White Lily

The white lily comes from the Liliaceae family and grows throughout Western Asia and the Mediterranean regions. It is usually grown as a garden plant but is also found growing wild in the fields. The white lily is perennial in nature and grows to a height of 60-150 centimeters. It has large white scaly bulbs and linear leaves. The flowers of this plant are white, quite large, and aromatic. The flowers, bulbs, and roots of the white lily are used internally as well as externally for therapeutic purposes to treat a wide variety of diseases and disorders.

Nutritional Information and Properties

The white lily is not only a good source of starches and proteins but also vitamins B1, B2 and C, iron, calcium and phosphorous. The essential oils extracted from the flowers are rich in linalol, vanillin, terpineol, phenylethyl alcohol, palmitic acid, cinnamic acid, and benzoic acid, all of which play an important role in giving the white lily its medicinal value. The flowers also contain flavonoids, carotenoids, and jatrophine that help in fighting and treating a number of diseases.

Health Benefits and Therapeutic Uses

Herbalists and traditional practitioners use white lily as a common home remedy for cuts, wounds, and ulcerations. The leaves or powdered flowers are usually placed on cuts, burns, and open wounds for quick relief from pain. Blisters, sores and cuts are treated with honey buttered white lily petals. For treating oral thrush, the plant is boiled in sweet milk and used as an oral rinse. White lily contains strong antibacterial properties that make it a good cure for treating wounds.
White lily vinegar is a popular herbal remedy for eliminating warts. It also aids in better digestion and treats various digestive problems.
Tea prepared from white lily flowers is an effective blood cleanser and purifier. You can also mix it with peony roots, white shamrock, and white sulphurine to treat leucorrhea.
Experts recommend boiling the root of white lily and placing it on the chest while suffering from cold and cough. You can even consume it orally as it contains expectorant properties that help in thinning the mucus and make it easier to eliminate from the lungs. This is also a good treatment for swelling or inflammation on any part of the body.
The bulb of the white lily is an effective remedy for a number of respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis and can provide quick relief and improvement from the symptoms of these conditions.
Studies have shown that white lily helps in regulating the heartbeats and is therefore good for people suffering from heart conditions. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system.
White lily is a good cure or eye diseases, conjunctivitis, and sensitive eyes and is therefore used in a number of eye drops and other applications. It is also used to stimulate hair growth on the eyebrows.
Its medicinal properties are effective for treating other health concerns such as insomnia, nightmares, ocular pains, ear inflammations, palpitations, nail infections, memory loss, and otitis. Experts recommend drinking 2-3 cups of white lily petal tea everyday for treating these conditions effectively.

Other Uses

White lily essential oils are extensively used in the perfume industry.

Extracts and essential oils are also used in a number of cosmetics, creams, lotions, and face washes.