Why buds are the loveliest tension tamers

Next time you're tempted to splurge on a bouquet of roses for yourself or to gather wild daisies in an overgrown field, give in to one of nature's oldest soothers for women. Much more than decor, blossoms have scientifically proven powers:

Pink tulips (or red poppies or yellow daffodils) ease job stress better than a philodendron.

Women who eyed flowering plants in a lab designed to look like a hospital room kept their hands in ice water--a typical pain test--nearly a minute longer than those whose view was flowerless.

Flowery fragrances ease sadness and anger.

A whiff of lavender during a math exam chased away blue moods for 34 women in another study.

Why blooms calm us:

Historically, women were gatherers of colorful fruits and veggies, while the guys were off hunting in fields and streams.