Lavender Essential Oil: A Guide to Uses and Benefits

25 Mar

Written By Carey-Lou Jones

Lavender flowers — **Botanical Name - Lavandula Angustifolia**

**Note** - middle
**Countries of origin:**
Bulgaria, France, Spain, Tasmania, England
**Primary Benefits**
Soothes skin
Soothing aroma
Eases anxiety, depression
Helps with insomnia
**Aromatic Description**
Powdery, floral, light
**Collection Method**
Steam Distillation
**Plant Part**
Flower/Leaf

Please note: this article is for information only and in no way should replace the advice of a health professional.

History

What is the history behind lavender

Lavender's name comes from the Latin word for washing, lavare.

The first record of lavender can be traced back to more than 2,500 years ago !

Lavender has been used and cherished for centuries for its unmistakable aroma and myriad of benefits. In ancient times, the Egyptians and Romans used lavender for bathing, cooking and as a perfume.

Lavender has been used to scent clothes. Its calming qualities continue to be lavender’s most notable attribute.

Lavender has long been considered an herb of love.

It is said that Cleopatra supposedly used it to seduce Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

In Tudor times, a lavender brew was taken by maidens on St. Luke's Day to discover the identity of their true loves.

Beyond scenting bed linen and clothing, lavender was hung above doors to protect against evil spirits.

Sixteenth-century glovemakers who perfumed their ware with the herb were said to not catch cholera.

In the New Testament book of John, Mary anoints Jesus with lavender—referred to as spikenard.

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Some interesting facts about lavender

Eases congestion
Helps with nose and throat infection
Stimulates production of white blood cells
Combats stress
Useful for anxiety, depression, irritability
Good for insomnia, relaxation
Relieves insect bites, works as an insect repellant
Stimulates the regeneration of skin cells - great for burns and wounds
Tonic and sedative for the heart

What does lavender essential oil do to the brain?

Lavender affects human EEG pattern accompanied with its anxiolytic effect. It is reported that inhalation of lavender (diluted to 10% concentration) for 3 minutes increases alpha power of EEG as decreases anxiety and brings the subject to a better mood in 40 healthy adults.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/#:~:text=Lavender%20affects%20human%20EEG%20pattern,40%20healthy%20adults%20%5B67%5D.

What makes lavender calming

Lavender has been shown to affect the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system controls bodily processes associated with anxiety, such as heart rate, breathing rhythm, and hormone secretion. Lavender can help in regulating these bodily processes by restoring a neutral state.

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/lavender-for-anxiety#:~:text=Lavender%20has%20been%20shown%20to,by%20restoring%20a%20neutral%20state

Discussion

Which Lavender Essential Oil is Best?

Bulgarian lavenders are the world’s finest lavenders. They produce essential oil rich in medicinal properties due to the nutrients found in the Bulgarian soil. Bulgarian lavender essential oils help support skin health, have wound-healing properties, and can help treat irritated skin and insect bites. Due to its soothing characteristics, the Bulgarian lavender oil is widely used as a diffusing and calming blend for massages & meditation.

The French lavender is also referred to as the sister of the Bulgarian lavender due to its therapeutic benefits, but at the same time they each have their own unique differences. The French lavender has higher content of linalyl acetate but lower in linalool than the Bulgarian lavender. The higher levels of linalool and linalyl acetate make Bulgarian Lavender a better disinfectant than its French counterpart.

Lavenders grown elsewhere - Turkey, Greece, India, Portugal - tend to be higher in other constituents such as cineole, eucalyptol and camphor. These are often likened to oils such as eucalyptus & peppermint. Whereas the Bulgarian and French lavenders contain the highest levels of linalool and linalyl acetate which gives these cultivars their superior medicinal qualities.

Lavender flowers with backlighting — **Uses**
Lavender is like having your “dream Mum” in a bottle. It is excellent for skin care, mental and emotional conditions and a great first aid oil.
Lavender is also one of the safest oils to use with children. It is one of the few oils that can be applied directly to the skin.
Lavender is pretty much top of my list.

I have used lavender essential oil multiple times for burns from the oven or iron (I know - who irons ?) I use it on my temples for headaches, a drop on the pillow for sleeping - that worked well for my kids when they were little too.
Lavender essential oil can be blended with a carrier oil for use on the body.
It is wonderful in a diffuser. May especially be useful in a diffuser at night time to help with sleep.
I have some links to other essential oils and DIY recipes for you to try out at home. Just click the links below.
I hope this helps open the door for aromatherapy in your home and an exciting journey of discovery.

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