12 Health Benefits of Lavender that Wonderful Herb

Today my friends I would like to talk about a flower which is also a herb that has a wonderful aroma, adds a touch of beauty and class to any garden, plus it has so many medicinal health benefits.

This natural herbal remedy is “Lavender” and sometimes referred to as the Magical Oil. I intend to teach you all I can about this herb and why you should keep it in your medicine cabinet.  So sit back, relax and try to imagine the aromatic soothing smell of Lavender.

Lavender is a small shrub, a perennial herb, with lignified roots, and ramified stems.  It can be recognized because of its small, mauve flowers and because of the silver floss that appears on the leaves.

Lavender has long been a favorite plant and easy to grow; it can easily adapt itself to drought conditions or too wet climates. If the plant is kept indoors, it is advised for it to be put in a brightly lit place, as sunlight helps increase growth percentages of ethereal oil in the herb.

Lavender is harvested at the time when half of the flowers are open. It is best that this procedure is carried out on summer mornings, the period in which lavender flowers contain an optimum amount of active substances.

Lavender can be found in household products like room fresheners. Dried lavender is used to repel moths in clothes closets. It is used in essential oils and for its lovely scent in sachets. Lavender is known as one of the safest of all distilled essential oils and it is also one of the most popular! The medicinal knowledge of the benefits of this plant has been passed down for generations and we are still learning more today about the beneficial properties contained in this plant.

Just a Little History about lavender:

Since ancient times it has been symbolic of cleanliness and purity. The early Greek and Romans have documented its use in healing and was thought to restore the skin.  Lavender was used in baths, as perfume.  The ancient Greeks called the lavender herb nardus, and it was also commonly called nard.

Lavender was one of the holy herbs used in the biblical Temple to prepare the holy essence, and nard is mentioned in the Song of Solomon.  When the Roman Empire conquered southern Britain, the Romans introduced lavender.

Nowadays, the plant is mainly grown commercially for the production of lavender essential oil. Western European countries used to be at the top of the market but Balkan countries are overtaking the industry at a fast pace. Specifically, Bulgaria has expanded a lot and is currently one of the top producers of essential oils in the world.

The Medicinal Properties of Lavender:

1. Skin Conditions: 

Lavender is used for healing insect bites and burns as well as repel insects. It is used to reduce wrinkles, and treat psoriasis, and other inflammations. It heals wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns rapidly as it aids in the formation of scar tissues. Lavender oil is added to chamomile to treat eczema. Lavender oil is also said to cure acne. The essential oil has antiseptic properties; it was used in hospitals in the 1st world war to disinfect wards.

2. Nervous System: 

It’s a natural nerve relaxant and lavender essential oil has a calming scent.  Study after study has documented its benefits in a wide range of related applications. Lavender has been used to calm aggressive geriatric patients with dementia. A study of 15 severe dementia patients compared lavender oil aromatherapy with a placebo. The majority of patients (60%) showed a mild easing of their agitation, 33% showed no change and 1 patient (7%) was aggravated by lavender. If you are having anxiety, emotional stress –try some lavender aromatherapy the refreshing aroma removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.  It certainly would be a much better choice than the antidepressant drug your doctor would prescribe.

3.Treatment MRSA and other Drug-resistant Infections:

Lavender oil has been found 100% effective in lab testing to treat some infections, including MRSA. Lavender can counteract drug-resistant staph infections (MRSA). MRSA, which has been become a common ailment, and is usually contracted in a hospital. It also has a lot to do with the overuse and misuse of antibiotics that are so prevalent in conventional medicine. A large number of studies have demonstrated lavender oil’s ability to treat both staph infections and MRSA. This means that a natural remedy could be used to treat staph infections that drugs can’t touch.

4. Treatment for Fungal Infections:

Fungal infections can be among the very difficult to treat. For an individual that already has an immune system that is highly compromised from the disease, a fungal infection can be fatal. When an imbalance of the fungus Candida albicans happens in the gut, which commonly happens when too many antibiotics are given, yeast infections are prevalent; both yeast infections in women and thrush. Vaginal yeast infections treated with a douche made with a tea of lavender blossom or if you are taking antibiotics you can drink tea made from lavender flowers to warn off the possibility of a yeast infection. Nail fungal infections and athlete’s foot can readily be treated by applying lavender to the infected area.

5. Pain Relief:

Lavender is known for its relaxation abilities. Lavender has been known to relieve headaches and migraines; usually by rubbing it on the temples. In a Japanese study, researchers found that a chemical called linalyl (found in Lavender) relaxes muscles. Many massage therapists uses Lavender oil when treating a patient due to its relaxing qualities; to relieve muscle spasms, relieves pain in joints, and its soothing aroma.

6. Insomnia:

Lavender has long been noted as a relaxant and aid for mild insomnia. Its use for this purpose is generally through aromatherapy applications. Inhalation of lavender oil scent has been used successively in geriatric patients to replace sleeping pills. Patients slept just as long and their sleep was of better quality. Their daytime wakefulness and alertness were significantly improved, and no adverse effects were reported.

7. Respiratory Problems: 

Lavender has been used to calm coughs and ease breathing in colds and influenza. It’s used in inhalers or forms of vapor, or dotted on the neck, back, or chest.  It has been known to aid in asthma, bronchitis, sinus congestion, laryngitis, tonsillitis, whooping cough, and other respiratory system problems.

8. Immune System Enhancer:

Lavender benefits and strengthens the immune system which prevents illness and helps make you stronger. Used as a tea or a dilute solution in a lotion or oil for routine topical application

9. Improves Heart and Blood Circulations:

Lavender as in aromatherapy has been documented to improve heart health. It reduces inflammation, which is associated with heart disease, by inhibiting cortisol. Lavender essential oil is also good for improving blood circulation in the body. It also lowers blood pressure and is used for hypertension. These benefits were found by using 4 drops of essential aromatherapy lavender oil in 20 milliliters of hot water and then inhaling for 30 minutes.

10. Hair Loss & Care:

Lavender essential oil is useful for hair care as it can be very effective on lice and lice eggs or nits. A condition called alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition in which hair follicles are attacked as if they were a foreign invader. Lavender can be used just rub it in on bald spots. Be patient, as it can take several weeks to show benefits. Conventional medicine treatment of choice is steroids which have many dangerous side effects.

11. Digestion Improvement:

Lavender oil is useful for digestion as it improves the mobility of the intestine and nutrient absorption. The oil also stimulates the production of gastric juices including bile which aids in treating indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea. According to one study, lavender stops the growth of pathogens but doesn’t harm beneficial bacteria. For digestive aid, lavender oil can be taken as a tea. To help improve your digestive check this out!

12. Urine Flow:

Lavender essential oil is good for urinary disorders because it stimulates urine production. It helps in restoring hormonal balance, reduces cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) and reduces cramping.

Culinary Uses of Lavender

Lavender can also be used in cooking since it has a sweet aroma with a hint of citrus flavor. Use it for both sweet and savory dishes such as salads, dressings, pasta, pies, mousses, and other desserts.

The buds are also used for teas, food decoration, and honey infusion. Lavender buds match well with green, black or herbal teas. They are also a nice compliment to chocolate desserts.

You can also create your own lavender-infused sugar or honey. Put a handful of buds in a jar of sugar, leave them inside for two weeks until their aroma transfers. Then use the sugar for baking delicious and fragrant desserts.

Fresh lavender goes well with rosemary for flavoring savory dishes with meat and vegetables.

Conclusion

I hope the information I have provided about the medicinal qualities of this natural herbal remedy will be useful to you or someone in your family. Another great idea is to use Lavender Oil as a chemical-free alternative for perfume. You will have a natural scent that will smell better than any expensive perfume.  Please just remember to always check with your health-care provider before using any herbal remedy especially if you are already on medication. It is always better to be safe than sorry! Lavender can be used as an oil!

About the author

Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!