Lavender for Health and Healing

Herbal Remedies and Aromatherapy Solutions

Oct 10, 2008
Jeanne Grunert

Lavender provides many healing benefits. - www.morguefile.com

Lavender is a useful herbal remedy that provides anti-anxiety, antibacterial effects.

Since ancient times, lavender has been cultivated for its attractive flowers and sweet scent. Flowers, leaves and stems of common lavender are all aromatic. Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is now cultivated worldwide. It is used in perfumes, aromatherapy, teas, and herbal medicine. Lavender's healing properties are legendary. Whether you simply enjoy the fragrance or try lavender oil for its many benefits, lavender is one herbal remedy everyone can try.

Aromatherapy

Ancient Greek and Roman elite used lavender to scent their bath waters. The name lavender literally means "to wash". Lavender's legendary ability to stimulate relaxation lends itself to aromatherapy. Aromatherapists use lavender oils, massaged into the skin or in scented products such as candles, to impart a feeling of relaxation. Some studies suggest that lavender's scent helps reduce anxiety, although according to Medline Plus, results of scientific studies on lavender's effects on anxiety demonstrate mixed results.

As a cure for insomnia, lavender’s scientific study results are mixed. Lavender sachets, tucked into a pillowcase, not only make bed linens smell sweet, they are also said to enhance relaxation and induce sleep. Since there are few if any side effects unless one is allergic to lavender, it may be worthwhile to try it.

Antibacterial Properties

Many herbalists recommend lavender as an antibacterial agent. When used with other antibacterial natural remedies, such as tea tree oil, lavender can impart powerful antibacterial effects. It can be used in a carrier oil or as part of a lavender scented warm water compress for splinters, pimples, or boils. Not only will it sweetly scent the water, it will also help kill any bacteria creating infection.

Other Herbal Remedy Uses

Lavender is also used in herbal medicine to relieve headaches. A cool washcloth, soaked in water infused with lavender and applied to the forehead, may reduce headaches.

Teas and Tisanes

Lavender has also been used throughout the ages as a cooking ingredient, flavoring fancy desserts. Today, lavender is sometimes added to black tea mixes to create an unusual flavor combination.

Conclusion

Whether you cultivate lavender in the garden to enjoy the scented breezes and dainty purple flowers, or purchase bottles of lavender oil to add to use as an herbal and natural remedy, lavender is one of the most popular herbal remedies. It's generally safe, although the National Institute of Health cautions it may interact with some sedative medications. Pure lavender oil, applied to the skin, may also be too caustic and cause irritation. Lavender is a useful herb and a wonderful alternative health remedy.

Jeanne Grunert - Award-winning writer and marketing expert Jeanne Grunert

Comments

Oct 26, 2009 8:42 PM

Guest :

Lavender got its name for its fragrance made Jesus Christ’s clothes sweet. For more than thousand years, this little purple plant is used to be condiment that could give our clothes nice smell. And nowadays, the essential oil of lavender after extract and purity is the best choice for the nervous people in the cities. Sometimes have a walk in the lavender field and let these little purple elves stay on your hem could be a great joy.
In this heaviest season, the owner of a large lavender farm in Banstead, UK, held a huge celebration for the heaviest of lavenders. Almost everywhere you could see is purple and everything you could smell is the sweet fragrance of lavenders. Everywhere you touch could leave the unforgettable and dreaming fragrance on your hands. Even the <a href="http://www.ybuw.com/Wristbands/Customwristbands.asp">rub ber wristbands</a> they wear could get the fragrance of lavenders. I think this smell would not disappear quickly, so as they have touched hundreds of lavenders, the smell might last several weeks or even months. I hope that smell could last for a year and when I miss that purple paradise, I could smell the wristbands or just wear it.
A boring day could be changed by that sweet wristband which could call the bell of the Lavender Festival in my head. The memory of the huge lavender field which stretches as far as eye can see would be carried on the wristband. With the smell it lets out, the sky would be bluer than ever before, the tree would be nicer and even the birds would be cuter. The wind would blow up your hem, the fragrance of lavenders then surround you. It seems like your clothes would get that sweet smell and then turn into purple. I wish this fragrance would last till next Lavender Festival or I would miss them too much.