Herbs Of Love

When you project happiness and confidence, you are much more likely to attract love.  For centuries, herbs have been used to ease the pain of loneliness, calm the human spirit, and promote inner happiness. The herbs featured here are aptly called the Herbs of Love.

Cardamom. Cardamom warms and gently stimulates the body/mind with its exquisite aroma and was often used in Eastern aphrodisiacs.

Black Cohosh.  Folklore suggests this herb has magical properties of protection, love, courage, potency, sexual energy, and banishing negativity.

Gardenia. According to the Victorian language of flowers, to give someone a gardenia is to say: "You are lovely." They symbolize love, peace, healing, and spirituality.

Catnip.  Leaves of catnip have been used for luck in love affairs.  Catnip is called a Woman's Love Herb because it is said to make women enticing and charming.

Cinnamon.  This spice is believed to increase passion and strength.

Clove. Clove was used by the ancient Romans, Greeks, and Persians as love potion or charm.

Ginseng.  It is said to attract love, luck, and health.  The Chinese have use ginseng for thousands of years, believing that it enhances sexual performance increases energy, and eases stress.

Hibiscus. This flower symbolizes love, lust, and divination.  Hibiscus species live all around the tropics, but the most popular is the Chinese hibiscus, called Chinese Rose in some countries.  In many countries, this is the flower of love, and it is used in perfumes and to make wedding garlands.

Jasmine.  Jasmine is known as a symbol of love and romance.  Sampaguita, a variety of jasmine, comes from the Filipino words "sumpa kita," in English, "I promise you." Couples once exchanged sampaguita necklaces just as today's couples give wedding rings.  A traditional belief is that jasmine penetrates the soul and opens up emotions.  It is still a favorite ingredient in perfumes all over the world.

Lavender.  A lot of lavender folklore is about love.  It was said to attract men but was also used for chastity. Alpine girls would tuck some lavender under their lover's pillow so their thoughts would turn to romance. Once married, they would put some lavender under the mattress to ensure marital passion.  Lavender is associated with the heart chakra and has been used for palpitations of the heart.  Lavender is useful for emotional pain.  If someone lost a loved one he or she used lavender to heal the heart.

Lily of the Valley.  Known as the May Lily, it means "return to happiness" and most often symbolizes chastity, purity, happiness, luck and humility.

Mistletoe.  To draw love to you, hang misletoe over your door.  Women having trouble conceiving would place leaves in a sachet.  The Druids hung mistletoe to bring abundance their way.

Orange Blossom.  The Orange Tree symbolizes Innocence, Purity, Fertility, and Lasting Love.  Greek mythology holds that when the goddess Hera married Zeus, the King of Heaven, she was given orange blossoms by Gaea, the goddess of earth and fertility.  In Roman mythology, Juno, the Queen of Heaven and protector of women and marriage, received a gift of orange blossoms when she married Jupiter, the supreme deity of the Roman gods.

Rose.  From the time of Solomon, the rose has been the flower most closely linked with love.  The rose was sacred to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and was connected to her messenger, Cupid.

Vervain.  Romans had dedicated the herb to their Goddess of birth, Isis, and they considered vervain the most important ingredient in a love potion.

Ylang Ylang.  Ylang Ylang elevates the spirit and consoles the heart.  It has an intense sweet, sensual, euphoric aroma.