| Roses, as some might say, are part of the | | | | excellent ways to regulate someone's mood, |
| inviolate triumvirate of stereotypical gifts men | | | | which is considered a component of any attempt |
| give women, along with chocolate and wine. | | | | at stress management. |
| Lotuses tend to be associated with narcotics and | | | | Common sense has long told people that being |
| opium dens by some, likely due to the lotus being | | | | around flowers make people feel happy, or at |
| a popular motif in depictions of organized crime in | | | | least a little less dismal and drab. Now, science is |
| early 19th century China. Chrysanthemums and | | | | starting to realize that common sense, in this |
| peach blossoms once had cultural connotations | | | | case, was not entirely incorrect. There is currently |
| and links to the Japanese and Chinese imperial | | | | no real data on how or why flowers are able to |
| thrones, respectively. Cherry blossoms, sakura to | | | | have such effects and if these effects are |
| the Japanese, are treated as nature's subtle and | | | | universal for all known flowers. However, there |
| beautiful way of reminding mortals of the short, | | | | can be no disputing the fact that flowers being |
| evanescent nature of life as believed by Japanese | | | | used for stress management and emotional |
| who practice their Zen and Shinto religions. | | | | therapy actually do work, even though how |
| Flowers can have many meanings and many | | | | effective the tactic is varies from person to |
| implications, varying from culture to culture, but | | | | person. It is also unknown if the scent or the |
| there is one that (apparently) even science is not | | | | appearance of the flowers have any influence on |
| disputing: stress management. | | | | the effect, though it is notable that no one wants |
| Studies conducted by various organizations and | | | | to receive rotten flowers. There might also be |
| groups in Japan and South Korea have found data | | | | links to memory-based reactions to the flowers, |
| that appears to indicate that growing flowers or | | | | but this has not yet been fully explored. |
| simply viewing a flower garden is a viable form of | | | | There have also been some notes on how certain |
| stress management. This was quite observable | | | | flowers seem to trigger specific emotions and |
| during hanami, the three days of spring in Japan | | | | areas of the brain. For example, roses seemed to |
| where most Japanese traditionally spend a day | | | | stimulate areas of the brain that are known to |
| viewing the blooming cherry blossoms. According | | | | react to intimacy and romance, which might |
| to studies, most of them showed remarkably | | | | explain why they're such popular choices for |
| lower levels of stress compared to those who did | | | | dating. The aforementioned cherry blossoms and |
| not. This effect has been associated in the past | | | | peach blossoms both appeared to have a |
| by other cultures and countries as well, as | | | | soothing effect, relieving tension, particularly in |
| exemplified by the popularity of vast flower | | | | large amounts. Gardenias, hydrangeas, and other |
| gardens in European palaces and estates. The | | | | small flowers were notable because they gave |
| study also showed that flowers, whether being | | | | test subjects a sensation of tranquility and calm, |
| viewed or received, had immediate effects on a | | | | stimulating areas similar to those touched upon by |
| person's mood, at times even alleviating the | | | | cherry and peach blossoms. The study noted |
| effects of depression and anxiety for a few | | | | other effects caused by other flowers, but noted |
| minutes. Evidence also suggest that they make | | | | that they were similar to the ones noted above. |