Lavender is the very first herb that brought me to aromatherapy and herbalism. This herb fascinates me about the healing properties of the plant kingdom and inspired me to dwell further into the topic of herbalism. Lavender is well-known for its invigorating, delicious, and uplifting scent, used generously in the aromatherapy industry. Since it is so aromatic let me introduce the usage of its essential oil.
Oil of Lavender
Lavender belongs to the family Lamiaceae (Liberate) and it is grown in the Mediterranean originally. It is now cultivated around the world because of its special scent. Lavender is an evergreen shrub and is the favourite among the Romans. The Romans used them to perfume their bath water, hence the name Lavender (comes from the lavatory, which means bathroom). It is an effective disinfectant, antiseptic, and sedative. Lavender extract is often added to toilet products.
The oil of Lavender is obtained by steam distillation of the flowers. The oil is clear, faintly yellow and has a sweet floral smell. It is one of the most useful oil to have in your disposal and the only oil you can apply neat to your skin without diluting. Very few have sensitivity towards this lovely oil.
Lavender relaxes and sedates. It is one of the fine massage oil to be used as it cures rheumatism, insomnia, anxiety, flatulence (when use in abdominal massage) and headaches.
As it is a mild anodyne, it is suitable to be use to cure headaches.
Lavender oil can be apply neat to bruises, minor burns, insect stings and bites, scalds, scrapes and infection. The oil promotes healing and thus reduces the likelihood of developing scars.
When used in bathing, it is beneficiary to the urinal-genital tracts infections, such as thrush and cystitis. It can be used in steam inhalations as well as it can soothe spasmodic cough and throat infection and even laryngitis.
Apart from being a good insect repellent, it is also excellent for psoriasis, athlete’s foot, acne, and eczema. It is also a good mouth wash. It can also be used to relieve toothache if dropped to the said teeth.
Just a few drops of Lavender oil on an oil burner filled with water or a lamp burner will do the trick.
Lavender Preparations
Headaches Reliever
½ teaspoon of dried wood betony flowers
½ teaspoon of dried lavender flower-tops
200ml of boiling water
Infused the said herbs in a cup and steep for ten minutes, then strain and drink twice a day.
Lavender Tinctures
115 gram of dried lavender flowers or 300 gram of fresh lavender flowers
250ml of vodka
250ml of water
One sterilised and airtight jar
- Place the herbs into the jar; gently pound them with a pestle.
- Add the vodka and the water into the jar.
- Leave to steep in a sunny place for two weeks. Strain and keep in a cool, dry place (you can use a dehumidifier nearby) or you can store them in your refrigerator.
- For consumption, dilute the tincture in one part of water or fruit juice per part of tincture. Also, it can be added to herbal compress.
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