Lavender
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
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Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
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Flaxseed •
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Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
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
This Scent Will Make You Trust People More, According To Science
- By Carolyn Gregoire
The scent of lavender is known for its soothing properties, and for this reason is often recommended to people as a relaxation or sleep aid. But according to new research, the calming scent can also make us more trusting of others.
“Our results might have various serious implications for a broad range of situations in which interpersonal trust is an essential element,” Leiden psychologist Roberta Sellaro said in a statement. “Smelling the aroma of lavender may help a seller to establish more easily a trusting negotiation to sell a car, or in a grocery store it may induce consumers to spend more money buying products. The smell of lavender may also be helpful in sport psychology to enhance trust and build team spirit, for example in the case of team games such as soccer and volleyball.”
To investigate the flower’s effect on trust, Leiden University researchers exposed one group of study participants to the scent of lavender and another group to peppermint. Then, the participants were asked to play a game that is commonly used in experimental settings to measure how much one subject trusts another. In the game, a “trustor” was given 5 Euros and instructed to decide how much of that money to give a “trustee” in each round. The trustee, in return, could decide to split the money with the trustor. If the trustee gave the trustor enough money in return, he or she would receive additional money.
After being exposed to lavender, participants gave significantly more money to the trustee (3.9 Euro) than those who had been exposed to peppermint (3.23 Euro). The findings “reinforce the idea that interpersonal trust is sensitive to situational and environmental factors,” the researchers note.
Previous research on aromatherapy has found that lavender can affect mood and well-being. Lavender essential oil produces a mild calming and sedative affect, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and has been used to ease anxiety, depression, insomnia and fatigue. One brain-scanning study by Wesleyan University researchers found that participants who sniffed lavender oil before going to bed slept more soundly through the night.
The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. Check out the video to learn more about lavender’s effects on mutual trust.
4 Reasons to Love Lavender
- By Michelle Schoffro Cook
Have you seen those breathtaking photos of undulating fields in Provence or some other romantic location filled with purple flowers as far as the eye can see? Chances are you’re looking at lavender, a beautiful aromatic small shrub that grows on most continents. Even if you don’t live in Provence or own acres of land, you can still get up close and personal with lavender. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
While lavender is an obvious visual and olfactory indulgence, its value goes far beyond these sensory experiences. The plant has a long and illustrious history as traditional medicine in many cultures. Lavender use has been traced back at least 2500 years when it was used for mummification and perfumery by the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians and Arabs. Ancient Romans are also believed to have used lavender for cooking, bathing and scenting the air. Today, science is revealing the incredible properties lavender possesses to reduce depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and anxiety, as well as combating insomnia and repelling insects.
1. A joint Canadian and Iranian study compared the effects of a medication for depression to drinking tea made from lavender flowers. The researchers found that the lavender was slightly more effective than the anti-depressant drugs without any of the dangerous side effects often present with these types of drugs. The researchers concluded that lavender might be used as an adjunct to anti-depressant drugs or on its own to assist with symptoms of depression. The study participants drank two cups of an infusion made with lavender daily. This can be made by adding two teaspoons of dried flowers to boiled water and letting it sit for 10 minutes before straining and drinking the tea. Of course, never discontinue any medications without consulting your physician.
2. According to James Duke, botanist and author of The Green Pharmacy, lavender is an excellent insomnia remedy. He recounts stories of British hospitals using lavender essential oil in patients’ baths or sprinkled onto bed clothes to help them sleep. To use in a bath, sprinkle 5 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil under the water as the tub fills to allow the oils to disperse. Alternatively, place a heaping tablespoon of dried lavender flowers in cheesecloth, tie into a bundle and allow the flowers to infuse in the bathwater while soaking.
3. In a South African study comparing the effects of lavender essential oil to DEET-based tick repellents, lavender showed comparable results to the DEET sprays. At a 5 percent concentration, the insect-repellent results of the lavender oil lasted for 40 minutes while at a 10 percent or higher concentration of the essential oil, the results lasted for two hours. Add 10 to 20 drops of lavender essential oil to a dollop of your favorite unscented cream and apply before heading outdoors.
4. A Japanese study published in the journal BioPsychoSocial Medicine found that inhaling the scent of lavender for ten minutes had a significant effect on the nervous system of women suffering from premenstrual symptoms. It especially decreased feelings of depression and confusion.
While lavender plants and dried lavender are readily available, the plant is fairly easy to grow in gardens, yards and pots. It grows best in a sunny location with well-drained soil and is found in most plant nurseries. You can also grow lavender from seed as it tends to be quite hardy. It needs watering to get started but most varieties are quite drought tolerant and need infrequent watering after the plant takes hold.
New study shows smell of lavender could enhance memory
- By Patrick B. Massey (MD, PH.D.)
Most of us think that taking in a nice aroma is simply a pleasant experience.
Medical research, however, is demonstrating that some fragrances can have a profound impact on our memory and cognition.
In a recent medical study, the fragrance of lavender enhanced memory after a stressful, standardized test.
In aromatherapy, plant extracts or the oils of specific plants are used as a way of enhancing the immune system, accelerating healing, improving memory and cognition as well as depression, anxiety and sleep.
Although the exact origins of aromatherapy are lost to the pages of ancient history, the use of fragrances in healing and ceremonies have been documented in our earliest civilizations.
Although aromatherapy was initially dismissed as a placebo, the medical research on the effects of aromatherapy on stress hormones, sleep and mood has been accumulating and is quite positive. The most common way that aromatherapy is used is to breathe in the essential oil through the nose.
Recent medical study done at the Oregon Health and Science University and published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine demonstrated that the essential oil of lavender significantly improved memory after a stressful standardized test.
In this study 92 participants were divided into several groups -- lavender essential oil group, placebo coconut oil group and a water group. Two additional groups were used to study the psychological effect of essential oils.
The final results were quite revealing. Those in the lavender group demonstrated significant improvement over the placebo and water-only groups for memory after the stressful test.
Other data from this study also demonstrated that lavender oil actually lessened the feeling of stress about the test itself. The study demonstrated that there is a psychological effect of lavender but that there is also a direct physiological benefit on the brain.
Even though we may not realize it, smell may be our most sensitive sense. Our eyes and ears can differentiate approximately one million colors and a half million tones respectively. Recent medical research suggests that the human nose can differentiate over one trillion different odors.
It is no wonder that aromatherapy can affect the brain so profoundly.
This therapy, in my opinion, should be used as an add-on to other medical therapies and not as a stand-alone approach.
Several of the larger health food stores carry a large selection of essential oils, as well as books on their use. One needs to be cautious with some essential oils because direct application to the skin can be irritating.
Consulting an essential oil expert is recommended and there are currently several certifications for essential oils use.
A current trend in essential oils is to ingest them. I feel that the most effective way of getting essential oils into your body is through the nose and skin, not through your bowels.
There is a large body of historical evidence for the use of essential oils, not just as a fragrance but as a healing tool. It is certainly useful as an additional therapy for a variety of medical conditions including pain, anxiety and insomnia.
6 lesser-known benefits of lavender oil for your skin and hair
- By Tania Tarafdar
Lavender oil has amazing nourishing and therapeutic benefits for both your skin and hair.
The sweet-scented lavender oil has a plethora of beauty benefits. The soothing essential oil has been used since the Roman era to soothe and soften the skin. Let us have a look at some of the amazing nourishing and therapeutic benefits lavender oil has for both your skin and hair. Also read about the 7 best oils for healthy and glowing skin.
1. Reduces wrinkles and age spots
Lavender oil helps in reducing the age spots such as wrinkles and fine lines. The fragrant oil boosts circulation in your skin thus improving the blood flow supplying an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrition to skin cells. This helps to firm your skin by boosting the skin renewal process. You can also try these home remedies to look 10 years younger.
How to use:
- • Beat one egg white.
- • Add 2-3 drops of lavender oil to the beaten egg.
- • Apply it on your face and leave it for 20 minutes before washing your face with warm water.
- • Use this three times a week for best results.
2. Treats acne
Lavender oil has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight the bacteria causing the acne. The oil can also help reduce the swelling and redness caused by the acne breakout. Here are 5 effective face packs for an acne-free skin.
How to use:
- • Simply dab a cotton ball in lavender oil and apply it to the areas affected by acne.
- • Continue with this routine every day before going to sleep for a healthy and unblemished complexion.
3. Controls hair loss
This nourishing oil not only aids in hair growth but also helps to prevent hair loss. This aromatherapy oil also helps to regulate blood circulation in the body including the scalp and thus promotes healthy hair growth.
How to use:
- • Massage your hair with lavender oil in the night from the roots to the tips.
- • Then wash it off with a mild shampoo in the morning.
- • Massaging your hair with lavender oil thrice a week will nourish your scalp and prevent hair loss.
4. Heals chapped lips
Lavender oil has both healing and moisturising effects that can work very well on the thin, delicate skin of the lips. It will also help in enhancing the colour of our lips.
How to use:
- • Just rub a few drops of lavender oil on your lips to moisturise them.
- • You can use it any time during the day and even keep it on overnight.
5. Soothes burns
The anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of lavender oil are also very beneficial in healing burns. Due to its antiseptic action it acts as a pain reliever. Applying the oil on the burn can stimulate cell formation and also reduce the scarring.
How to use:
- • All you need to do is run cold water on the burnt area for 10 minutes.
- • Then apply lavender oil to the affected area.
- • Use the oil three times a day for quick healing.
6. Conditions your hair
The lavender essential oil helps balance the pH of your scalp and hair and is thus great for people with greasy hair. Battle dry and dull hair with these 5 hair masks.
How to use:
- • Combine 15 drops of lavender essential oil with 2 tablespoons of almond oil or olive oil.
- • Now heat the mixture for about 10 minutes.
- • Massage your hair with this warm oil and out a shower cap on.
- • Wash it off with a mild shampoo after an hour.
- • Using this once a week will leave your hair soft and shiny.
Lovely Lavender
- By Alice Crann Good (PensacolaH&G.com)
People battling stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia often turn to a herb known for its calming and relaxing benefits – lavender. Old Thyme Remedies owners Theresa Ellis and Beth Workman say lavender is one of their favorites.
“Lavender’s history goes back some 2,500 years,” Workman says. “Lavender is a flowering plant of the mint family known for its beauty, its sweet floral fragrance and its multiple uses.
“Lavender is said to be the Swiss Army knife of herbs,” Workman says. “When in doubt of what to use, use lavender. It is known to be safe for the very young to the very old.”
Today, lavender is also grown commercially for extraction of its oil from its flowers and to some degree from its foliage, Workman says. The oil is obtained through a distillation process.
“The oil is used as a disinfectant, an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory and for aromatherapy,” Workman says. “An infusion of lavender is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites, sunburn and small cuts, burns and inflammatory conditions and even acne. Lavender oils are also used for internal medical conditions – indigestion and heartburn. It can also be used as a wound wash to discourage bacterial infection.”
Herbalist Kathy Hubbard says lavender is “a gentle nervine” that can be used frequently, but it is important to use quality herbs. If herbs do not have an aroma at time of purchase, they lack medicinal properties, she says.
“Purchase from reputable sources,” Hubbard advises.
- Lavender bath
- Kathy Hubbard
- •Place 1/2 cup of lavender buds in a huge tea ball or in a large cloth tea bag. Hang under the running hot water while you fill the tub. This will fill the tub with a lavender “tea.” Sit back and relax in your lavender-infused bath.
Or: Bring a large pot of water (1 gallon) to a boil. Pull off the stove, and put a cup of lavender blossoms in the water. Cover and steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain, and add to your bath.
- Lavender-licious
- •Lavender delivers a floral, slightly sweet and elegant flavor to salads, soups, meat and seafood dishes, desserts, cheeses, baked goods and confectionery, say Old Thyme Remedies owners Theresa Ellis and Beth Workman.
- Lavender Cake
- Old Thyme Remedies
- •3/4 cup softened real butter
- •3/4 cup organic sugar
- •1 1/2 cup organic self-rising flour
- •1 tbsp. organic lavender buds, finely chopped
- •1 tsp. vanilla extract
- •3 large yard eggs
- •Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour pan. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs; mixing in one at a time. Fold in flour and lavender buds. Bake accordingly for size pan used.
- •Note: Can be baked in mason jars. Fill three-fourths full and bake. Place seal and ring on when pulled out of oven.
- Lavender lemon icing
- Old Thyme Remedies
- •1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
- •1/4 tsp. lemon zest
- •1/2 tsp. water or cream
- •1/2 tsp. lavender buds
- •Combine ingredients and pour over cake.
- Relaxing tea
- Kathy Hubbard
- •1 tsp. lavender blossom
- •1 tsp. chamomile flower
- •10 oz. hot water
- •Bring water just to boil, pull off heat and add herbs. Cover and steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain, and add honey if desired.
Traditional uses for Lavender
- By Jodi Thomas
- Preventive:
- Repels insects- fleas, moths & mosquitos
Do you hate using insecticides? Good news! Insects hate the smell of Lavender It is suggested you mist yourself and/or pet with Lavender hydrosol before you go out at sunset or to bed, put three to four drops of oil on your pillow or soak cotton wool ball in the oil and leave it on a saucer in front of the window. To keep moths off your clothes, hang Lavender sachets in your closets and draws. Refresh them from time to time with a drop or two of pure Lavender oil.
- Common ailments:
- Insomnia
Soothing at any age when used in diffuser and it is suggested to put a few drops on a pillow. For infants you can also create a message oil of mineral oil or other carrier oil, add one drop of Geranium oil and one drop of Lavender oil and massage into baby’s back or just put a few drops into their night bath or use a sachet of oil filled with Lavender flowers.
- Stress & Anxiety
Keep a spritzer of Lavender hydrosol mist handy to spray on your face during the day, or apply a Lavender oil salve to your temples.
- Fatigue
It is suggested to add five drops of Lavender oil to a hot foot bath and relax while your feet soak in it. It is suggested that the soles of the feet are particularly porous, and the theory is that the Lavender can then reach your bloodstream very quickly, exerting its stimulating and soothing effects on various systems of your body.
- Aching Muscles
It is suggested to apply a Lavender oil salve to sore joints and muscles or prepare a Lavender bath of Epsom salts and a few drops of Lavender oil to soak away the tension.
- Headache
It is suggested that the distilled water of Lavender or hydrosol when used as a mist sprayed around the head can be refreshing and soothing. Also it is suggested to make a compress soaked in icy cold water then sprinkled with a few drops of Lavender oil and apply to the forehead, or massage a Lavender oil salve into the forehead, temples and nape of the neck.
- Menstrual Cramps
Relaxes relieves pain -It is suggested to massage a few drops of suave containing Lavender oil into your lower abdomen and or apply a hot compress onto the area, with little sprinkle of Lavender oil.
- Feeling Faint
It is suggested to use your own smelling salts made of sea salt, Lavender oil, Peppermint oil and Basil oil.
- First Aid:
- Known for its powerful antibacterial and anti-viral properties
The Romans would carry Lavender in a bag to war. When wounded they would crush it and place it in olive oil then applied it to their wounds. Also early 20th Century French laboratory studies showed that Lavender is a powerful antibacterial in dilutions of 5 percent or less it is lethal to bacteria that cause typhoid, TB and diphtheria.
- Cuts, Wounds and Minor Burns
It is suggested to apply Lavender oil salve to sooth pain, prevent bacterial infection and aid scar-free healing. The area first should be cooled by immersing the burned area in cold water first Then it is suggested to gentle place a Lavender oil salve on burned area.
- Sunburn
It is suggested to spray a pure Lavender hydrosol mist directly onto the skin or add 8 drops of Lavender oil and 4 drops of Peppermint oil to a teaspoon of Jojoba oil. Pour it into a cool-to-lukewarm bath and soak for 10 minutes.
- Insect bites
Lavender oil products traditionally are known for their soothing an anti- itch and anti- inflammation properties. It is suggested a Lavender oil salve and pure hydrosol mist can be used to help relieve the pain and itch of bug bites.
- Earache
It is suggested to warm a bottle of lavender oil in hot water for a minute or two then add two to three drops of the warmed Lavender oil to a little olive oil in a separate container, then add a few warm not hot drops in the ear cannel and gently massage a few drops into the skin around the ears and throat.
- Sinusitis
Lavender is one of several essential oils that aroma-therapists recommend for inhalations to relieve sinusitis. It is suggested to add two drops of lavender and thyme oil to a bowl of hot steaming water and inhale slowly and deeply, with a towel over your head and bowl.
- Fevers
It is suggested sponge babies or small children, down very gently with tepid water to which you have added a drop of Lavender oil, taking care not to let them get chilled. For adults you can bathe in tepid water with Lavender oil or have a sponge bath too.
- Skin Conditions:
- Eczema
It is suggested to stroke a few drops of lavender oil and olive oil or other carrier oil into dry, itchy skin. You can also add a few drops of Lavender oil to Calamine lotion, shake before use.
- Acne
Aromatherapists say that Lavender is one of the most valuable oils in the treatment of acne as it inhibits the bacteria that cause the skin infection. It is also suggested to help rebalance the over-secretion of sebum, which the bacteria thrive on, and reduce scarring. It is suggested to add a few drops of lavender oil to a moisturizing cream or cleanser and apply to the needed area.
- Shingles
It is suggested to make combination of Lavender oil with other analgesic, antiviral and scar preventing essential oils when applied to lesions can be very helpful. One would have to Google all the other essential oils that have analgesic, antiviral and scar preventing properties and make their own choice, of which Lavender oil is one.
Benefits of Lavender
- By Julie Martens Forney
Discover the many benefits that lavender brings—to the garden and home.
Celebrate the versatility of lavender by using this herb to its fullest. The benefits of lavender start in the garden, but when you’re willing to harvest flowers, you can enjoy lavender benefits indoors, too. Lavender offers a host of uses in the home, from scenting linens, to giving fleas the brush-off, to seasoning foods.
If you’re planting lavender, consider which lavender benefits you want to enjoy before making your final variety selections. For instance, if you plan to snip flower stems to make dried lavender bunches for decorating, choose a type of lavender that hangs onto its flowers after drying. ‘Grosso’ lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’) is a favorite for drying because it doesn’t shatter. It also packs intense fragrance into its blooms.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to enjoy a lavender benefit of making fragrant sachets or potpourri, you’ll want to harvest lavender buds. Choose a type of lavender that releases its buds easily. ‘Provence’ lavender (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’) drops its buds readily after drying and is the ideal choice when your goal is lavender buds.
The benefits of lavender extend beyond decorative uses. You can also harvest lavender flowers and buds for making lavender oil. While handmade lavender oil, if not steam distilled, is usually more of an infusion, it still brings wonderful lavender benefits. The essential oils of this perennial herb are simply more diluted in a lavender oil infusion.
One of the key benefits of lavender is its relaxing, soothing properties. Lavender essential oil makes a terrific treatment for relaxing sore muscles, encouraging a good night’s sleep or relieving tension headaches. Rub lavender oil onto muscles or temples for relief, or dot it on a cloth and slip it inside your pillow case for a soothing night’s sleep.
Another benefit of lavender oil is to relieve itching and swelling of insect bites. Lavender oil can take the sting out bee stings and sunburns. Lavender oil also makes a good treatment for minor burns, helping to keep infection at bay and reducing inflammation. A medical benefit of lavender is as a wound wash. Lavender provides good germ-fighting properties and also promotes healing.
In the garden, take advantage of the benefits of lavender flowers in beckoning pollinators. Place lavender bushes strategically near a vegetable garden to lure bees and other pollinators. Or tuck lavender into a wildlife or butterfly garden, where its flowers will be abuzz with activity.
Don’t overlook the benefits of lavender in the kitchen. Flowers bring a sweetly spicy flavor to tea blends and lemonade. Or savor lavender in honey or butter on pancakes, toast or in cookie recipes.
Dried lavender plus orange or lemon peels in a pot of boiling water can freshen a home, and tossing lavender sachets into the dryer can scent laundry. Grind lavender buds and add to baking soda for a carpet deodorizer and freshener.
Simple Truths: The many health and beauty benefits of lavender
- By Dione Chen
Lavender is one of the most widely-used herbs in our beauty regimens, but what exactly does it do for us?
Lavender as a herb is found almost everywhere in the market, in shampoos, conditioners, soaps, gels, creams, scrubs, perfumes, essential oils, teas and more. You probably know it as one of the most fragrant and effective relaxants, if you’ve ever used it right before you go to bed. The scent of lavender is enough to calm your senses in preparation for sleep. But, did you know that the benefits of this lovely herb goes way beyond just helping you to relax?
To help you get a better idea, we’ve come up with a list of some of the best reasons why lavender is such an essential herb in your beauty routine. Below are some fun facts that may change your view on this simple flower forever.
1. It reduces acne
Lavender is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, which means that it helps to kill bacteria that causes acne, and heals the skin so that your breakouts don’t leave any scars behind. The overall effects would result in a clearer and smoother complexion, since redness and blotchiness will also be reduced. Simply dab a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your skin problems, and watch the magic happen. If you need a cure for cuts or burns, lavender will help greatly as well.
2. It detoxifies the skin
Lavender also contains antioxidants that help to combat the effects of pollutants on the skin, leaving your skin healthy and smooth as the days go by. With the increasing amount of environmental toxins in the atmosphere, it is becoming more and more important to detox your body and skin daily, and what better way than with the wonderful scent of lavender?
3. It soothes irritation
If you have sensitive skin that erupts in rashes or eczema from time to time, lavender essential oil may just be the cure to your skin woes. It can also help to reduce itching and swelling caused by insect bites, so a small bottle of this powerful oil will always come in handy. However, do take note that some skin types do react negatively to lavender, so it is important to test it out first if you’re using it for the first time.
4. It tones your skin
Have you ever wondered why there are so many toners out there that make use of the properties of lavender to boost their toning effects? This herb in fact helps to boost circulation so that your skin receives all the nutrients it needs more efficiently, resulting in firmer and younger-looking skin. You can easily make your own lavender toner at home as well. Steep some fresh lavender flowers in boiled water for a few hours, drain the water and keep it in the refrigerator to chill. Pour or spray some of this lavender water onto a cotton pad and dab it onto your face to keep your skin refreshed and hydrated. Simple, effective and smells amazing!
5. It helps you sleep
Insomnia or a lack of good sleep can be a serious beauty problem to many people, causing puffy eyes or wrinkles in the long term. If you find it difficult to sleep, try adding a few lavender flowers in your room, or invest in a lavender oil fragrance for your home. Lavender is known to soothe the nervous system, thereby causing your brain to relax and ensuring you sleep better. The calming effect of lavender is the main reason why it is so often used in aromatherapy and massages.
6. It cures anxiety and depression
Since lavender is extremely calming on the nerves, it is no wonder that people have found the scent of lavender to be useful when treating anxiety or depression as well. Lavender helps people to relax, think clearer and maintain overall mental health without any additional side effects, which is why it is constantly being used in herbal remedies to treat similar symptoms.
7. It treats hair loss
By now, you might be a little surprised as to the wide range of benefits lavender provides, but we’re far from done. If you thought lavender essential oil could only be used to treat the skin, boy are you wrong. Since we know now that lavender increases blood circulation and helps to relax the nerves, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it aids in the reduction of hair fall as well. Insomnia and anxiety are one of the most common causes of hair loss, which is why massaging your scalp with lavender essential oil can make a huge difference to your hair health.
8. It gets rid of dandruff
People with dry and itchy scalps, you’ve found your cure. Lavender reduces irritation and provides moisture, which means you can bid farewell to embarrassing dandruff that just doesn’t seem to go away. Since lavender is gentle and natural, it acts as a much more effective solution compared to shampoos that are filled with chemicals. Try it for yourself today!
9. It relieves headaches
Headaches and migraines are part and parcel of life, but can be extremely annoying if you have to focus on a task and get things done. Lavender essential oil can assist in this problem. Simply massage some oil onto your temples, forehead and neck to encourage muscle and nerve relaxation. You’ll realise after a while that your headaches will be gone, or greatly reduced.
10. It aids in digestion
Drinking lavender tea is an amazing way to prevent indigestion, since it soothes the lining of the digestive tract and stimulates the production of gastric juices and bile. Doing this will eliminate symptoms of constipation, stomachaches and diarrhoea as well. After which, you will be ensured a good night’s rest of peaceful sleep.
It may seem as if the benefits of lavender are too good to be true. However, it is a herb that has proven its worth, and has helped so many people all over the world with their needs. If it works for others, it wouldn’t do you any harm to try it out for yourself, would it?
Use Lavender Oil for Hair and Skin and Look Like You Just Came From the Spa
- By Kristin Collins Jackson
It only took about two days of desert country for my face to resemble that of a monster's. First, my face developed a not so adorable rash. Second, came the slight hives around my ears. By the final day, my face was peeling beyond recognition. The desert was amazing for my hair, however — no humidity meant no curl-shrinkage and my hair retained its natural moisture. This is one of the reasons I was shocked to see how badly my skin reacted to the dry desert air! I applied my stand-by coconut oil because I didn't want to freak my face out by putting anything foreign on it but, while things weren't getting any worse, my skin certainly wasn't getting any better. I turned to castor oil, knowing it was a heavier than the oil I usually use on my face...and then started to see breakouts. "NO!!!" I shouted each morning when I woke up. How could anyone take me seriously if my face was falling off? Of course, my friends insisted you couldn't notice the flaking, but that didn't stop me from piling powder and foundation on top of the flakes, further aggravating my skin. Once I arrived back in humidity, I knew the first thing I had to do was check my medicine cabinet and do a little research on how to get rid of a sun-rash.
Lavender oil became my knight in shining armor, stopping the flakiness almost overnight. This has been one of my favorite essential oils to mix with hair masks, facial moisturizers, and other DIY recipes for some time. Previously, I've been drawn to its calming elements and light scent; now I'm drawn to its ability to heal the crap out of my face without clogging my pores or making my skin look weighed down. After waking up with my face completely cured of flakiness for the first time in a week, it's unsurprising to me that lavender is considered the most versatile essential oil. Lavender has aromatherapy properties that are often used in spas, bath salts, and potpourri for its medicinal-like effects. The oil is extracted through steeping the stems and flowers of the lavender plant. Known to reduce stress, headaches, hypertension, and cold sores, lavender oil has antifungal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties — three major benefits that make for an ideal ingredient in our hair and skin care products. In fact, lavender oil is considered an adaptogen — an herb or plan that has the ability to resist a stressor — because of its profound ability to balance our bodies.
Why should lavender oil be in your medicine cabinet? For starters, you can grow lavender in your garden or window sill flowerbed. Not only will you impress everyone with your sick gardening skills, but you'll also be impressing them with your "Medicine Woman" abilities. Here are a few amazing ways I'm using lavender oil this summer.
- Bug Repellent
Use a few drops of lavender oil on exposed skin (definitely wrists and ankles) before going out into the trenches, AKA anyplace where mosquitoes rule the night! This will keep those blood-sucking jerks at bay, plus sooth the itching of any existing bites. Lavender oil is also known to stop bleeding, making it perfect if you have a nasty bite that broke the skin. Hands down, lavender oil is a key player in your war against mosquitoes this summer. It certainly smells way better than drugstore bug spray!
- Hot Oil Treatment
For real, the first time I used this hot oil treatment while detangling my hair, I'm pretty sure I did a joyful little two-step. This recipe is my jam and that's why I must share it with you again. I use three parts coconut oil and one part jojoba oil to get my mane ultra-moisturized, then add several drops of lavender oil. Wrap your hair in a hot towel for about 20 minutes (alternatively, you can use a shower cap and blow dryer on low for a similar effect), and rinse. I'll be real with you, I detangle after about 10 minutes of the treatment in my hair and then I 'rinse' it out because I'm not super concerned with these light oils causing build-up in my hair. Using lavender oil will help with dandruff, dry itchy scalp, and give you a spa-like treatment that you deserve!
- Lavender Face Mist
If you are hooked on that lavender face mist from Sephora, then you will definitely be pumped on this! After the Great Desert Fiasco of 2014, I used my carrier oil and lavender oil in a thick layer before I went to sleep. After I noticed a significant difference, I made a DIY face mist for a midday rejuvenation. Basically, I use a trusty spray bottle, add another antiseptic oil (usually about a few tablespoons of my carrier oil to about one cup of water), and then I added several drops of lavender oil.
PS: Make absolutely sure your skin is protected from the sun after you spritz. The sun and humidity will only dry your skin out more.
Health Checkup: Relax, it's lavender time
- By Les Moore
Summertime brings an abundance of lavender in the garden, its lovely fragrance enveloping everything around it.
Lavender has been used since antiquity for all sorts of purposes. Native to the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Africa, it is now cultivated around the world.
In modern times, the fragrant oils of its flowers are used in baked goods, candles, cosmetics, detergents, jellies, massage oils, perfumes, powders, shampoos, soaps, potpourri and teas.
And it’s used a great deal in aromatherapy. In fact, it is the most popular aromatherapy scent in the world.
The name lavender is derived from the Latin "lavare,” meaning “to wash.” It was used as a perfume in baths and laundry and as an antiseptic by the ancient Greeks, Persians and Romans.
Many people find lavender aromatherapy to be relaxing, and the Mayo Clinic and others have cited some studies that have shown it to have anti-anxiety effects, potentially helping with depression as well.
Lavender aromatherapy has been used to decrease anxiety since the 19th century. A 2011 American study showed that lavender aromatherapy provides a decrease in stress levels and reduces the pain intensity of needle insertion.
Research has also demonstrated that dental anxiety can be reduced by lavender aromatherapy. A 2010 study published in the journal Community Dental Oral Epidemiology showed lower anxiety levels in office settings with lavender aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy uses volatile oils that evaporate and are inhaled, stimulating the olfactory nerves in the nasal passages. The result is more than just a pleasant smell — the stimulating effect reaches the brain via nerves, causing stimulation in the limbic system, which is involved with controlling emotions.
The effect is comparable to taking herbal medications by mouth to influence the limbic system. But aromatherapy brings the added benefit of pleasing scents.
What Are the Benefits of Lavender Tea?
- By Paul Woods (Demand Media)
Lavender is a Mediterranean shrub that also flourishes in parts of Southern Europe, Australia, Japan and the United States. To prepare lavender tea, steep the dried blossoms in boiling water for seven to 10 minutes, and then strain it. Dried lavender blossoms have more tang than fresh, so use only a third of the amount, says Gloria Hander in “A Taste of Lavender: Delectable Treats with an Exotic Floral Flavor.”
- Relieves Indigestion
Indigestion is characterized by nausea, abdominal pain, belching, vomiting and a burning sensation in your stomach, and is usually a sign of an underlying stomach problem, such as peptic ulcers. Drinking lavender tea may help relieve nervous intestinal disorders and indigestion. This is because it contains essential oils that have a soothing effect on the stomach. A study by the University of Parma and published in November 2004 in “Life Sciences” found that lavender oils protected against gastric ulcers and relieved indigestion in rats.
- Insomnia Relief
Insomnia is a condition that manifests itself in the inability to fall sleep restively. It is usually caused by anxiety, stress and depression. According to a study published in February 2006 in “Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi” by Keukdong College, Korea, the aroma of lavender relieved depression and insomnia in female college students. The study involved 42 female college participants who were reported to be suffering from insomnia. Drinking lavender tea releases the fragrances which may help relieve this sleep disorder.
- May Treat Migraine
Drinking lavender tea releases essential oils that may help relieve migraines. A study by scientists at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences found that inhaling lavender essential oil may help manage acute migraines. The study, which was published in April 2012 in "European Neurology," involved 47 patients who were suffering from migraines. One group was asked to inhale lavender essential oil for fifteen minutes, while the placebo inhaled paraffin for a similar time period. It was found that the percentage of patients who inhaled lavender oil responded better to migraines than the placebo.
- Convulsions
Convulsions occur when your body shakes uncontrollably due to rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles. A study by the Aga Khan University Medical College published in July 2000 in the “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” found that lavender has antispasmodic and anticonvulsant effects. The study, which was conducted on mice, attributed such properties to the ability of lavender to block calcium channels in the nervous system that are responsible for convulsions and spasms.
- Considerations
While lavender tea is beneficial to your health, a study published in the January 2007 issue of the “New England Journal of Medicine” indicates that lavender oils may induce breast growth in boys. This condition is known as prepubertal gynecomastia. According to the MedlinePlus website, ingesting lavender may also lead to constipation, headaches and increased appetite. If you are scheduled for a surgery, avoid drinking lavender tea for about two weeks prior, as drinking it slows down your central nervous system.
The benefits of adding lavender to your garden
- Source:http://www.newspressnow.com/life/home_garden/article_e0196e99-e403-5045-8437-c61dee56ef1d.html
- By Erica Van Buren (St. Joseph News-Press)
There are a wide variety of options when it comes to the selection of perennials, but why not go with a plant that brings color along with some healing properties?
For gardeners, the month of June offers the chance to see lavender in its full bloom.
“It blooms twice, June and again in September, but the best bloom is in June,” says John Goode of Goode Food Delivered.
Lavender is great for this time of year offering color, fragrance and therapeutic properties. It also is durable against extremely hot temperatures.
Lavender has many benefits, including being used by aromatherapists in inhalation therapy to treat things like headaches, nervous disorders and exhaustion. Many point out that the oil from lavender can be used in treating health conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, stress and post-operative pain. It also is being studied for antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Gardeners grow lavender for its therapeutic benefits and the herb’s ability to withstand the extreme temperatures and pests.
“I started growing lavender in 1993. I read about it and it just had an interesting history,” Goode says. “I was more interested in plants that were more durable to insects. They’re insect-free plants and have so many different benefits. People are attracted to the aroma of lavender and all its relaxing qualities.”
The beauty of lavender is even a beginner gardener can try a hand at adding it to the garden. Goode says the key to maintaining the herb is keeping it weed-free. Before putting the plant into the ground or a container, make sure to loosen the roots. Use an organic soil or add compost.
He says during the winter months the plant will go dormant, but he advises keeping an eye on it throughout the cold season, ensuring the plant doesn’t dry out.
There are a variety of types of lavender. Goode grows English and French lavender in his garden.
“It doesn’t get dry in the summer, it gets enough moisture, it’s really drought resistant,” Goode says. “It’s not real difficult to grow it, it just needs well drained soil and full sun. The southern exposure is the best place to position lavender plants.”
Lavender can be grown in pots, and one of the benefits of doing that is the plant can be brought inside if the weather is too severe.
Lavender can be used as an ingredient in many items.
“They use it for dryer sheets, eye pillows, sachets, neck comforters and back warmers,” Goode says. “Some other benefits are it supports healthy digestion, contributes to normal sleep patterns. One of the biggest benefits is it supports your immunity system. It’s a very sacred plant.”
Coming up lavender: 10 benefits of lavender essential oil
- (FMT’s Lifestyle Team)
1. Lavender essential oil helps alleviate restlessness, insomnia, nervousness and depression.
2. It is used to treat a variety of digestive complaints, including meteorism (abdominal swelling from gas in the intestinal or peritoneal cavity), loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas (flatulence), and upset stomach.
3. Some people use lavender oil for painful conditions including migraine headaches, toothaches, sprains, nerve pain, sores, and joint pain.
4. Lavender helps kill hair lice, lice eggs, and nits. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCB) says that lavender is possibly effective for treating alopecia areata (hair loss), and boosting hair growth by up to 44 per cent after just seven months of treatment.
5. Lavender essential oil restores skin complexion and reduces acne. According to dermatologists and aromatherapists, lavender is one of the most beneficial oils in the treatment of acne.
6. Some people add lavender to bathwater to treat circulation disorders and improve mental well being.
7. By inhalation, lavender is used as aromatherapy for insomnia, pain, and agitation related to dementia.
8. It is well-known that lavender has antibacterial and antiviral qualities that make it perfect for defending the body against rare diseases like TB, typhoid, and diphtheria, according to early research in the 20th century.
9. It stimulates urine production, which helps restore hormonal balance, prevents cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), and relieve cramps and other urinary disorders.
10. Lavender oil can also be used to repel mosquitoes and moths, which is why you will find many mosquito repellents that contain lavender oil as one of the primary ingredients.
Lavender benefits you should be aware about
- By Zeenia Baria (TNN)
Lavender has long been associated with good sleep and as a popular ingredient in beauty products. However, this herb, which has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, has several other benefits as well... - Those suffering from fungal infections can apply lavender oil on the affected area. It's healing properties soothe the infected area and provide relief. - The oil is also effective in treating skin abrasions and small wounds, and helps them heal faster. - Continuous application of hair products that comprise lavender is said to help aid hair growth among those who suffer from hair loss. Another benefits includes reducing dandruff.
- Lavender scent is also said to have a soothing effect on people who suffer from anxiety and depression. It is said to lower high blood pressure and stabilise your heart rate.
- Ease bloating by adding some lavender to your food. It ash antioxidant properties that help ease discomfort.
- Struggle to sleep even though you're very tired? Keep some lavender under your pillow and see how easily it helps you doze off.
- Lavender oil is also very effective in reducing skin inflammation. You could also add a few drops to your bath to help relax the body.
- Adding a dash of lavender to your meals is great for your health . Alternatively, you could add it to your tea and see how it relaxes you.
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.
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