Post Series: Medicinal Flowers
When we think of medicinal plants, it’s often the roots, leaves, or bark that come to mind—yet around the world, flowers have long been used for their healing properties. This series explores some of the most powerful and time-honored blooms used in traditional and modern herbal medicine… as diverse as they are beautiful.
Osmanthus fragrans, commonly known as Sweet Olive or Fragrant Olive, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree native to East Asia. It produces small, intensely fragrant white to orange flowers, often used both ornamentally and in culinary applications. Medicinally, the flowers are valued for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, and are used to treat cough, stomachache, and other ailments; they are also a popular additive for teas and gourmet foods, and highly prized in perfumery for their delicate apricot-like scent.
Origin: East Asia (China, Japan, Himalayas)
Sample scientific reference: Exploration of Osmanthus fragrans Lour.’s composition, nutraceutical functions and applications. Wu L, Liu J, Huang W, Wang Y, Chen Q, Lu B. Food Chem. 2022 May 30;377:131853.
*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
Sweet Olive(Ostmanthus fragrans)-
