There are a number of different theories about why we give flowers to friends who are feeling under the weather. One theory is that flowers had actual medicinal qualities, and the continued practice of gift-giving is a left-over legacy from that.

Another theory, which is slightly bleaker, is that they were a form of preemptive mourning for someone before they died. 

Both of these theories are historical. There is today a third, more positive reason for gifting flowers to someone who is sick. Doing so can give them a much-needed boost in their mental wellbeing, which in turn can have beneficial physical effects.

1. We thought flowers had medicinal benefits

At various points in history, and across various cultures, flowers were genuinely thought to have medicinal qualities.

In the book, "The Canon of Medicine" (circa 1025) Persian physician ibn Sina wrote about what was then called "the stone of flowers", a substance he would later name ros root.

Dog roses were historically used in Chinese medicine to treat urinary tract infections as well as heart complications. This plant is also mentioned by Dioscorides, an ancient Greek physician for its ability to stop uterine bleeding.

In Indian medicine, field roses are considered to be effective for treating pneumonia and infectious conditions when taken internally; externally this herb is used on wounds and inhalation treatment for bronchopulmonary disorders.

And finally of course, the Ancient Greeks and Romans had all sorts of theories on flowers and medicines. Most famously Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine, used Myrtus communis to cure stomach aches. 

Regardless of the veracity of these medicines when measured against modern science, some historians of gift-giving believe that the practice of gifting flowers originated as a form of gifting medicine, and that it now survives divorced from any of these pragmatic intentions.

2. We were telling the afflicted they would be missed. 

There is unfortunately a slightly more bleak reason why our ancestors might have gifted flowers to those feeling under the weather.

Before modern medicine, when catching a disease such as flu or plague came with a decent chance of death,it seems unlikely our ancestors would have had much hope their gifts would really physically cure the afflicted.

Rather, some historians think that flowers were a form of anticipatory grief and a way of letting the recipient know that they were going to be missed.

This is a practice that was extended into the Victorian era when diseases such as cholera, though not always fatal, certainly killed a large number of people in industrial cities.

Knowing whether a disease would kill someone was harder to predict, and absent phone calls or emails it was harder to communicate. So it made sense to use every available opportunity to remind someone that of their importance and that they would be missed when they are gone. 

3. Flowers continue to have mental health benefits 

We’ve written an entirely separate blog on all the ways flowers can boost your mental health. These benefits range from reducing your anxiety, which can be common in people having to take time off work due to sickness, or being isolated from loved ones.

They also create a soothing environment for the patient that can reduce heart-rate and aid in the sleep process, both vital aspects to a physical as well as a mental recovery.

Finally, for those who are working through any kind of sickness, flowers have been shown in a recent study by Bloom and Wild show that they boost productivity when workers are working from their own homes.

So even if a bouquet of red roses won't fix a broken leg, or cure the common cold, they can ameloriate the rough effects of ailment on your mental health. 

Conclusion

We hope this blog has demonstrated to you that, though possibly being in part a tradition from outdated ways of thinking, buying a sick person flowers is both an excellent way to wish them well and an effective way to boost their mental health. 

If you’re looking for the ideal bouquet to wish someone 'Get well soon', Fleur de Luxe has an extensive range of Get Well Soon Bouquets, all of which are available for same-day Birmingham Flower Delivery as well as next-day delivery for the rest of the UK.