It’s spring once again and all of the gardens are starting to blossom.It’s wonderful to see a beautiful array of flowers, it certainly makes you feel good. However, those same lovely flowers are not only good to look at they do have other healing benefits.

Many promising new drugs and remedies are based on extracts from flowers that grow in our back gardens. Many have been turned into commercial drugs by pharmaceutical companies.

Peonies burst into huge blooms of red, white or pink. Unfortunately they don’t last long enough, but their healing properties can. They contain a chemical that could revolutionise arthritic treatment. It eases joint pain and slows down the destruction of cartilage, which is the shock absorber designed to protect joints. Drug trials are due to start later this year.

Scientists are currently exploring the healing properties of the crocus, which they feel could be beneficial in curing solid cancerous tumours. It contains a poison which can be specifically targeted at these cancerous growths to destroy them. Most importantly it doesn’t do this at the expense of the healthy cells.

Hydrangeas are one of the UK’s most popular plants, and its root contains a chemical which could be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and MS.

Geraniums can help with obesity, it is a particular type known as Jesters Jackets though, possibly not all geraniums. Studies on mice have so far shown them to be very helpful with weight loss, and particularly helpful in shifting visceral fat which is located around the inner organs,also in lowering cholesterol levels. Daffodil bulbs contain a chemical that could be used to treat dementia and Alzheimers.

So the flowers in your garden don’t just make you feel good on the outside, but can help you on the inside as well.