A Glimpse at Lovely Lavender

Lavender is one of, if not the, most useful and versatile herbs available, both as a fresh or dried herb, or as an essential oil. Thoughout history in its native regions of Europe, it has been widely used for treating a variety of problems. It would be difficult indeed to create a complete list of everything this highly adaptable plant could be used for, but I will attempt to cover at least the more important, or simply common ones, here.

Probably the most commonly used property of Lavender is in helping to pleasantly and gently induce sleep. This, combined with its calming and relaxing properties, gave it popularity in British hospitals for many years. It was reasonably common in the Victorian era for those who had the means to own lavender-flower stuffed pillows. Simply a drop or two of lavender essential oil, or a few more drops in a relaxing pre-bedtime bath, can be quite useful for people who suffer from mild insomnia, especially if it is because of stress. Its soothing, calming qualities make it perfect to also help with panic attacks, anxiety, and so on.

Another important aspect of lavender is its use in helping with pain, especially almost all types of headaches. It is one of the few essential oils safe to use 'neat' - that is, undiluted directly on the skin. For headaches, a drop or two applied to each temple (the 'soft spot' by your eyes, where the forehead and cheek meet) can prove quite effective. For this, it can also be mixed with a teaspoon or so of carrier oil in a 2 to 1 ratio with peppermint essential oil as the lesser, again, a few drops applied to the temples; this mix is often recommended to help with migraines in particular. Lavender, diluted in a carrier oil like grapeseed or jojoba oil, can be rubbed or massaged into the skin to help with almost any kind of soreness, such as bruises, strains, skin irritation of various sorts, sprains, and so on. Used neat on burns, it can help reeduce pain and keep the burn from blistering as severely, if at all (from my personal experience, it will sting a bit when you first put it on a fresh burn, but the stinging quickly fades, as does the pain of the burn, far more quickly than anything else I've tried on burns.) It is also usable on minor wounds because of its antiseptic aspects and to speed healing, though it is likely to sting when applied.

Lavender is also one of a very limited number of essential oils that is not dangerous to use internally in very limited quantities, as is both the fresh and dried herb. A sugar cube or tablespoon of milk to which you add 1-4 drops of lavender essential oil has been recommended for a wide range of internal issues, such as anxiety (especially if it includes palpitations), dreary spirits, faintness, low appetite, and even flatulence. It is also quite helpful for most causes of a sore throat.

Because of its lovely, clean fresh scent, and its antiseptic and antiviral properties, lavender makes a wonderful year-round room spray. Try adding a few drops to a spray bottle of warm water (be sure to shake it frequently during use) or just get lavender water. In addition to just smelling wonderful, it can cut down on the transmission of many illnesses like colds and the flu.

If I were to choose only one essential oil or herb to be at my disposal, without a doubt it would be the lovely and versatile Lavender.