Lavender, arguably the most popular scents in aromatherapy worldwide, derived its name from the Latin word ‘lavare’, which means ‘to wash”.
The lavish society of Rome in those days used Lavender water as well as oils to add sensuous odors to their bath water, beddings, clothing and of course, to their crowning glory. The upper class of society among the Romans, Persians, Greeks and Egyptians were known to leave a trail of exquisite scent wherever they went, one of their favourites being lavender. Lavender flowers have also been used for making potpourri for centuries.
As far as history go, there has been studies that have tracked the origins of lavender back some 2500 years ago to the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, Middle East and India. Today this mainstay of the aromatherapy world continues to be cultivated across its countries of origin as well as Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North and South America.
Lavender perfume and body sprays have never lost their popularity due to their fresh and floral scent. The pure, more potent lavender essential oils however are garnering attention these days as more and more people hop into the aromatherapy bandwagon of good health and vitality. Other than for direct inhalation and diffusing into the air, it’s also used to make tea and other aromatic beverages as well as in cooking.
There’s much to know about its extensive uses and benefits, but first let’s see how the oil is produced.
Producing Lavender Oil
Lavender plants are grown commercially for extraction of its oil mainly from its flowers. The most popular form of extraction is through steam distillation. It’s a lengthy process which uses a whole lot of flowers just for a tiny bit of oil called essential oil. This is why pure, therapeutic grade oils are not cheaply priced, and this is also why consumers should think twice if they happen across low priced oils – they may not be as pure, or may have been obtained through procedures other than distillation that may have compromised the quality or pureness of the end product.
Uses And Benefits Of Lavender Oil
So, most of us love the smell of lavender, but many among us don’t really know how to make full use of this for our wellbeing. Here are some suggestions.
- RELIEVES ANXIETY AND PAINS
How many of us have experienced annoying headaches that just won’t budge? Try rubbing a few drops of lavender oil to your temples, and have a whiff of its lovely scent as well – it’s been known to ease nervous tension, and emotional stress too, both causes of stress-related headaches. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water to reduce exhaustion and restlessness, thanks to the linalool and linalyl acetate present in lavender essential oil. Drop some into a diffuser and let the scent of lavender permeate the room! Dr. Nicolette Perry from the Medicinal Plant Research Centre, Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria in the UK, in her research paper, verified that aromatherapy helps manage chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.(1) - AS A SKIN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Premium lavender oil is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. It is commonly used to speed up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns because it improves the formation of scar tissues. It can also be used together with chamomile oil to help treat eczema. - NATURAL ACNE BUSTER
According to dermatologists, the lavender essential oil is one of the most beneficial oils in the treatment of acne,. Pure lavender essential oil inhibits the bacteria that cause the initial acne infection, helps to regulate the over-excretion of sebum by hormonal manipulation and can reduce the signs of scarring after the acne has begun to heal. Adding a small amount of lavender essential oil to other skin creams or ointments can help keep your skin in a healthy state. - PROMOTES HEALING OF WOUNDS
If you own a bottle of therapeutic grade lavender essential oil, you may as well do away with other first aid dressings you might have for treating wounds. It’s an excellent standby to have on hand as it helps treat minor cuts, bruises, and burns. According to a 2016 study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, the essential oil boosts the synthesis of collagen and heals skin tissues.(2) Just apply a few drops of the precious oil on the bruised area or on burns to increase blood circulation and healing. It can also be used to soothe skin irritations, razor bumps, and sunburn. - PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH
Therapeutic grade lavender essential oil has also been shown to be very helpful in the treatment of hair loss, particularly for patients who suffer from alopecia, an autoimmune disease where the body rejects its own hair follicles. A Scottish study reported that more than 40% of alopecia patients in the study reported an increase in hair growth when they regularly rubbed lavender essential oil into their scalp.(4) This is why lavender oil can act as a preventative measure for male pattern baldness.
BUG REPELLENT
The smell of lavender essential oil is offensive for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges, and even moths. Apply some lavender oil on the exposed skin when outside to prevent these irritating bites. Furthermore, if you do happen to be bitten by one of those bugs, lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory qualities that will reduce the irritation and the pain associated with bug bites.(3)
References:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00023210-200620040-00001
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27229681
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2007.03.006
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090186095
