By Erin Shaw, Quantum Botanicals Therapist Graduate
Filled with a rhythm of undulating sand, the Arabian deserts in the Asian Southwest are beautiful, captivating and mysterious. They can appear empty, desolate and lonely as the crests and troughs of sand roll on until they reach the horizon, yet there are survivors here who have evolved to thrive.
Set in the Arabian Peninsula, the deserts cover a majority of the land and stretch across the boundaries of Kuwait and Jordan in the North, through Saudi Arabia and down to Yemen in the Southwest on to Oman in the East and reaching across the Persian Gulf to Qatar and into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where it accounts for approximately 80% of the total land mass (Al Qaissimi 2020).
While the native flora of the UAE is mainly found in the other 20% – by the edge of the sand dunes and rocky mountains, in the valleys and marshes, surviving on the salt plains or in the oases — there are however a distinct few that choose the barren desert sands to be their home. So even amongst the arid climatic conditions that are typical of a desert environment, life blooms.
The Sun Coins (Tribulus omanense) appear like a scattering of stars and rare spires of Desert Hyacinth (Cistanche tubulosa) pop up from the sandy grounds below. Rays of white radiate from the Athemis (Athemis deserti) and the Wall Rocket (Diplotaxis acris) appears to gentle whisper in shades of pastel purple. Choosing to bloom within some of the most extreme weather patterns on the planet, these angiosperms carry with them a strength of survival, each with it’s unique sense of purpose and it’s own vibration.
While plant medicine has been a significant part of Bedouin life for thousands of years, it is not known if the original inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula connected to and unlocked the quantum healing potential of their desert habitat flora. All native plants and particularly flowers that grow in this arid landscape could be assumed to share some similar inherent properties like a sense of resilience and determination, adaptability and significant inner power.
With such strong characteristics drawn from their growing environment, it is interesting to consider what could be the true potential held within these flowers. Could we discover the possibilities of their vibrational healing through gesture and colour, just as Bach did with his Twelve Healers?
The Sun Coins, or Tribulus omanense, is unofficially known as the national flower of the UAE. It is also commonly called Al Samer flower or Caltrop and has been used in traditional medicine to treat digestive issues, relieve pain, calm skin inflammation and the seeds are known as an alternative to coffee. Recently, studies have shown the plant to contain diuretic, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting compounds. However, perhaps it holds more healing potential than has yet been discovered.
It’s small, singular, thinly stalked flowers bloom from March to June and express a simplicity in colour
and form. Five radial, elliptic petals sit flat, separated they face the sun and are washed in a monotone of vibrant yellow, a strong symbol of hope. Even though it has a sense of delicacy, it appears with an assertive nature, an inner power and confidence. These are all qualities of the Solar Plexus chakra, our energy source and home of our sense of strength but as the blooms extend for the sky, the structure stays close to the sand.
The plant likes to grow low to the ground and is a muted greyish green with hairy stems and leaves. This hints at a sensitivity to, and a caution with, the world around it.
The leaves are reactive, folding inwards to conserve moisture when the sun is full and high, seed pods are spiky and stick to others with a dependence for their future. This sensitive, reactive and reliant nature could indicate a lack of trust in the self, retreating from confronting situations and simply taking another’s path instead of making one’s own. Or perhaps it is a pure display of inner wisdom, using intuition to preserve inner strength and sharing resources with others for survival. Either way, it seems that this small of stature, yet vibrant and present flower is potentially offering hope, a strong sense of self and access to inner wisdom in the face of life’s difficulties and challenges.
Another flowering plant that appears almost alien like within the rolling sands is the Cistanche tubulosa, drawing attention because of it’s spire like, spring time blooms and it’s unique approach to survival. The Desert Hyacinth — also known as Fox Radish — contains no chlorophyll and is a parasitic plant that survives by attaching itself to a host. Using a long thin root line that extends from it’s underground tuber, it sucks the water and nutrients that it needs to sustain it’s own growth.
This kind of critical attachment suggests a vibrational connection to the element of water that is related to sexuality and emotional expression and interestingly in traditional medicine the Desert Hyacinth is known as an aphrodisiac and often used to treat low libido, erectile dysfunction and fertility issues. It is also known to help treat diarrhoea and skin contusions.
While the plant at first seems selfish, the flowers express something altogether different. They are an inflorescence, compactly arranged on an erect stem – perhaps another medicinal symbolic reference here – and varying in colour from a dominant yellow hue with possible accents of orange, white and violet. Opening in transition from bottom to top, each bloom has five, curled back lobes that create a type of funnel shaped corolla. As each unfurls it offers an invitation, a gentle welcoming gesture for insects and pollinators, acceptance. A stark white central stigma sits in contrast to the bold colours, expressing a deeper meaning of something true and pure.
So from the singular selfishness of the root system to the transitional, multi-floral display of colour and a peak form of softness, the Desert Hyacinth flower is perhaps showing us that its vibrational potential is one of transcendence. Shifting focus from selfish desire towards one that sees the self as part of the whole, in essence, pure selflessness. Cultivation of the plant is difficult, it likes to remain wild, elusive and although the roots indicate attachment, there is a sense of honest truth and openness to a world beyond in it’s aerial gesture.
These significant yet vastly different native blooms resonate at their highest potential in the harshest desert environment and are only two examples of the botanical vibrations that flow amongst the rolling dunes.
Athemis, Wall Rocket and others contribute to the unseen, mystical attraction of the Arabian Deserts, these lands full of sand appear to hold potential and hidden meaning that is yet to be understood. Although there are myths and legends that tell of long held beliefs in the vibrational power of the desert plants — for example Tribulus omanense is associated with superstition related to good luck
and evil spirits — there seems to be an opportunity for exploration, deep discovery and communication with these unique desert dwelling survivors. To try to uncover their stories and the lessons they may offer us would be an insightful and rewarding adventure. However since the discovery of oil in the region, the rate of development has continually expanded bringing urbanisation and environmental exploitation. Introduced species, plastics and pollution are muting the mysteries of the desert sand time may be running out to speak with these wild and free desert natives.
