Lavender Essential Oil Traditional Uses and Recipes

Lavender Fields Lavender Essential OilLavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) is produced from the flowers of its perennial shrub or herb through the process of steam distillation. Lavender will bloom all summer long as long as you keep it warmed by the sun and in well drained soil. It brings a wonderful smell to your garden area! I find it having a fresh floral yet also a slight herbal woodsy scent to it. It is a very cooling and balancing oil and is a must for any essential oil starter kit. Lavender essential oil is very calming to the spirit and balancing for the nerves. Many people use Lavender in cooking, especially teas, cookies, and honey.

Lavender oil is one of the safest essential oils. It can be used from children to retired. Even though many use it neat (undiluted) on the skin, it is always best to dilute essential oils. Tisserand says that there are no known contraindications for the use of lavender essential oil.

Lavender essential oil is high in linalol giving it great anti inflammatory properties. It is best known for its other properties including analgesic, antibacterial, anti fungal, anti rheumatic, antispasmodic, cicatrisant, nervine, restorative, and sedative.

Traditional Uses of Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is a very versatile oil. It helps manage stress and helps relieve pain making it a must have in your home kit. A very beneficial oil for skin care because it has antiseptic properties and is beneficial for all skin types, helping our skin and wounds to heal! It helps with inflammation and itching and is also useful for repelling insects. It is very balancing for the nervous system because it helps the body deal with stress whether the stress is emotional or physical. Lavender has been studied and has been found to be very successful in helping with anxiety. It is beneficial for colds, the flu, and any conditions of excess mucous. It helps relieve muscular aches and pain including those from arthritis and rheumatism.  I love Lavender essential oil, it brings a sense of calm wherever it goes!

Using Lavender

I love to use Lavender essential oil in a spray.  You can make your own lavender spray my mixing the following in a 4 oz glass bottle: 1 ounce of witch hazel or vodka, 3 ounces of distilled water, and 10-20 drops of lavender.  This spray has many uses! As a room spray it can help to ease tension, this works especially well when mixed with a drop or two of Rose Essential Oil or 3-4 drops of Bergamot. Using it as a linen spray works great for misting your pillows before you go to sleep. Try keeping it in the refrigerator and use it as a body mister to cool you off on a hot summer day. You can also combine it with other essential oils that you like, be creative!

For aches and pains, I like to combine lavender and peppermint essential oil. I usually mix 10 drops of lavender and 3-4 drops of peppermint in 1 oz of my favorite lotion to make a cream that I can apply topically for aches and pains or to the back of neck for a headache. If you don’t have an unscented lotion, add it to an ounce of organic olive oil!

Lavender Essential Oil is in the following Aromatherapy ProductsTea Tree Salve, Cayenne Salve, and Joint Salve.

You can purchase Lavender Essential oil by Visiting my NSP Website. In fact it is part of their Essential Oil Starter Kit.

Remember to follow suggested safety practices when using essential oils.

References:

Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Brisbane: International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, 2003. Print.
“Essential Oils, Body Butters, Carriers, Hydrosols.” Aromatherapy Pure, Organic Essential Oils | Aromatics International. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov 2016. <https://www.aromatics.com/>.
Pressimone, Jennifer. Holistic Aromatherapy Comprehensive Guide, JennScents, Inc: 2015. Print.