A Little Flower

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." ~ Hans Christian Anderson

For the beautiful Small Blue Butterfly this little flower is Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) which is the sole food plant for the butterflies’ larvae.

Its golden inflorescences are like little orbs of sunshine and it is certainly liberating in terms of skincare.  Revered within traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds (vulneraria = wound healer), it is a restorer of balance and harmony to the skin. Physically this plant rather elegantly encapsulates the cyclic nature of skin renewal where cell death is perfectly balanced by regeneration.  This is eloquently  described within the Dr. Hauschka plant library

“The vigorous upward and spreading growth of Kidney Vetch is the expression of its strong vegetative power. It is this power that strengthens the injured human organism. However, Kidney Vetch does not grow rampant but with refined culture. The power that fortifies the wound healing process is therefore not uncontrolled, but balanced and finely regulating. The plant's polymorphism is also an expression of its regulating power. In the same way as it adapts itself to different external circumstances, Kidney Vetch also helps different skin types to develop in the direction of a balanced, healthy skin. The balanced growth of the plant, which is at the same time an expression of the balance between building-up and breaking-down processes, is transferred to the skin, thus strengthening its resistance to destructive environmental influences and slowing down the aging process. The balancing of the building-up and breaking-down processes in the stratum corneum also refines the skin and makes it noticeably softer.” 

Not surprisingly, because of its equilibrating effect, it is a key plant in Dr. Hauschka skincare.  In fact, it could be considered a Hero ingredient as it contained within all of the following face care and cosmetic products

• Cleansing Cream 

• Cleansing Milk
• Facial Toner
• Clarifying Toner
• Moisturising Day Cream
• Quince Day Cream
• Melissa Day Cream
• Soothing Mask
• Rejuvenating Mask
• Rhythmic Night Conditioner
• Natural Glamour Eyeshadow Palette
• Translucent Bronze Concentrate
• Translucent Make-up
• Kajal Eyeliner

Each time I use any of these products I now remember this wonderful little plant and think of myself as a Dr. Hauschka butterfly, enjoying the sunshine they bring into my life!