How to Use Tiger Lily


The lily is one of the oldest and most beautiful flow­ers in the world and has been the inspiration of poets and artists alike for thousands of years. Lilies have been found painted on the walls of Ancient Greek palaces where the white Ely was the personal flower of Hera or Artemis, the moon goddess. According to Greek legends, two drops of milk fell from the lips of Hercules when he was feeding at the breast of Juno, his mother. One drop spread across the sky and became the milky way, and the other fell to the earth where it bloomed as the white madonna lily. To the ancients lilies were a symbol of fertility and also of purity and innocence. Their perfect form was a manifestation of the spirit of creation and sat­isfied our ancestors’ innate longing for symmetry and harmony. Homer when describing the skin of Ajax said it was as delicate as the lily and in his hymn to Demeter he said the lily was ‘a wonder to behold’.

With the coming of Christianity, the lily was used by artists as an emblem to depict the marvels of par­adise. The white lily became known as the madonna lily because in Renaissance art the Archangel Gabriel holds a spray of lilies at the Annunciation to Mary, telling her she is to be the mother of Christ. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary in honour of her purity. Lily was also a sign of the resurrection and so used in Church decorations at Easter. It was said that after Mary died, three days later her tomb was visited and found empty apart from lilies and roses.

In contrast to the pure white madonna lily are many brightly coloured varieties including the tiger lily, introduced by William Kerr, a plant collector, to Europe from Japan via China in 1804. It is native to China, Japan and Iran. Like other lilies its exotic flower releases a powerful and haunting scent, but its form is quite different. It was said in folklore that if you plant lilies in your garden, it will keep your house free of ghosts and other unwanted intruders. Also that if you accidentally tread on a lily your lover is being unfaithful. In the language of flowers, the tiger lily says, for once may pride befriend me.

Herbal remedy

Tiger lily bulb was once a popular remedy for prob­lems affecting the female reproductive system, relat­ing to its old associations with purity, virginity and fertility. It was recommended for nausea and vomit­ing of pregnancy and was used for pain and conges­tion in the pelvic organs, painful and heavy periods and uterine prolapse. It was also used for heart symptoms, including a rapid and irregular pulse, angi­na and palpitations, and for arthritis. The litde bulbs that grow in the axils of the leaves were prescribed for intestinal problems such as wind and colic.

Homeopathic remedy: L. tigrinum

Lilium tigrinum has an affinity, like the herb, for the female reproductive system and the heart. It is pre­scribed for sharp pain in the ovaries, a bearing down sensation in the uterus, and burning pain in the abdomen. A Lilium woman may suffer from painful or absent periods, prolapse, vaginal discharge and experience increased sexual desire. There may be dull pain in the heart area, fluttering, a feeling as if the heart is squeezed in a vice, or violently throbbing. She may feel depressed, weepy, apprehensive, constantly in a hurry, inclined to swear, envious of others and unable to be alone. She may feel despair­ing or tormented about her salvation and while the emotional symptoms predominate the uterine symp­toms are relieved.

The flower essence

Tiger lily is a feminine remedy, good for over-aggres­sive, rather tense women, who easily feel threatened by others or in competition with them. It helps to engender a sense of inner calm and security and to ease relationships with others, establishing harmony and co-operation, and an ability to work together for the common good.

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About the Author: Greenery always attracts Arthur Kunkle. He has a big garden where he plants many fruits and vegetables. His passion for gardening motivates him to write and share different tips on gardening.

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