07 Nov Essential Oils for Real Life: Lavender
I’m kicking off the essential oil series with one of my favorite oils – Lavender. I love how versatile the oil is. While researching lavender I discovered it has a fascinating history.
The first recorded use of lavendar is over 2500 years old. Egyptians used it a perfume and ancient Greeks used as a cure for everything including insanity. Our word lavendar comes from the Latin “lavare” which means “to wash.” Romans used lavendar as perfume and insect repellent – even in flavoring for food.
By Medieval times lavendar was being used as a disinfectant and deodorant. It was planted in gardens to keep disease at bay. Individuals even wore lavendar to protect themselves from the Black Plague. There is a famous essentail oil blend called “Four Thieves” that is remoured to have been used by grave robbers to keep them safe & healthy while at work.
As a Quaker one of my favorite parts of lavendar’s history is that they introduced a wide variety of lavendar products to the United States and Canada. They raised their own crops and used it to produce medicine they sold to customers.
Uses of Lavender Oil
The most common use of Lavender oil is as a sedative… from bubble bath to sleep pillow people trust lavender to help them get their zzzz’s. There are a lot of other uses for lavender you may not be familiar with.
Lavender oil is used in aromatherapy for it’s calming effect. It is know to relax and reduce anxiety. In a German study Lavender oil capsules have been found to have effects comparable to a low dose of lorazepam.
Lavender essential oil can relieve pain, eleviate tension headaches, treat respiratory issues and treat minor burns, insect bites and stings. There are those use lavender oil to relive joint muscle pain.
Characteristics of Lavender Essential Oil
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Common Method Of Extraction: Steam distilled
Parts Used: Flowering tops
Note Classification: Middle
Aroma: Sweet, floral, herbaceous
Largest Producing Countries: Bulgaria, France, and Ukraine
Common Uses Include: acne, anxiety, burns, depression, eczema, headaches, high blood pressure, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, menstrual cramps, migraines, muscular pain, muscle spasms, nightmares, panic attacks, poison ivy, psoriasis, repelling insects, stress, sunburn, and wounds
Lavender Essential Oil Blend for Relaxation:
- 50 drops carries oil (like Jojoba oil)
- 10 drops Rosewood
- 10 drops Lavender
- 10 drops Sweet Birch
- 10 drops Rosemary
- 10 drops Frankincense
Put a few drops on your wrists to relax – or use 5 drop in a massage for your clients.