Great things come in small packages. Nowhere is this truer than with lavender, the tiny purple-blue flower that produces a powerful aromatic scent. Lavender has been used for thousands of years as a perfume, a cleaning tonic and as a healing remedy. Today, lavender is still being used by complementary and integrative health practitioners like chiropractors, massage therapists and acupuncturists as part of their regular treatment plans. It is also added to scores of cosmetics, aromatherapies and medicines because of its versatility and pleasant aroma.
With so many different uses and so simply to use, lavender is an excellent natural addition to your medicine cabinet. You can purchase lavender in two common forms: dried lavender flowers and lavender essential oil, the extracted form of the fresh flowers of the lavender plant. We recommend using the oil form since it contains lavender’s therapeutic elements in a more absorbable form than the dried flower. But keep in mind that all essential oils are not created equally. When choosing an essential oil, look for an organic and/or therapeutic grade oil. Many inexpensive essential oils have little or no therapeutic benefit. Investing in one bottle of a quality organic essential oil will last you quite some time since you only use a few drops per remedy.
Here are three simple and therapeutic benefits of this soothing and healing essential oil.
Relieve Joint Pain
Did you overextend your seated-twist stretch in yoga class or were you moving and unloading boxes all day? For relief from sore muscles or over-worked joints, swap out your Bengay and instead mix together an easy but effective lavender massage oil. Add 1 – 4 drops of essential lavender oil to one tablespoon of carrier massage oil and rub liberally on the affected areas.
If you are at all worried about smelling like a floral garden, take heart in knowing that soldiers in the World Wars were often treated with lavender oil which was directly applied to wounds or to their achy joints to relieve pain.
Get a Better Night’s Rest
For someone who struggles with falling asleep or staying asleep, consider adding a lavender remedy to your warm raw milk bedcap. From eye pillows to lavender tea, research has shown that lavender’s calming scent can improve insomnia and promote sleep and relaxation.
For a deep night’s slumber add 5-10 drops of essential lavender oil in a warm tub right before you go to bed or mix 2-4 drops of lavender essential oil in with 2-3 cups of boiling water. Inhale the vapors as you breathe deeply and smoothly for 5 minutes or more. You can also apply a few drops of lavender oil to a cotton ball, place the ball in between your pillow and pillow case and drift off to dreamland.
Treat Minor Cuts, Burns and Abrasions
Lavender is a powerful antiseptic containing more than 200 compounds that can be used to attack fungi, viruses and other microscopic invaders. When your little one has a small scrape or when you accidentally glided your arm over the hot tea kettle, apply a lavender oil tincture to your injury. While essential lavender oil is one of the few oils that can applied directly, we recommend diluting 2-4 drops of the oil with 1 tablespoon of olive or almond oil and applying to the affected area.
But just make sure that you don’t not use lavender oil directly on open wounds and keep it away from the eyes, lips and nostrils.
Although side effects with lavender oil use are rare, if you are taking medications or have skin sensitivities, talk to your health practitioner before testing out any of these therapeutic suggestions.
- Heather Ashare, MPH