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Lavender: Essential Oil

Lavender can be used for burns and wounds and is a good disinfectant being antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. It can aid in the relief of headaches, colds, sore throats, coughs, sinus congestion, menstrual pain, muscular aches and insect bites, and will repel insects. Lavender calms, soothes and balances; it restores unbalanced states both physical and emotional and enables healing to take place.

Lavender and lavender oil has been a popular medicine, cosmetic and perfume for thousands of years. It is a beautiful, easy to grow plant that loves sun, air and warmth. It originated in the region of the Mediterranean. To this day, the finest lavender grows in France. The lavender grown above altitudes of 3000 feet contains higher condensations of esters and therefore is of higher quality. The botanical name has some confusion around it, however. The official name is now Lavandula angustifolia, previously being L.officinale and L.vera. It belongs to the family Lamiaceae formerly Labiatae. You will see it under all these names in various books and texts, which can make for a bit of confusion.

It is easy to use. It can be rubbed directly on the skin at the location of the problem. It can be used full strength or diluted in a carrier oil, such as almond oil, at 2 to 3% dilution to use in baths and for massage. Lavender should always be diluted with very young children and babies. It can be rubbed on the temples for headaches; and on the throat and sinus areas for sinus congestion, colds, sore throats and coughs. Rub it on the abdomen for menstrual cramps. It is excellent for the relief of muscular pain, back pain, rheumatism, sciatica and arthritis, often being mixed with other essential oils such as rosemary or marjoram.

Lavender makes a credible insect repellent for mosquitoes, fleas, moths and other insects. It will also soothe and help heal insect bites. It is said that it will even neutralize a black widow spider bite, perhaps a first aid remedy that might be tried while on the way to the hospital.

The word lavender comes from the Latin word lavare ("to wash"); lavender has been used to wash wounds for its antiseptic and analgesic effects. It also encourages rapid healing. Its use for burns is legendary, and it is good for many other skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Lavender is also known to slow down the wrinkling process.

Lavender is useful on an emotional level also. It has a harmonizing effect that helps people that are in unbalanced emotional states such as anxiety, hysteria or depression. It is the essential oil of choice for insomnia, it is used in a bath before bedtime or a few drops on a cotton ball slipped under the pillow. Since it is normalizing and balancing in nature, which means it is both relaxing and stimulating, it can be applied to a wide variety of states. The needs of the person using it will determine its sedative and stimulating actions.

The versatility of lavender can seem too good to be true, but it has a complex chemical structure and numerous active constituents. These include the ethers of linalyl and geranyl, geraniol, linalol, cineol, d-borneol, limonene, l-pinene, caryophyllene, the esters of butyric acid and valerianic acid and coumarin. The proportions of the various constituents will vary from one geographic region to another and from year to year depending upon the altitude, soil, weather and other varying conditions.

The medical properties of lavender are analgesic, antibiotic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiviral, cell stimulate, decongestant, diuretic, hypotensive, insect repellent, sedative and vermifuge. It is considered a central nervous system restorative. Pregnant women should use with care, as there are some emmenogogue like effects.

Lavender is also one of our most beautiful and beloved of perfumes. It has been used for centuries to scent and keep moths out of linens. It is of importance to the perfume industry as well, blending well with rose, geranium, marjoram, rosemary, bergamot and other citrus scents.

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