FRESH FLOWERS BRING HAPPINESS

February 2006 E-Newsletter
Women's Health Wisdom
Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Think about the last time you received flowers. Perhaps you were pleasantly surprised when the doorbell rang or received a loving look while being given a bouquet. Chances are you smiled when you were handed the arrangement. And as the flowers' fragrance filled your room, it's likely that your mood lifted. Looking at spring flowers in the dead of winter can help you lighten up and leave you with a feeling of anticipation.

In his book Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, Dr. Andrew Weil recommends purchasing flowers regularly to reduce stress and bring beauty into your everyday life. Science supports these responses. An article published in Evolutionary Psychology reported the results of three studies done on the positive effects of flowers. In the first study, researchers documented that women smile virtually every time they are given flowers. They also determined that these same women exhibited moods that were more upbeat three days later. In the second study, both men and women were observed after being given a large gerbera daisy, a pen, or nothing in an elevator. Believe it or not, the men and women responded comparably. Most receiving a flower, as opposed to the pen or nothing, smiled genuinely and initiated or engaged in conversation. Finally, a study of men and women aged 55 or over showed an immediate improvement in mood and sociability for those who received one or more bouquets of flowers over a two-week period. Even more impressive, this simple addition was shown to improve cognitive function, including memory. I'm not surprised by these results, and I bet you're not either.

I love flowers. And whenever possible, I have fresh cut flowers in my home. I started doing this just a couple years ago. I often buy them for myself and always appreciate getting them as a gift. This winter, I was sent a beautiful bouquet of roses from Organic Bouquet. In addition to being stunning, these flowers were fresh and aromatic for almost ten days. The roses were so special that I decided to tell you more about organic flowers and Organic Bouquet, the first organic florist to offer flowers on the Internet.

I've been a fan of organic gardening for years. It's much healthier to eat organic produce and other products free of chemical residues and preservatives. Just as important is the philosophy behind organic farming. These farmers employ techniques that sustain the environment, including making sure the water supply isn't adversely affected, minimizing airborne toxins, and protecting the indigenous animals and plants near the farms. It also means that the growers and farm workers aren't exposed to toxic substances. Sadly, more than half of the people involved in growing flowers today experience side effects (such as nausea and dizziness) caused by exposure to the pesticides and fungicides used in common cultivation practices. Non-organic flowers don't pose any dangers to you— unless you eat an awful lot of them. But when you buy organic flowers, you support the global community and its environment.

Organic Bouquet is a socially conscious company that grows exquisite Veriflora certified organic flowers. This means that they practice organic farming, protect the ecosystems, recycle and/or responsibly dispose of toxins, comply with fair labor and fair trade laws (even in country's where this isn't mandated), and guarantee a superior product. Organic Bouquet donates a portion of their sales in support of these principles, offering "Charitable Bouquets" for every occasion.

Annie Spiegelman, a/k/a the Dirt Diva, is the author of two books and the Garden Columnist for Pacific Sun, a San Francisco Bay area newspaper. She recounts her experience buying flowers from Organic Bouquet in her column saying, "I ordered a bouquet of roses online from the 'Charitable Bouquets' section. The cost was competitive—a dozen roses for $39.95. The Versilia roses were a stunning pale pink, looked great for over a week, and a percent of my purchase was donated to Heifer International, a humanitarian organization working to end hunger worldwide. Organic Bouquet donates proceeds to support many non-profit organizations dedicated to social justice, wildlife conservation, animal rights, and environmental protection." (See special offer below.)

So this Valentine's day, give yourself the gift of flowers—or ask your Valentine to give them to you. And spread the gift around—send some to someone you love! And remember, when you choose organic flowers, you also help beautify the world while lifting the spirits of others—a complete "winwin."