Healing Linden Blossom

This year while out and about, I have been distracted by the sweet scent of the lime tree. Also known as the Linden tree, It’s a common tree planted around many urban areas. Completely unrelated to the lime fruit tree, It has heart shaped leaves festooned in summer with pale yellow flowers, it’s the one that makes cars and paths sticky from ‘honey-dew’ from the aphids that are attracted to it. It often tends to send out shoots from its base.

I’ve no idea why this year in particular it should be heaving with flowers, maybe a wet spring? When in flower the trees’ scent is intoxicatingly sweet with a slight jasmine accent and the rich honey smell attracts bees until the tree literally hums! It’s delicious scent travels in the summer breeze attracting the pollinators.

The Linden tree was once one of the most common native trees in the ancient forests of Britain and the bark was even used to make rope for ships. The flowers grow downwards from a pale green bract, both be dried and used to make a tea or tincture which is said to be a relaxant by herbalist. I have spotted packets of the dried flowers in Turkish supermarkets to be used as tea.

Anyone who has trouble falling asleep or feels overstimulated could also add some of the flowers to their bath water as apparently this can help with sleep and wellbeing. There’s lots of research available on its use as an alternative medicine.

As an essential oil, linden blossom oil is a highly prized oil for perfumers. With a sweet honey top note and chamomile and lime notes and has a thick golden consistency. As an ingredient in essential oil scented candles the absolute is way too expensive, but found in high end perfumery this essential oil is deliciously warm and summery.

In aromatherapy, it is Linden Blossom essential oil can be used for headaches, migraine, indigestion and cramps. As well as for ailments, It’s oil is good for stress, depression and general wellbeing.

The tree of love.

Linden leaves actually look like small, green hearts. Folklore says the tree was a meeting place for lovers. Many couples promising eternal love under the linden tree and carving their initials into the soft bark. The scent of the linden blossoms considered an aphrodisiac.

For further reading on the chemical composition of Linden tree flowers reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320376153_Essential_Oil_Composition_of_Tilia_cordata_Flowers#:~:text=The most abundant classes of,and their derivatives (8.03 -19.61