Herbs and flowers have always been an (almost) endless fountain of beauty and skin care. For many of us if not most, the use of beauty and personal care products is an everyday business – or perhaps love affair is a better description. We use creams, lotions, cleansers, and more, and so it’s no wonder that we all are getting increasingly aware of the long-term health benefits of naturally sourced ingredients. While some naturally- sourced ingredients such as snail mucin or centella asiatica are getting all the attention and hype, the lily is one of the most underrated herbs.
From the time when we humans started to leave behind words and pictures, the lily was noted as the flower of purest beauty. It was sacred because the lily could be used as medicine and food. Moreover, lily water and oil of lilies were used as a cosmetic.
Some beauty recipes and remedies about the lily have come through generations, while grannies advised mentions it across cultures and regions, long before the cosmetic industry was kickstarted. While cosmetic companies used flowers initially mainly for their fragrance, they’ve (re)discovered the manifold benefits of plant-based ingredients.
The lily
The true lily (Lilium) flower grows from a bulb and blooms with large showy flowers. It belongs to the family of Llicaceae, in contrast to many other plants that have “lily” in their names just because they resemble the true lily. But they are not true lilies. Just think of the lily of the valley or water lilies, both are unrelated to the true lily.
As one of the oldest among cultivated plants, it’s not surprising that there are 100+ recognised varieties. With so many varieties, you’ll see white, orange, pink, red, dotted, and striped flowers.
Lily history and symbolism
The earliest representations of the lily were found around 1580 BC on Crete. The Minoan civilisation considered lilies sacred. It was the special attribute of the Great Minoan Goddess Britomartis who had her origin in Neolithic times. For the Minoans, she remained the Great Goddess until its civilisation got assimilated into the Greek culture.
For the ancient Greek, the lily was the flower of Hera, the wife of Zeus. Although many Greek gods and their myths had an equivalent in Roman mythology, the lily was an object of jealousy for the goddess Venus when she rose from the sea foam. She saw a lily and was filled with jealousy at its whiteness and beauty. So much so that she used her godly powers and caused it to grow a pistil from its centre.
Lilies are also mentioned in the Old and New Testament. They symbolise purity and chastity and so became linked with the Virgin Mary.
The French royalty wears a stylised lily in their coat of arms, the fleur-de-lis.
Uses
As one of the earliest cultivated plants, the lily wasn’t only grown for ornamental purposes. It’s rich in nutrients and can be used as medicine or food. Depending on the region, people ate the flowers, the bulb, the roots, or the entire plant.
Culinary uses
The lily bulbs are a good source of starch – similar to other root vegetables such as sweet potato. The Chinese as well Japanese use the bulb for example to thicken soup or flavour soups. Lily flowers are also a delicacy.
The native Americans valued the entire plant and ate it roasted like popcorn, or ground into meal for bread.
Medicinal uses
Before the Greeks and Romans, the Egyptians crushed the starchy bulb, then used it as emollient compresses for treating tumours, inflammation and burns. They used lily oil to relieve burns and earaches.
The Romans grew lilies to steep the bulbs in oil and use the extract to bring relief to sore feet.
In the Middle Ages, the German abbess Hildegard of Bingen recommended using lily for skin rashes and blemishes. She advised to crush the bulb or otherwise the juice of the leaves and mix it with fat to make a skin ointment. In addition, the scent of fresh lilies could also help brighten spirits.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, several types of lilies are listed. The bulb and flowers were popularly eaten in summer as they can clear heat.
Content
The main constituents of the lily plants are
- alkaloids
- flavonoids
- polysaccharides (sugars)
- saponins
- starch
- tannins
It’s great to nourish your body inside and out. Research has shown that the lily plant has a host of beneficial properties such as being
- antibacterial
- anti-oxidation
- anti-inflammatory
For your skin
Age-old cosmetic recipes and remedies have made it into the cosmetics industry as it was woken up to the potent benefits of flowers and herbs. In the case of the lily, it gives products formulated with it a myriad of benefits such as anti-ageing, protection from UV rays, astringent, and cleansing.
Protecting from the sun
Protection from UV rays and anti-ageing don’t need a lot of explanation. Thanks to its flavonoids lily-infused products can delay or even neutralise the harmful effects of being exposed to the sun or pollution. UV radiation can trigger a chain reaction that causes oxidative stress that results in damage on a cellular level. As the lily displays anti-oxidative effects, it can ward off oxidative stress caused by being in the sun.
Hydrating
The starch and polysaccharides present in the lily plant can help your skin attract and retain water. It acts as a humectant, one of the 3 elements in a good moisturiser.
Balancing
Lily-infused products regulate PH levels. If the PH levels of your skin is out of balance, your skin can throw tantrums in the form of zits or become ultra-sensitive.
Not only is the lily skin-balancing, thanks to the tannins, it has anti-bacterial properties that help reduce zits and blemishes to erupt. Tannins also act as an astringent, shrinking enlarged pores which can make your skin look tighter.
Cleansing
Although not famous as a cleansing agent, the saponins in the lily make it a natural and gentle cleanser (and a natural alternative to sulphates). The saponins enhance the skin-tightening effects.
Repairing
Thanks to its main constituents such as flavonoids, the lily plant can help prevent scar tissue from forming. It boosts your skin’s natural repair function. It’s anti-inflammatory making it an excellent ingredient to use on wounds or scars. It reduces skin irritation and can help lighten scars as well as other skin discolourations.
Closing words
The lily was used for a long time to relieve any sort of ailments linked to inflammations and it was priced as a soothing ingredient. Apart from being used as food, skin care, or medicine, it was also esteemed for its scent which can create an uplifting mood, so it’s no wonder it’s also popular in the perfume industry.
