Blog 69: Lavender Is a Lovely Herb

Lavender is a beautiful flower with a lovely scent. It has many uses as herbal medicine, in body care products, and around the home.

Personal Story

Lavender is one of my personal favorite herbs. I love the way it helps me relax after a busy day.

Lavender’s Medicinal Uses

Lavender is used in children and women’s health, pain relief, nervous system condition, and skin health.

Lavender has been used traditionally for:

• anxiety
• bloating
• colic
• depression
• flatulent dyspepsia
• headache
• nervous stomach
• insomnia
• restlessness
• rheumatism

Lavender is an anxiolytic herb used to counteract the stress effects on the nervous system. Its constituents seem to work by reducing irritability and excitement, slowing nerve impulses, and helping to deaden the perception of pain.

Lavender’s Body Care Uses

Medicinal baths are beneficial when lavender essential oils are added to  bath water to help these conditions:

• stress reduction
• functional circulatory disorders
• a sitz bath for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity where it promotes healing for the perineum following birth
• calming and mildly sedating for occasional insomnia, irritability, premenstrual anger, and stress-induced headaches.

Other uses for lavender essential oil include:

• During menopause women can have a spray bottle beside their bed of lavender spray to help cool down when a hot flash has occurred. Put 3-4 drops of sage essential oil in two ounces of lavender aromatherapy spray.
• Lavender EO is active against Giardia duodenalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Candida albicans.
• In essential oil form, it is one of the primary herbs to use for fungal infections or parasitic infestations on the skin.

Lavender’s Household Uses

A spray made with vinegar and lavender essential oil can be used to clean and sanitize surfaces such as bathroom sinks and counter tops by mixing distilled white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle.

Relaxation Tea

For anxiety, anger, or irritability, a woman can drink a Relaxation Tea made from dried herbs in equal parts of chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, and spearmint.

• Mix the dried herbs.
• Steep 2 teaspoons herbs per one cup boiling water for ten minutes in a covered cup.
• Sweeten lightly, if desired.
• Drink hot.
• Dose is up to 3 cups a day

Safety Issues

Lavender is a Class 1 is a class 1 herb, which means it is a herb that a person can safely consume with appropriate use, per Botanical Safety Handbook. It is safely used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Action Step

Consider using lavender in one of its forms soon.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Please encourage others by writing in the comment section.