Irises and ABVD

Boy, what a great time in the garden! The Japanese Keria is starting to bloom with an amazing array of bright yellow hues. The irises are now producing flowers and the smell of these critters is intoxicating.


The iris takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species.

Rhizomes of the German Iris (I. germanica) and Sweet Iris (I. pallida) are traded as orris root and are used in perfume and medicine, though more common in ancient times than today. Today Iris essential oil from flowers are sometimes used in aromatherapy as sedative medicines. The dried rhizomes are also given whole to babies to help in teething. Gin brands such as Bombay Sapphire and Magellan Gin use orris root and sometimes iris flowers for flavor and color.

For orris root production, iris rhizomes are harvested, dried, and aged for up to 5 years. In this time, the fats and oils inside the roots undergo degradation and oxidation, which produces many fragrant compounds that are valuable in perfumery. The scent is said to be similar to violets. The aged rhizomes are steam-distilled which produces a thick oily compound, known in the perfume industry as "iris butter".

This morning I am getting an infusion of ABVD at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center in Morgantown. ABVD is a chemotherapy regimen used in the first-line treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma. It consists of concurrent treatment with the chemotherapy drugs adriamycin (doxorubicin), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. Yes, I have been diagnosed with lymphoma. Oh, another of life's adventure is on the way!