
Lavender Essential Oil: Much More Than Just Aroma
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The fragrance of lavender oil can evoke many sensations, including the image of hundreds of tiny blue-violet flowers in the fields of Provence. If you delve deeper into the content of these tiny flowers, you will discover the calming, sedative and healing powers beyond the scent. But there is more.
Origin of lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil comes from the Lavandula angustifolia species, a shrub native to North Africa and the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean region that thrives best in sunny, rocky habitats. Today, it grows throughout the United States, Southern Europe, and Australia.
These flowers have been known and used for over 2,500 years. The Greeks, Romans and ancient Persia added them to bath water to help cleanse and purify the skin. That is why the name lavender comes from the Latin “lavare” meaning to wash.
The Phoenicians, Egyptians and Arabs used lavender to make perfumes and as one of the ingredients for mummification, a process in which mummies were wrapped in cloth soaked in lavender. In Greece and Rome, lavender was added to all kinds of cures, while in medieval Europe and the Renaissance, lavender flowers were scattered on the floors of castles to disinfect and deodorize.
During the Great Plague of London in the 17th century, people are said to have made lavender belts for themselves or tied them around their wrists in the belief that it would protect them from the Black Death. Glove makers would perfume their leather supplies with lavender oil to ward off the disease.
Thieves who supported themselves by looting the tombs and homes of their victims would make a preparation known as “the vinegar of the four thieves” that contained various herbs, including lavender, in order to cleanse and protect themselves after a night of work.
It is now known that the disease was transmitted by fleas on rats, and knowing that lavender is an insect repellent, it may have saved lives and prevented further spread of the disease. (Danny Purser, Essential oils & healthy Menopause: History and research secrets )
Where lavender's powers come from
Lavender has a chemically complex structure of more than 150 active constituents.
Its oil is rich in esters, which are molecules with antispasmodic, calming and stimulating properties.
The main components of lavender oil are linalyl acetate, linalool (a non-toxic terpene alcohol with natural germicidal properties), terpinen-4-ol and camphor.
Other components of lavender oil such as cis-ocimene, lavandulyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, limonene and geraniol are responsible for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
How does lavender oil work?
Lavender is grown commercially for the extraction of its oil from the flowers and partly from the foliage of the plant, and the oil is obtained through the process of distillation.
The effectiveness of lavender oil is said to be due to the psychological effects of its soft, relaxing fragrance in combination with the physiological effects of its volatile oils on the human limbic system.
Lavender oil can be applied topically or inhaled in vaporizations.
Lavender flowers are also used to make lavender tea and although some do not recommend ingesting the oil due to possible side effects such as difficulty breathing, burning eyes, vomiting and diarrhea, therapeutic grade A lavender essential oil from brands like DoTerra and Young Living that are of high purity can be used in desserts and drinks like my lavender milk recipe found in my book The Art of Healing: Living Food, the alternative to nourish and heal yourself in this time .
But the benefits of this oil don't end there. A study in Medical Microbiology found that lavender oil kills skin fungus by damaging its cell walls and does not cause resistance like antibiotics do. ( 1 )
The oil is used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and for aromatherapy. An infusion of lavender is said to soothe and heal insect bites, burns, small cuts, sunstroke and even inflammatory diseases and acne.
Therapeutic Grade A Lavender Essential Oil is even used for internal medical conditions including indigestion and heartburn.
Benefits of lavender essential oil
Dr. Josh Axe notes that lavender oil is known for its calming and relaxing properties, which should help relieve insomnia, anxiety, depression, restlessness, bruxism, and stress. Because of its broad spectrum of uses, lavender oil should help soothe all kinds of ailments, from pain to infections.
Particularly noteworthy is the power of lavender essential oil to combat fungal-resistant nail and skin infections. At the University of Coimbra, lavender oil has been found to be effective against various skin-pathogenic strains known as dermatophytes, as well as various species of Candida.
Personally, my family uses it, along with peppermint essential oil, to relieve headaches , migraines, and motion sickness when applied to the temples. It is often used as an adjuvant for relaxation and sleep.
Dried lavender flowers are widely used to fill scented cushions that are kept in drawers, closets, bed linens and bath towels. As an air freshener, a spray bottle with lavenderhydrosol or floral water is filled to freshen a room.
Lavender essential oil is also used for:
- Relieve muscle pain, joint pain, rheumatism, sprains, back pain and lumbago . Simply massage the affected area with lavender oil. This oil should be used after an acupuncture session to relieve needle insertion.
- Skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and wrinkles, as well as healing cuts and burns. It helps relieve insect bites and itchy skin. As it has an anti-inflammatory effect, it reduces swelling and redness on the skin.
- Hair Health. The comprehensive database of natural medicines in the United States indicates that lavender is effective in treating alopecia areata (hair loss), stimulating hair growth by up to 44% after continuous use for 7 months. It also helps eliminate lice, nits and lice eggs. ( article )
Along the same lines, it is used to scare away mosquitoes and other insects; in fact, it is used in the preparation of natural repellents.
- Improves digestion. Helps stimulate intestinal motility by promoting the production of bile and gastric acids that support stomach function to reduce pain, indigestion, flatulence, colic, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Urine production . By helping to restore hormonal balance, urine production is stimulated and cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) is prevented, colic and other urinary disorders are relieved.
- To relieve respiratory problems . Lavender is widely used to treat colds and flu, throat infections, coughs, asthma, whooping cough, sinusitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis. In these cases, the oil can be applied to the neck, chest or back; it can also be inhaled through a vaporizer.
- Improves blood circulation . Helps to reduce high blood pressure and could be used as an adjuvant to control hypertension.
How to use lavender essential oil
Both the flowers and the oil are valued for their fragrance and a variety of uses. The flowers are used in potpourris or in cloth sachets filled with aromatic herbs to scent closets, drawers and closed spaces. The oil, meanwhile, is often added to personal care products such as soaps, creams, perfumes and as an ingredient in household cleaners and laundry detergent.
- Skin conditions. Lavender is very effective in relieving pain and healing burns, minor wounds, acne, skin blemishes, eczema, irritation and sunstroke. Thanks to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties, it removes impurities and helps regenerate skin cells. In this case, and especially for people with very sensitive skin, it is best to dilute a few drops of the essential oil in a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. You can also mix a few drops of lavender essential oil and frankincense essential oil with the carrier oil and use it as a natural skin moisturizer.
- Inhaled or vaporized for respiratory conditions. Through a diffuser it is used in moments when calm and concentration are needed. For respiratory therapy purposes, vaporizations can be done by heating a pot of water and when it reaches boiling point, pouring in a few drops of the oil. Lower the temperature a little and bring your face close to the steam, covering your head with a towel so that the steam does not escape and you can inhale and make the largest amount of steam pass through your respiratory tract.
- To stimulate brain function. Lavender essential oil has neuroprotective properties that help activate brain function and is known to protect against dementia and support stroke recovery. It is often used to relieve depression and uplift mood. It can be inhaled, diffused (using a diffuser), or applied topically for these purposes.
- To promote restful sleep. Thanks to its calming, relaxing and sedative properties, lavender essential oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils to promote sleep and prevent insomnia. To improve the quality of sleep, diffuse lavender essential oil before going to sleep. It is also effective to massage the temples, neck and chest with a few drops. Another alternative is to take a hot shower before going to bed and when you get out, massage your body with about 15 drops of oil to relax muscles and parts of the body where you may feel tension. This way, it is easier to induce sleep.
- To reduce stress and anxiety. The scent of lavender alone is a calming agent. This oil is known to reduce nervous tension, restlessness and nervous exhaustion. To relieve these symptoms, diffuse a few drops of the oil with water using a room diffuser or apply a few drops behind the ears for quick and easy relaxation.
- For headache relief . In this case, lavender does double duty by reducing tension and inducing relaxation. This is why it is so effective in helping to soothe headaches and migraines. You can inhale directly from the bottle, diffuse the oil into the air, or apply a few drops to your temples, behind your ears, on your neck, and on the back of your neck for natural pain relief.
- To relieve other pains. Lavender oil has been proven to be a natural and effective painkiller for relieving a variety of ailments, including headaches, but also skin inflammation (from bumps, cuts, and burns), stomach pain, menstrual cramps, and muscle pain after exercise. To do this, massage 3-5 drops of lavender oil onto the affected area.
- Foot or hand bath. Add a drop of oil to a bowl of warm water before immersing your hands or feet.
- To make compresses. Soak a washcloth in water previously infused with a few drops of lavender oil. This can be applied to muscle injuries and sprains. Likewise, people with seasonal allergies can benefit from using a compress soaked in an infusion of water and lavender oil on their face to moisturize the skin and inhale the aroma.
- Natural cleaning products. For example, to deodorize carpets, mix baking soda and 10 drops of lavender essential oil in a small glass. Sprinkle the mixture on carpets and rugs (even those in your car), let it sit for an hour, then vacuum.
Another recipe for cleaning and deodorizing is to mix half a cup of baking soda with 10 drops of essential oil (lavender, but also tea tree, for example) and pour it into the toilet bowl, followed by ¼ cup of vinegar. Then scrub with the toilet brush. This formula can be used to clean surfaces in both bathrooms and kitchens.
Recipes with lavender flowers or essential oil
Lavender infused oil
As we saw above, lavender essential oil is obtained by steam distillation. The flowers are harvested when they are fully bloomed, as this is when they contain the highest concentration of esters. 75 kilos of lavender are needed to produce half a litre of lavender essential oil (which is why essential oil prices are so high, although the quality and effectiveness are unbeatable).
However, you can make a cold infusion by steeping lavender flowers in another oil. The following recipe comes from www.blackthumbgardener.com :
Ingredients and materials:
- Dried lavender flowers
- Mineral oil or olive oil. I would suggest fractionated coconut oil and/or mixed with jojoba and argan.
- A jar
- A filter cloth or muslin
- A sterilized bottle
Preparation:
- Wash and dry the jar well and then add the dried lavender flowers until it is full.
- Pour the oil over the flowers until they are completely covered.
- Leave the jar in a place where it can receive enough sunlight for 4-6 weeks. The sun will help extract the oil from the flowers and infuse it with the base oil.
- After 4-6 weeks, pour the oil through the muslin into the sterilized bottle.
There are many ways to use lavender essential oil as part of your routine. Learn about ways you can incorporate lavender into your lifestyle by learning how to make your own perfume or blend your essential oils for specific purposes. Below are directions for blending essential oils.
How to mix your own essential oils
If you want to blend your oils for aromatic purposes only, you need to make sure that your blends smell good once you make the blends. An easy way to do this is to sort your oils into categories. Some of the main categories are as follows:
Herbal: Frankincense, Clary sage, Peppermint, Patchouli, Lemongrass, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, German chamomile, Tea tree, Spearmint, Basil, Fennel, Roman chamomile.
Woods: sandalwood, cinnamon, ginger, cedar, juniper, black pepper, pine, fir.
Floral: lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, neroli, rose, jasmine, palmarosa and petitgrain.
Citrus: lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, sweet orange, lime, mandarin, melissa, citronella (lemon balm).
By knowing which categories your oils fall into, you can see what combinations are possible. There are no real guidelines for mixing oils – it all depends on your preferences, after all – but there are some guidelines that will help you, especially if you are a beginner when it comes to mixing essential oils. Typically, oils from the same category blend well together, as do oils from one category that complement another. For example,
Woody fragrance oils blend well with other oils in the same category, as well as floral, herbal and citrus oils.
Floral fragrance oils blend well with other oils in the same category, but also with woody and citrus fragrances.
Herbal fragrance oils blend well with their fellow oils and woody fragrances.
Citrus fragrance oils blend well with other citrus, but also with floral oils and wood fragrances.
Once you have a combination, it is best to do a small test to make sure you like the blend and then make a large batch of the mixture. The sample can be made from about 10-15 drops of essential oils in total to test.
Once the blend is complete, it is best to let the oils settle for 24-48 hours before using them, so that the aromas blend well and unfold in the fusion achieved.
You can also register your own combinations, both those of your preferences and those of your purposes. Below you can see an example:
Safe use of lavender essential oil
Those of us who are familiar with essential oils know that it is one of the best ways to incorporate holistic alternatives to prevent and treat common ailments in our homes. However, it is important to take the following precautions when using lavender essential oil.
Typically, using lavender oil diluted in water or a carrier oil to be applied topically or through the use of a diffuser to inhale it is safe for both adults and children.
If you have sensitive skin or an open wound, it is not recommended to apply it directly so opt for mixing it with a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or even almond oil of good quality. As I mentioned above, diluting it in a little water also works.
Avoid rubbing the oil near your eyes or mucous membranes. If this happens, rinse thoroughly with water. Lavender has been known to cause allergic reactions in some people, so try rubbing the oil on a small area of skin on one arm before using it just in case there is a reaction.
Possible side effects of lavender essential oil
Since some people may be allergic to lavender oil, it is always best to do a patch test before using it, especially for massage or other topical applications such as headache and sore throat. There are also cases where some people have experienced reactions such as headache, nausea, vomiting and chills when inhaling or applying the oil topically.
There are currently no contraindications for lavender oil for pregnant or breastfeeding women, but there are also no studies that indicate its safety, so it is best to treat it with caution.
The National Institute of Health of the United States warns against the use of lavender oil if the person is taking barbiturates, benzodiazepines and chloral hydrate, since it can increase the sedative effects of these medications and cause extreme drowsiness and sleepiness.
If you are interested in purchasing grade A therapeutic lavender essential oil, follow the link here if you are located in Colombia
If you are in Europe, you can contact me at +41762473360
Cheer up!