The Many Uses Of Lavender
Essential Oil
Lavender has been one of the most popular medicinal herbs
since time immemorial. Lavender's name is derived from the
Latin word lavarre, which means to wash.
In ancient Arab medicine, lavender was widely used as an
expectorant. In the folk medicine of Europe, lavender has held
a reputation as a useful wound herb.
The most common types of healing lavenders are L.
angustifolia and L. spica. French lavender, L. stoechas, is
perhaps one of the most commonly used varieties of
lavender.
The flowers of the lavender plant are used to create an
array of herbal remedies. Herbalists describe the character of
the lavender flowers as, cooling, bitter, and mainly
dry.
The flowers are known to contain tannins, volatile oils,
coumarins, triterpernoids, and flavonoids. Lavender is well
regarded for its ability to promote bile flow, and it is well
known as a relaxant, antispasmodic, circulatory stimulant,
antiseptic, a tonic for the nervous system, an analgesic, and a
carminative.
Lavender Essential Oil is one of the most
popular of all aromatic essential oils. Lavender essential oil
can be used to treat a large variety of problems and ailments.
Many herbalists recommend that lavender essential oil become an
integral part of any household first aid kit.
Lavender essential oils can be used to create a variety of
herbal remedies. The essential oil of lavender can be used to
make a healing cream. Simply add a few drops of lavender
essential oil to a chamomile-based cream to treat skin problems
such as eczema.
You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil with
a few drops of water to treat scalds, burns, or sunburn.
Lavender essential oil can also be used to create a potent
chest rub. Simply add 1 ml of oil to 5 drops of chamomile oil
and rub into chest to treat bronchitis spasms or symptoms of
asthma.
An Interesting Herb Fact
The Healing Beauty of Borage
The borage flower (Borago officinalis) is well known for its lovely blue color. The flowers have been used since Elizabethan times for both decoration and for its healing beauty. Recent modern research has shown that the plant may actually stimulate the adrenal glands, encouraging the production of adrenaline, that famous 'fight or flight' hormone that is responsible for getting our bodies geared up during the most stressful times in our lives. Herbalists describe the character of the borage...
Lavender can also be used as a hair rinse. Simply dilute 5-10
drops of essential lavender oil in water to treat lice
problems. Lavender essential oil hair rinses can also be used
on a fine comb to treat the hair for nits. Lavender essential
oil can also be used to make an effective massage oil. Combine
1 ml of lavender essential oil into 25 ml carrier oil, and use
as a massage oil.
This massage oil is effective in treating
painful muscles. Herbalists also recommend rubbing this oil
into the temples and the nape of the neck to treat tension
headaches and migraines. Lavender essential oil can also help
protect against insect bites and stings.
Simply smelling lavender can prove healing.
Lavender is one of the most important herbs of aromatherapy. It
is highly regarded for helping to ease feelings of stress,
anxiety, and it can help relieve the symptoms of insomnia.
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Yarrow has been used in the past as an
emergency styptic to stop bleeding.
These days, Yarrow is mostly used to treat
colds and flu's, but it is also used to treat
problems with the circulatory, digestive and
urinary system.
If you find yourself forgetting things, then
a drop or two of sage oil on the wrist or neck
can help a long way.
Menstrual pains and premenstrual headaches
can be greatly reduced with a sage, lavender
and geranium mix of essential oils in a sweet
almond carrier oil.
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There are some cautions that accompany the use
of lavender. It is particularly recommended that women who are
pregnant avoid high doses of lavender. High doses of lavender
in any form have been shown to be a strong uterine
stimulant.
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