With delicate white flowers and a strong familiar scent, jasmine is not hard to recognize. The jasmine goes by many names: jessamin, yasmin (a Persian word meaning “Gift of God”), moonlight in the grove, jessamine. This tropical flower is a climber and can reach the height of 20 feet or more. In cooler regions, it can be wintered indoors.

While the jasmine berries are poisonous, the flowers and sometimes leaves are still used for medicinal purposes. The oil from the flowers has a warming effect, so it is often used for coughs and breathing problems, cold cramping muscles, and even menstrual pain. Certain cultures in Asia use the flowers in a tea to soothe a headache or insomnia as well as ease many types of pain. Some even make a soothing ice cream from the flowers! Nicholas Culpepper says “A poultice of the leaves, boiled in wine, dissolves cold swelling and hard tumors...” Interesting. Its most common modern use is, of course, in aromatherapy...an anti-depressant and nerve relaxer.

Considered an aphrodisiac, the flowers and oil are often used to draw love. If you have trouble sleeping at night, burn jasmine incense or add a few drops of oil to a diffuser. This can also cause prophetic dreams. Jasmine is a symbol of love, sensuality, grace, and elegance.

My own varieties are pictured here. The Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides (above) and the night Jasmine, Cestrum Nocturnum (below).