Lavender oil is an essential oil that comes from the lavender flower and is used in aromatherapy. Lavender is one of the essential oils every home should have: it’s calming, antibacterial and more. It is one of my favourite plants, and I use it in many different ways. Lavender is a fragrant, evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It grows in many places today.
One variety of lavender that is common and used for medicinal purposes is Lavendula angustifolia, commonly known as True Lavender.
Ancient Romans used Lavender for its pleasant scent and as an antiseptic. The name “lavender” dates back to ancient times—it derives from the Latin word lavare, which means “washing.”
There are many beneficial uses of lavender essential oil. The scent of lavender can help you relax and unwind, allowing you to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Lavender essential oil can also help soothe skin irritations, including sunburns, eczema and psoriasis. Lavender oil can be added to your bath water to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Using a few drops of lavender oil in your diffuser or burner will help create a relaxing environment.
Unlike many essential oils, lavender is non-irritating and can be used undiluted on small areas of the skin.
There are many beneficial uses of lavender essential oil.
Lavender essential oil is a popular choice in aromatherapy, as it can be used to help you relax and unwind. It’s also commonly used to soothe skin irritations like sunburns or bug bites. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath water for an aromatherapy experience that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed!
Lavender oil benefits
Anxiety and stress relief
When we smell lavender oil, the aroma interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA and helps to quiet the brain and nervous system activity.
Lavender is well known in traditional medicine for its calming effects, and it helps to reduce stress levels and anxiety and to promote restful sleep.
Here are some tips for using lavender oil to relieve stress.
Add a few drops of lavender oil to your pillow or diffuse it throughout the room before going to sleep. It can also help reduce stress levels and make you relax—making for more restful sleep!
Use a drop of lavender oil on your temples or wrists.
Make bath oil: add 8 drops of lavender oil to base oil, such as almond/grapeseed/coconut. Mix well, and then add this mixture to your bath. Add some Epsom salts or magnesium flakes for an extra relaxing soak!
Make a massage oil: add 10 drops of essential oil to 2 tablespoons of base oil before gently massaging it into the skin.
Pain relief
Lavender can be used to treat a variety of physical ailments and pain. As an analgesic, it has been shown to reduce headaches, migraines and other muscular pains; as an antispasmodic it eases menstrual cramps.
Anti-bacterial
Lavender is an antibacterial oil that works great to disinfect the air and surfaces.
Add about 5 drops of lavender essential oil to a bath (diluted in a base oil) to help heal infections like cystitis—it will speed up recovery time.
Natural insect repellent
Using lavender in an oil burner will purify the air, as well as repel insects.
Anti-inflammatory
Lavender essential oil is a useful remedy for pain and inflammation. Applied topically, it can accelerate wound healing.
Skincare
Lavender oil is often used in skincare products to soothe and calm irritated skin, as well as for making hair shinier. If applied topically, it can also help rejuvenate the skin.
Lavender hydrosol (floral water):
Lavender hydrosol is the product of steam distillation, but make sure you’re buying pure lavender water and not an essential oil diluted with emulsifiers.
So what is floral water? It’s the condensate water that remains after essential oils are extracted through distillation.
It is important to point out that floral water can mean many things. For the full therapeutic benefits of a product, check its ingredients list before buying and make sure it’s pure hydrosol.
Hydrosol is a byproduct of essential oil distillation. It contains a small percentage of the plant’s essential oil content, as well as water-soluble components from the original plant material.
You can use it as a facial astringent, room freshener and even as an aromatherapeutic sleep aid.
Try brewing Lavender flowers into tea and enjoy the relaxing effects.
A great way to relax is by brewing a tea that combines lavender, chamomile and calendula flowers.
The scent of lavender is a great way to relax and unwind. It can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly, plus it can also soothe skin irritations like sunburns, eczema and psoriasis. The best part about using this essential oil is that there are many different ways to use it–either alone or mixed with other scents for added benefits! Therefore I highly recommend you keep it in your own natural medicine kit, where it will always be useful.
Sources:
- Białoń, M., Krzyśko-Łupicka, T., Nowakowska-Bogdan, E. and Wieczorek, P. (2019). Chemical Composition of Two Different Lavender Essential Oils and Their Effect on Facial Skin Microbiota.
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00241/full
- Neals yard remedies- Essential oils book
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16095639
Essential Oil Safety: What You Need to Know
While essential oils have many potential benefits, it’s important to note that they are not a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment. Essential oils should never be ingested, and should always be used with caution and in accordance with recommended guidelines. Some essential oils can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, so it’s important to patch test before use and stop using if any adverse reactions occur. Additionally, pregnant women, young children, and people with certain medical conditions should consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using essential oils or making changes to your health regimen.
