====== White Ginger ======
---- dataentry herbs----
latin_names: Hedychium coronarium
folk_names:
gender_tags: Feminine
planet_tags: Venus
element_tags: Water
deity_tags:
effect_tags: Purification, Love, Peace
part_tags: fresh flowers
----
===== Aromatherapy =====
==== Lore ====
Early visitors to Hawaii will remember the deliciously sweet scent of white ginger flowers. A native of India, this was the most popular lei flower in Hawaii until the end of World War II. The fields on Oahu where this plant was cultivated were covered with houses in the post-war building boom. The plumeria, carnation and tuberose soon replaced it. Today, white ginger leis are only found in a few lei stands, carefully refrigerated and quite expensive. But the plant grows wild on lower elevations and flourishes around the steam vents near Volcano House on the Big island of Hawaii.
==== Magical Uses ====
This plant, a true member of the ginger family, somewhat resembles bamboo or banana until it unfurls butterfly shaped, exotically scented flowers. The roots have the characteristic gingerish scent, but the flowers betray none of this spiciness. This is a good example of the way in which specific parts of a plant contain different essential oils and, thus, varying scents.
Like many others, I first discovered this flower in Hawaii and was fortunate enough to find starter plants at a local nursery. I gave them to my mother and now her plants produce hundreds of exquisite blooms every year.
White ginger, as with most heavenly scented flowers, stimulates love and creates peace. It is a soothing aroma. The delicate scent can also be used for internal purification.
The plants can be difficult to find and the flowers are never sold, save in Hawaii, where white ginger leis can occasionally be found. If someone you know is going there, ask them to bring you back a string of these exquisite flowers and experiment.
Though perfumes bearing this name can be found, no true white ginger essential oil is currently available.