing to the eyes, there are actually many medicinal and therapeutic uses to various parts of the cherry blossoms. These health benefits include anti-inflammation, reducing blood pressure, or even treating diabetes symptoms.

Marigolds were often linked to the powerful strength of the sun and represent power, strength, and light that lives inside of a person. The marigold can also represent the connection between life and death. According to Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, the flowers and leaves of marigold have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antimicrobial, and antiepileptic effects. Marigolds are generally administered in tinctures, ointments, and infusions to treat wounds for inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.

Nowadays the hellebore plant has strong associations with serenity, peace, and tranquility, but this has not always been the case. In Victorian times the flowers of the hellebore plant signified delirium, and some cultures today still see the flowers as representing stress, anxiety, and scandal. Also known as the midnight ruffle, black hellebore leaves, root, and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse this plant with white hellebore, which has been used as a poison. Despite serious safety concerns, people take black hellebore for nausea, worms, kidney infections, colds, and constipation.

In the earliest recordings of the Language of Flowers, foxgloves symbolized riddles, conundrums, and secrets, but by the Victorian era they had devolved into the more negative symbol of insincerity. Foxgloves give us digitalin, a glysoside used to treat heart disease, and this powerful plant has been used for heart tonics since Celtic and Roman times. However, the plant is poisonous if consumed directly, and can cause a number of health problems.

These flowers have been symbolic of a hard won success, particularly in artistic endeavors. Giving an artist a bunch of amaryllis flowers is said to encourage both their creative muse and their achievements and strength in the arts. According to scientists, their leaves and bulb contain an alkaloid, a chemical known to exhibit antitumoral, antiviral, antiparasitic, and other healing properties.

With black irises, these exotic and unusual blooms symbolize elegance, mystery, and rebellion. The rhizome of the iris is diuretic, emetic, expectorant, and purgative - that is, it eliminates matter from the body. Used most for dropsy (edema), along with treating coughs and hoarseness.

A symbol of love and strength, with deep historical and cultural roots, the valerian attracts butterflies and bees with its lengthy blooming period. Valerian has been used to ease insomnia, anxiety, and nervous restlessness since the second century A.D.

In the tapestry of floriography, the borage flower stands out as a symbol of emotional fortitude and joy. Its star-shaped blue blossoms have carried the weight of courage since Roman times, believed to embolden warriors on the battlefield. Borage flower and leaves are used for fever, cough, and depression.