Lavender Essential Oil: Benefits and Tips to Self Care and Beyond

Dried lavender from the garden......

If there is one essential oil that seems to be the most popular, it’s lavender.  A classic fragrance, indigenous to the Mediterranean and cultivated in areas like France, Bulgaria and Spain.  The scent of lavender is floral, herbaceous, and green with sweet, powdery, camphorous notes.  Essential oils are somewhat like wine, since their scent can greatly vary depending on the region, environment, and weather conditions that the plant is exposed to.  For centuries, people have used lavender medicinally.  The flowers can be eaten and are used to flavor many recipes and dishes such as cookies, poultry, fish, risotto and ice cream….mmmm 

Lavender has an overall positive effect on the mind, body and spirit.  Having it in your aromatherapy kit is a good idea, as it is beneficial for a wide variety of conditions.  It’s applied to the skin for problems such as acne, eczema, cuts, bug bites, stings and fungal infections.  Rubbed into the muscles, joints, and temples, it can help relieve tension and headaches.  Lavender is perhaps best known for its calming, soothing and relaxing qualities, and to help relieve stress, insomnia, emotional tension and anxiety.  

There are many great ways to use lavender oil.  With just a few drops, it’s easy to turn your surroundings (home, office, car) into a peaceful , relaxing environment.  

~ Create a fragrant home by adding a few drops of lavender to a handkerchief  and place next to a heat source such as a radiator, heat duct, or sunny window to disperse the scent through your home.  A great way to create a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.  

~ To promote a deeper, more restful night's sleep at bedtime, try lightly misting lavender spray onto your pillows, moisturizing with a lavender scented balm or even dabbing a couple drops of the essential oil on your temples......

~ To bring the spa home, lavender aromatherapy mists can be sprayed directly into the steam of a shower or add several drops of the oil to bath water for an incredibly relaxing experience.   Light some candles, play some soft music, and feel yourself slowly unwind.   

~ Make an inexpensive and quick massage oil by adding several drops of lavender essential oil to 1/4 cup sunflower oil.  Massage your limbs at bedtime or after a shower to give yourself some greatly needed self care.  Or share the love and give your partner the gift of a sensual massage.  Nothing quite like soothing the tensions right out of your muscles for a deep sense of rejuvenation.

~ Make your own aromatherapy cream by adding the essential oil to your favorite all natural, unscented balm or lotion. This way, you get the dual effect of moisturizing your skin while taking advantage of the aromatherapy benefits.  

~ Add a dab of diluted lavender oil to any of your pulse point, any time to calm, center and restore!

Lavender can be used neat in very small amounts.  However, because essential oils are so concentrated, they are usually diluted with another oil called a carrier oil.  Carrier oils can be used synergistically with an essential oil to target specific problems.  Examples of carrier oils are: jojoba, sunflower, avocado, almond, grapeseed, castor, olive, rosehip and wheat germ. 

Words to describe lavender are: Relaxing, calming, purifying, restorative, centering, and soothing.

Some properties of lavender are: antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial, sedative, analgesic, deodorant,  anti- inflammatory and cicatrisant.  

What's your favorite way to use Lavender Essential Oil? Let us know.......

*Although lavender is natural, if any allergies or reaction occur discontinue use.  Essential oils are not recommended during pregnancy.  Check with a pediatrician before using on babies or small children.

Resources for this article: The Illustrated Guide to Massage and Aromatherapy, edited by Catherine Stuart; The Herb Bible, Peter McHoy, Pamela Westland; The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy - A Practical Approach to the Use of Essential Oils for Health and Well-being, Julia Lawless.