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Lavender
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
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accept the bitter to get better
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Lavender
The medicinal herb Lavender as an alternative herbal remedy - Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region. It was used in ancient Egypt as part of the process for mummifying bodies. Lavender's use as a bath additive originated in Persia, Greece, and Rome. The herb's name comes from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash."Common Names--lavender, English lavender, garden lavender Latin Names--Lavandula angustifolia
What Lavender Is Used For
- Historically, lavender was used as an antiseptic and as an herbal remedy for mental health purposes.
- Today, the herb is used for conditions such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and depression.
- Lavender is also used for headache, upset stomach, and hair loss.
How Lavender Is Used
- Lavender is most commonly used in aromatherapy, in which the scent of the essential oil from the flowers is inhaled.
- The essential oil can also be diluted with another oil and applied to the skin.
- Dried lavender flowers can be used to make teas or liquid extracts that can be taken by mouth.
What the Science Says about Lavender
- There is little scientific evidence of lavender's effectiveness for most health uses.
- Small studies on lavender for anxiety show mixed results.
- Some preliminary results indicate that lavender oil, combined with oils from other herbs, may help with hair loss from a condition called alopecia areata.
Side Effects and Cautions of Lavender
- Topical use of diluted lavender oil or use of lavender as aromatherapy is generally considered safe for most adults. However, applying lavender oil to the skin can cause irritation.
- Lavender oil is poisonous if taken by mouth.
- When lavender teas and extracts are taken by mouth, they may cause headache, changes in appetite, and constipation.
- Using lavender with sedative medications may increase drowsiness.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
News About Lavender
5 ways to use lavender essential oil at home
- By Katherine Martinko
Lavender is an incredibly versatile oil that soothes both physically and mentally.
Lavender is the most widely used essential oil in the world. Its calming aroma is easily recognizable, and it is used in many cultures to improve personal health and foster a peaceful state of mind. Lavender is made from the purple flowers of the lavender plant, grown in Mediterranean climates. It takes over 60 pounds of flowers to create just 16 ounces of therapeutic grade lavender oil.
Here are some ways in which to use this incredibly versatile oil. You can do so aromatically (using an essential oil diffuser, available at health food stores or holistic medicine providers) or topically (applying the essential to your body by means of a carrier oil).
- Promote better sleep:
Lavender has a deeply calming effect and will relieve insomnia. Apply it to the bottoms of your feet (which have the largest pores on your body), or diffuse in the bedroom. Do so prior to naps and bedtime, both for kids and adults.
- Help yourself relax:
Lavender can reduce stress and anxiety and soothe intense emotions. Apply a drop of pure oil to your neck, wrists, and chest, in place of perfume or cologne. Diffuse throughout a room, or put a drop on a clay pendant that hangs around your neck.
- Soothe irritated skin:
In the same way that lavender calms emotions, it can also soothe physical irritations, inflammation and redness. Apply via carrier oil to diaper rash, chapped lips, itchy rashes, dandruff, and infant cradle cap. You can use a couple drops when mixing a solution for homemade baby wipes.
- Use it to heal:
Lavender oil can be used on burns, scratches, insect bites, bruises, sunburns, and cuts. Use it after a workout to minimize muscle soreness. It is also effective at reducing motion sickness when rubbed into bottom of feet. If you have a newborn, use it to heal the umbilical cord stump (always with a carrier oil).
- Reduce allergic reactions:
Lavender has a powerful antihistamine effect, especially when used together with lemon and peppermint. Inhaling lavender oil can relieve symptoms of hay fever and allergies to cats, dogs, dust, etc. Clinical aromatherapist Catherine Garro recommends the following routine:
- “Drop a drop in my hand and dab a bit under my nose, with my index finger. Then I rub some in a very large circle around my eyes, keeping the oil above my eyebrow and under my cheekbone to stop it getting into my eye. I find this really effective for when eyes are swollen and itchy. Then I rub my hands together and cup them over my face and take a deep inhalation several times. Repeat as soon as the sneezing starts again. This could be in 20 minutes to several hours.”
Your memory’s new friends: rosemary and lavender
- Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar
Retire late to live longer and stylish hairstyles can be more damaging to hair and scalp —studies and research tips for a healthier you
- 1 minute of sprinting and 9 minutes of exercise daily can boost aerobic fitness
Sprinting for a minute along with 9 minutes of light exercise can help achieve same aerobic fitness as a 50 minute exercise, a Canadian study claims. Researchers from McMaster University, Ontario enlisted 25 men who previously did no exercise and randomly assigned them to a sprint interval workout or an endurance workout. Sprint workout included warming up for 2 minutes, sprinting for 20 seconds and recovering for 2 minutes. This was done three times until the participant achieved 1 minute of sprinting. The endurance workout consisted of warming up for 2 minutes, sprinting at a moderate pace for 45 minutes and cooling down for 3 minutes. After 12 weeks the two groups showed similar improvements in aerobic fitness. The study was published in journal PLOS ONE.
- Extending the date of retirement by a year can improve life expectancy
Delaying the age of retirement by a year after 65 can increase life expectancy in senior citizens by 11%, a US study suggests. Researchers from Oregon State University analysed data accumulated from 1992 to 2010 under the Healthy Retirement Study by Michigan University. Out of the 2,956 people about 12% of the healthy and 25.6% of the unhealthy retirees died. But the retirees who worked a year longer the risk of early mortality was 11% lower while in unhealthy retirees who worked a year longer the risk was 9% lower. The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Rosemary and lavender smell can boost memory
Fragrance of rosemary or lavender in oil can improve memory and the ability to complete memory tasks faster in older adults, a British study shows. Researchers from Northumbria University enlisted 150 people with an average age of 65 and randomly diffused rosemary or lavender oil in a testing room. Some participants were allocated to the scented room while the rest were sent to the room with no scent. Once in the room the participants were given a memory test. Participants placed in the scented rooms showed enhanced prospective memory compared to participants in the next room. Researchers noted that rosemary increased alertness and lavender improved calmness and contentedness in the participants.
- Ponytail and knots can damage your hair and scalp
Hairstyles such as tight ponytails, braids, knots and buns leads to Traction alopecia, a condition where hair follicles are damaged due to prolonged or repeated tension on the hair root, a US study warns. Researchers from John Hopkins University analysed 19 previous studies and found that certain hairstyles meant to improve self-confidence can actually cause more damage to hair and scalp. Researchers found that people who keep loose, low-hanging hair styles or even updos face lower risk of traction alopecia. The study was published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
- Anti-depressants when combined with fish oil supplements can give better results
Nutrients found in fish oil can increase the effectiveness of anti-depressants for people suffering from depression, an Australian study suggests. Researchers from the University of Melbourne examined 40 global clinical trials and found that Omega 3 fish oil supplements when administered with antidepressants produces better results. Previous studies show that Omega 3s are very good for brain health, but this is the first study which establishes its efficacy for treatment of depression. The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Lavender Improves Sleep Quality for College Students
- By Angie Lillehei
As a fellow sleep instigator, I love the fact The Huffington Post is bringing the Sleep Revolution to college campuses to start a cultural conversation around sleep. It is so needed! And bringing products on the tour to help students sleep better makes it a tour de force. I have heard and read about Arianna Huffington’s “wake up call” for better sleep. My interest in sleep began with my daughter’s sleep issues as a college student and has expanded as it became clear that it aligns with my interest in Public Health, as sleep is now identified as a population health issue. Addressing sleep issues with college students can help them be healthy and successful students as well as prevent life long, chronic issues with sleep. I want to join the #SLEEPREVOLUTION.
My interest in college students with sleep issues led me to complete my PhD study with sleep deprived college students. The study was a randomized controlled trial on the effect of inhaled Lavender and good sleep practices on sleep in college students with self-reported sleep issues. One group received one drop of Lavender on an inhalation patch for five nights and the other group received a blank patch. Both groups focused on practicing better sleep habits for the 5 consecutive week day nights. The sleep practices included: not drinking anything right before bed and avoiding food, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine several hours before bed, going to sleep and waking up on a schedule, setting time during the day for planning, keeping up with school work, having a dark, quiet sleep environment, avoiding screen time, and exercising regularly. This study found inhaled Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) plus good sleep practices made a statistically significant difference for improved sleep quality and waking feeling refreshed. This effect remained at two week follow-up. Two weeks after the end of the five night intervention the Lavender group of college students still had significantly improved sleep quality compared to the blank patch group.
These were exciting findings because inhaled Lavandula angustifolia is an easy self-care tool to keep on the nightstand and to use right before going to sleep. Just one or two drops on a pillow for five consecutive nights may help make both your sleep and wake experience better. Of course combining the use of Lavandula angustifolia with good sleep practices as noted above can be helpful. More information on this study can be found at here or visit my website.
Health Benefits Of Lavender Oil
- (Asia Net India)
Lavender is the one of the most versatile herbs that has an endless list of benefits to perk up your nerves, health and home. Originally known for its therapeutic effects, lavender oil has many other amazing health benefits it can offer.Here are some health benefits of lavender oil.
Health benefits of lavender oil are:
1.It helps you breathe easy: Therapy is one of the most common areas where lavender oil has proven its mettle. If you are prone to frequent throat infections, sinus congestion, flu and cold, lavender oil helps in treating these problems. Individuals with asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems find relief in lavender essential oil.
2.It calms and relaxes your nerves: One of the widely known benefits of lavender essential oil is that it has tremendous ability to calm and relax your nerves. It is a great stress buster, relieves your tension and relaxes your body. Lavender oil helps in treating depression by enhancing your overall mood. Feelings of anxiety are abated and headaches are visibly reduced. Rub a few drops of lavender oil in your palms and take a deep breath to draw from the benefits of the oil.
3.It helps to relieve pain: One of the most important reasons why a small bottle of lavender oil is essential in every household is because the oil serves as an excellent pain reliever from a variety of aches. Many kinds of pain including muscle ache, back pain, sprain, rheumatism, post-surgical pain and migraine headache are controlled effectively with regular application of lavender essential oil.
4.It treats insomnia: Lavender essential oil has been widely used as an alternative form of treatment to cure insomnia. Regularity in sleep pattern has been observed by rubbing a couple of drops of lavender oil on pillows.
5.It helps to fight bacteria: One good reason why you should carry a small bottle of lavender essential oil whenever you step out is because the oil has exceptional abilities to bring down pain from cuts, burns and bruises. Bruises and burns usually heal leaving no scars. Lavender oil cuts down possibilities of bacterial infections on wounds. And hence, the oil works like magic on acne. It cuts down bacteria that produces excess sebum and reduces inflammation because of acne and pimples. Scars are also visibly reduced. Insect bites and bee stings find a fantastic solution in lavender oil.
6.It helps to treat dry eyes: If you suffer from the problem of dry eyes, then lavender oil can weave some magic to help you cry to relief. Simply, put a couple of drops of lavender essential oil on the bridge of your nose to stimulate your lacrimal glands and trigger production of tears. Tears actually help to keep your eyes moist and free of itchiness and dryness.
7.It enhances circulation: Proper blood circulation treats most health disorders. In that order, lavender oil brings down blood pressure and increases blood circulation. Urinary disorders are also treated efficiently by this oil.
8.It helps to treat skin-related disorders: There is a lot lavender essential oil can do in skin care. The oil has been known to treat eczema, dry skin, acne, scabies, sunburns, wrinkles and other skin related disorders because the oil is known to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
9.It aids in digestion: As lavender oil improves intestinal mobility and triggers production of digestive juices, common problems related to your stomach like indigestion, colic, diarrhea, vomiting and flatulence are visibly reduced.
These are the benefits of lavender oil for health.
Lavender is Catching On
- By HEIDI B. PERLMAN
A decade ago, when Cynthia Sutphin planted her first 400 lavender plants in a small garden outside her Harwich home, she wasn’t certain why she was doing it.
Somehow, she says, she just knew the plant would catch on someday, and she wanted to be ready when it did.
Demand for Lavender
Today, the owner of the Cape Cod Lavender Farm annually harvests more than 15,000 lavender plants and can barely keep up with the demand for oils, soaps, potpourri and plants fueled by a surge in consumers exploring natural remedies, homeopathy and aromatherapy.
“I knew that eventually lavender would hit it big,” said Sutphin, 48. “And I knew that I would be in the right place at the right time when it happened.”
Some say the ancient plant had its big break just last year when it was named Herb of the Year by the International Herb Organization in Virginia.
But others say its popularity has been steadily building for years with the increase in more health-conscious consumers.
More Than Perfume
“It’s only recently that people started to notice it can be used for so much more than just perfume,” said Peggy McElgunn, director of the herb association. “People are finally waking up to it and becoming smarter.”
To the untrained eye — or nose — lavender is just another flowering plant with deep purple buds and a scent reminiscent of a grandmother’s perfume.
But to Sutphin and other herb enthusiasts, it is a near mystical herb that can be used to cure headaches, induce sleep, season pasta or even sweeten lemonade.
When pressed, the flower buds release an oil that is used for massage oil, soaps, perfume and air freshener. And when dried correctly, the flowers can retain their scent and most of their color for years, Sutphin said.
“It’s something our grandparents knew about,” she said. “Our parents didn’t, but now we’re rediscovering lavender. It skipped a generation.”
And now that people have begun to notice it again, just about anything having to do with lavender is not only popular, but big business.
Sutphin’s farm is beginning to see more competition from smaller farms around the region, including the Franklin County Lavender Growers in western Massachusetts, a cooperative of about 40 farmers with about 3,5000 plants among them.
Farms are flourishing across the country as well, including the Olympic Peninsula, where the North American Lavender Conference is held each year. More than 60 farms and herb nurseries in states from coast to coast are registered members of the International Herb Association.
200 Books on Lavender And where there was once just a handful of books about herbs and their healing qualities, today there are more than 200 books in print on lavender alone.
“I think people have a growing need to get back to nature,” said David Schiller, a spokesman for the International Aromatherapy and Herb Association, based in Phoenix. “Especially in cities with no trees or grass. This lets them get [a taste of] nature again.”
Growers agree.
“I could sit here and make soap all day and I would still run out,” said Denise Schwartz, who is a member of the western Massachusetts cooperative. Demand has doubled since last year, she said.
Sutphin opened her farm to the public just four years ago. Visitors have risen from 2,000 in the first year to 4,000 in the second to 8,000 in the third. This year, business already has quadrupled, she said.
She plans to expand her tiny shop, which is now housed in a shed at the end of the winding driveway that leads to her farm. And next year she says she and her husband, Matthew, may have to hire some full-time help.
“We’re getting too big to run this whole thing ourselves,” Sutphin said. “It’s just no longer possible.”
On her 11 acres of lush fields, she grows eight varieties of lavender. For a few weeks each year, most of the eight varieties are in bloom, painting her landscape with a delicate purple brush.
And when all the flowers are out and the breeze blows just right, there is no sweeter sight or scent in the world, she said.
Aromatic and Beautiful
“It’s beautiful to look at, and pleasing to the eyes and the nose,” she said. “Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.”
Today, Sutphin and her husband sell their lavender in bulk to home decor doyen Martha Stewart and to individual customers who find the farm.
And even in the dead of winter, when the Cape Cod roads are unplowed and her dirt driveway is nearly impossible to find, there is always someone out there looking for lavender, she said.
“What can I say?” she said. “People love it.
7 Health Benefits Of Lavender Oil
- By Dr. Edward F. Group III (Natural Medicine)
Lavender oil is a beneficial nectar extracted from the distinctive purple flowers of the lavender plant. This aromatic shrub, commonly known as English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), originated in the western Mediterranean region and is now cultivated throughout the U.S., Europe, and Australia. A major reason for its popularity is that the oil from this plant boasts many health supporting properties. Let’s take a closer look at seven health benefits of lavender oil.
7 Lavender Oil Benefits
1. Helps Alleviate Anxiety
Lavender oil has traditionally been used as a remedy for relieving anxiety, and there’s substantial evidence suggesting a massage with the oil can be beneficial. To create massage oils, lavender oil can be combined with a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba. One recent study takes that even further, finding that a capsule preparation of the oil can act in much the same way as some anti-anxiety medications!
2. Promotes Restful Sleep
It seems that the same capsule preparation studied for anxiety could also be useful for aiding restlessness and improving sleep quality and duration. Try adding a drop of essential lavender oil to your pillow at bedtime or use a lavender eye pillow to block out light and support restful sleep.
3. Encourages Hair Growth
Another study suggests that daily scalp massage with lavender oil can help avoid the hair loss from the autoimmune condition alopecia areata, a disorder that causes hair to fall out, often in patches. It seems that it might also go a step further than just discouraging hair loss, also encouraging new hair growth.
4. Fights Some Types of Harmful Organisms
Lavender oil even shows potential against common skin and nail conditions. A recent study suggests the oil has strong action against nail fungus and can even attack fungal cells at the cell membrane.
5. Supports Circulation
While the scent of lavender is very popular for its relaxation effects, a recent study also suggests aromatherapy could support normal circulation, while helping balance cortisol (a hormone released during stress) levels. Adding lavender oil to your exercise or meditation routine may go a long way. 6. Promotes Comfort
Some evidence suggests aromatherapy could be useful in pain control, while another study suggests foot massage with the oil could be useful for dealing with symptoms of chronic pain. 7. Assists with Skin-Related Disorders
In addition to being a remedy for skin fungus, lavender also supports overall smoothness and offers a protection because of its natural polyphenol content. One of the ingredients of our all-natural face cream, Parfait Visage®, is organic lavender oil just for this purpose. Parfait Visage is a 100% natural and organic premium skin care product that we’ve created to help keep a fresh, radiant complexion. Additional Benefits of Lavender
Lavender has a lot to offer in terms of health, and it’s not just the oil that’s good for you. The flowers themselves can also be very beneficial. In Germany, they enjoy a tea that uses lavender flowers to remedy “insomnia, restlessness, and nervous stomach irritations.” Not to mention lavender smells wonderful.
Natural Living: Healing powers of lavender
- Source:http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/local/20680676-113/natural-living-healing-powers-of-lavender
- By Maureen Lamerdin (O.M.D.)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, or Lavandula officinalis) is an aromatic plant that has glands which exude volatile oils or essential oils. It’s in these oils where we can find the healing powers for so many ailments.
Most people appreciate lavender for its fragrance, used in soaps, shampoos and a myriad of other cosmetics. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means “to wash.” It may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. The history of the use of lavender is extensive across the world including Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Arabia where they used it for its many medicinal effects and in cosmetics.
A number of studies have reported lavender essential oil is beneficial for a variety of conditions including insomnia, alopecia, anxiety, stress and postoperative pain. It also has been studied for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Researchers at Cornell University have found lavender oil can eradicate certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including more than one strain of pathogenic Staphylococcus and pathogenic Streptococcus often involved in coughs and colds.
We have found the healing powers of lavender to stimulate and supplement the body’s healing forces is unmatched by most modern pharmaceuticals. Amidst this aromatic plant there seems to be no other plant essence equaling its broad properties. It’s properties include being an Analgesic, Anti-Coagulant, Anti-Convulsive, Anti-Depressant, Anti-Fungal, Antihistamine, Anti-Infectious, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Anti-Spasmodic, Antitoxic, Cardiotonic, Regenerative and Sedative. It can help heal a cut, a cold sore or shingles (herpes zoster). It can kill pathogens in the air and in nasal sinuses and respiratory airways. It stimulates the immune system, yet it’s also analgesic, soothing muscle aches, taking the pain out of an insect sting and much more and it does this all non-toxically. Lavender is also a nerve tonic and an antidepressant, boosting one’s spirits as well as helping to beat “the blues” that accompany immune stress and illness.
Put 100 percent pure lavender oil to use by trying the following:
Skin-brushing with 7 drops of lavender oil prior to showering will stimulate the immune system, blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Soak in a therapeutic bath with 8 drops of lavender for at least 15 minutes. Use this at first sign of illness and during colds, flus, congestion, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, muscle aches and to induce stress reduction and deep relaxation.
Inhalation of lavender is useful for chest and sinus congestion, cough, hay fever, nervousness, mild depression and insomnia.
Use as a topical antiseptic applying a few drops of lavender oil directly to the skin for burns, insect bites, cuts, rashes, abrasions and symptoms of shingles.
With all these powerful healing qualities in one plant every person should have lavender oil in their kitchen cupboard, make sure you buy pure lavender essential oil that’s meant for home and medicinal use.
The Versatile Herb Lavender Brings Many Benefits
- By Luella May
(NaturalNews) Lavender is one of the more versatile and useful of all herbs, with a long history of use in medicinal healing. Essential oils extracted from this herb are used for medicinal purposes for both humans as well as pets and lavender is also a popular fragrance found throughout the cosmetic industry. The scent of lavender is associated with comfort and aromatherapists have long used lavender in the treatment of depression and nervous conditions.
Though mainstream medicine has regarded aromatherapy as an unproven therapy with only placebo effect benefits, a recent study in Japan proved otherwise. The study, which appeared in the American Chemical Society`s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that inhaling the fragrant compound linalool made stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes return to near normal levels (both neutrophils and lymphocytes are key parts of the immune system). Lavender was cited as the plant which has the highest concentrations of linalool.
The herb lavender was originally native to Mediterranean countries. Today it can be found in Europe, Australia, and the southern portion of the United States. There are two different types of lavender: Spike lavender has broad spatula-like leaves; French lavender leaves are narrower with small dark flowers. Spike lavender contains a higher content of ceneol and camphor and produces three times as much oil as French lavender. The higher content of these ingredients makes it less pleasing, however, and French lavender is considered the more fragrant of the two.
Numerous studies have reported that lavender essential oils may be beneficial in a number of conditions, including migraines, headaches, depression, anxiety, mood swings, fear, and exhaustion. Lavender can also be used during labor and it has been found to be useful for eczema and dermatitis. In addition, lavender has also been used to treat cancer in the breast, liver, and spleen.
Other conditions lavender has been used for include: heart palpitations, arthritis, joint inflammation, fainting, neuralgia, vertigo, insomnia, epilepsy and other seizures, rheumatism, sore muscles, sprains, flatulence, colic, nausea, vomiting, toothache, acne, wounds, snakebites, hoarseness, loss of voice, allergies, sunburn and sunstroke, abscess, alopecia, asthma, athletes foot, insect bites, boils, burns, colds, colic, coughs, cystitis, earache and respiratory infections.
Lavender lifts spirits, stimulates appetite, and even dispels flatulence. Lavender is a major ingredient in the use of smelling salts. Pets also benefit through lavender's healing properties. It is used not only as a sedative, but also as a flea and tick repellent. Besides health and cosmetics, lavender is also used in flavoring foods such as desserts, gelatins, puddings, candy and tea. In some areas of the world, it is added to salads. Lavender is used in a variety of commercial fragrances, such as perfumes, soaps, and toiletries. It is a scent commonly used in potpourri and sachets. Lavender was once used as an insect repellant in the storing of clothes.
Even though essential oils blend well with each other, lavender oil blends especially well with cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, pine, nutmeg, and all the citrus oils.
3 Surprising Beauty Benefits Of Lavender
- By Dana Oliver (The Huffington Post)
Ah, lavender. Just thinking about the plant brings on feelings of relaxation. Sipping on tea made out of its leaves, or smelling its scent will calm your mind or help you sleep better. But did you know that you could also use this purple flowering plant for homemade beauty treatments?
Lavender has been used through the ages for of its cleansing and healing properties. Romans started using it to scent and purifying their baths centuries ago, ancient Egyptians turned its essential oil into a perfume for the mummification process and people burned bundles of lavender during the Great Plague of 1665 in London to try to ward off infectious diseases.
Whether used alone or with other soothing ingredients, there are plenty of reasons why you should keep this herb handy. Here are three surprising uses for lavender.
1. Acne treatment. Most people with acne don't realize that a plant oil such as lavender won't clog pores, according to Marina Peredo, a board certified dermatologist at SkinInfluence NYC. "The antiseptic and antibacterial properties may be a more natural solution to mild acne," she says. To create your own facial toner, Peredo recommends combining a few drops of lavender oil to witch hazel. The lavender works to heal and treat breakouts, while the witch hazel tones your complexion. Dab the solution onto a cotton ball and apply to cleansed skin.
2. Scalp rinse. If you've tried just about every dandruff shampoo to relieve dry, itchy scalp, don't give up hope until you've mixed up the lavender hair rinse by Amy Jirsa, a master herbalist and yoga instructor. In her book "The Herbal Goddess," Jirsa shares a recipe that combines dried lavender steeped in boiled water and apple cider vinegar to make a nourishing rinse that will remove build-up, alleviate irritation and restore the natural pH balance of your scalp. Watch her explain the steps on YouTube.
3. Wound care. Suffering from a bug bite? Gary Goldfaden, a dermatologist and founder of Goldfaden MD skincare, suggests smoothing on a bit of lavender oil to reduce the swelling and minimize itching. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, it also helps to soothe wounds and improve the development of scar tissue, which can be beneficial to healing the skin.
Goldfaden notes that many people have allergic reactions to lavender, most commonly in the form of skin rashes. If you have more sensitive skin, Peredo recommends mixing it with natural oils or even your regular moisturizer. But you should always perform a patch test or consult with a physician before trying any homemade beauty recipe.
Lavender Photo Gallery
