Jasmine by Wanderer MoonChild

Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Jasmine
2. Folk Name(s): Moonlight on the Grove, Queen of the Night, Poet’s Jasmine, Royal Jasmine
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Jasminum officinale (common jasmine), Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine)
4. Family: Oleaceae (Olive family)
5. Plant Type: Perennial, deciduous or evergreen climbing shrub (depending on species)
6. Botanical Description: Twining vine or shrub with glossy green leaves and clusters of intensely fragrant, star-shaped white or yellow flowers. Blooms mainly in summer but some species flower year-round in tropical climates.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: Hardy in USDA Zones 7–11 depending on variety.
8. Best Zones for Growth: Warm temperate to tropical climates; thrives where winters are mild.
9. Habitat & Range: Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Middle East, and Mediterranean. Widely cultivated worldwide for fragrance, tea, and ornamental purposes.

Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Needs full sun for abundant blooms, though some species tolerate partial shade.
2. Propagation: By semi-hardwood cuttings, layering, or grafting.
3. Companion Planting: Works well near patios or entryways to attract pollinators and provide fragrance. Avoid planting near very tall trees where it may be overshadowed.
4. Harvesting Guidelines: Flowers are harvested in the evening or early morning when fragrance is strongest.
5. Drying/Preservation: Flowers are delicate—best used fresh, infused in oils, syrups, or teas. Can be carefully dried for potpourri.

Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: Revered in India as a sacred flower of love and spiritual devotion; used in garlands, temple offerings, and weddings. In Chinese culture, jasmine symbolizes feminine sweetness and kindness. Associated with the Moon and night in many traditions due to its evening fragrance.
2. Traditional Medicine: Used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as a calming and aphrodisiac herb. Jasmine oil was employed for headaches, stress, and depression. Flowers steeped in teas were used for digestive complaints.
3. Symbolism: Love, sensuality, purity, spiritual devotion, and divine feminine energy.

Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Essential oils (benzyl acetate, linalool, indole, jasmon, benzyl benzoate), flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins.
2. Medicinal Uses:
   
3. Calms anxiety, depression, and stress
4. Aphrodisiac—enhances intimacy and sensuality
5. Supports digestion and relieves cramps
6. Jasmine tea promotes relaxation and gentle alertness
7. Jasmine oil used topically for headaches and tension relief
   
8. Preparation Methods: Infusions (jasmine tea, often blended with green or white tea), essential oil (aromatherapy or diluted for massage), floral baths.
9. Dosage & Guidelines:
   
10. Tea: 1 tsp dried flowers per cup, steep 5–7 minutes
11. Essential oil: Always dilute before applying to skin
    
12. Safety/Precautions: Generally safe in small amounts. Essential oil may irritate sensitive skin. Avoid in early pregnancy.

Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Water
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Moon & Venus; associated with goddesses of love and night such as Lakshmi, Aphrodite, and Isis
3. Magical Correspondences: Love, attraction, prophetic dreams, purification, spiritual devotion, lunar magic
4. Ritual Use: Burn as incense during love spells or moon rituals; add flowers to baths for attraction and purification; wear as garlands for sacred ceremonies; use jasmine tea in divination preparation.
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: Dreaming of jasmine suggests romance, new love, heightened intuition, or spiritual messages arriving through dreams.

Ecological & Culinary Uses

1. Pollinator Value: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and moths—especially night-pollinators drawn to evening fragrance.
2. Wildlife Uses: Provides nectar to pollinators; ornamental climbing support for birds and insects.
3. Culinary Uses: Infuses flavor into teas, syrups, desserts, and perfumes. Jasmine rice (scented long-grain rice from Thailand) is named for its aroma, though not directly flavored by the flower.

Household/Practical Uses

1. Quick Uses:
   
2. Fragrance for perfumes, oils, and incense
3. Jasmine tea for relaxation and gentle energy
4. Floral offerings in rituals or on altars
   
5. Notable Traits: Known as the “Queen of Fragrance”; blooms primarily at night, aligning it with lunar energies.
6. Special Notes: One of the most precious floral oils—requires thousands of blossoms to produce a small amount of jasmine absolute.

Fast Facts

1. Sacred flower of love, devotion, and lunar mysteries
2. Blooming fragrance strongest at night, aligning it with the Moon
3. Used in perfumes, teas, oils, and spiritual offerings across cultures

Supporting NoteS

1. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. DK Publishing, 2016.
2. Grieve, Maud. A Modern Herbal. 1931.
3. Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn, 1985.
4. Rätsch, Christian. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants. Park Street Press, 2005.