Lavender

Lavender, my essential oil for May

When I think of May, I can’t help but think of flowers. When I bullet journal, its always full of flower doodles throughout my May pages. It seemed a natural choice for me, coming out of spring and embarking upon summer, to use and chat about one of the most famous of essential oils… Lavender 🙂

Lavender comes from lavendula, the Latin of which is Lavare, which means to wash 🙂

Most folk know that lavender is a bushy evergreen shrub with purple spiky flowers.  Native to the Mediterranean region, the biggest producers of the oil today are in Bulgaria and England. It is however, the oil from France which is of the best quality.

There are 30 species of lavender around the world, however it is lavandula angustifolia which is the species used in massage.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the freshly cut flowering tops and is a colourless or pale yellow liquid, which has a fresh, strong, floral fragrance.

One of the most well known of essential oils, lavender enjoys the status of being the most popular and versatile essential oil in aromatherapy. No wonder! It is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Furthermore it is suitable for all skin types & good for so many conditions. However, because of this, it’s also one of the most commonly adulterated essential oils. Often this oil is substituted with or has lavandin oil added to it. (Lavandin is a hardier, bushier species which is easier to grow).  Often the addition of synthetic lanalool & linalyl acetate or that from other natural sources.  It is always important to make sure that you are buying Pure lavandula angustifolia, especially when it is for the purpose of massage.

It would be easier to tell you what lavender doesn’t blend well with. No actually, it would be harder to tell you what lavender doesn’t blend well with, because you can blend lavender with just about every other oil! The only thing I’d say is that the good stuff  (high quality, pure lavender essential oil) is strong, so I’m always careful of the quantity I use in a blend as it can easily overpower a blend 🙂

For the skin

A fantastic oil for the skin. Conditions such as skin inflammation, such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, boils, wounds & sunburn. This oil is antiseptic, analgesic, cytophylactic, antiphlogistic & cicatrisant. It’s also a paracitaside, so great for lice & scabies. It helps to prevent itching and will help  prevent itching and infection with bites and stings.

For the muscles & joints

Being analgesic, antispasmodic, rubefacient and and anti-rheumatic, this oil helps with aches and pains, relief of rheumatism, sciatica and arthritis.

For the nervous system

Being a nervine, cephalic and sedative, lavender essential oil can help with stress that causes spasms, cramp pains, nervous tension, irritability and mental distraction. The beauty of this oil is that it won’t interfere with productive stress which is a normal part of life, but will help with excessive stress.  While I’m on the subject… it has a similar effect on the mind and emotions. If you’re exhausted it will stimulate and pick you up. However, if you are stressed out of your mind, it will relax and sedate you. Many people use this oil for insomnia. A few drops on your pillow at night can help to relax and help you drift off into a peaceful sleep 🙂

For the reproductive system

Being analgesic, an emmenagogue and anti-spasmodic, this is a very effective oil for the relief of period pain. There have been clinical trials showing that lavender essential oil is the most popular oil during childbirth. It reduces maternal anxiety, it’s pain relieving and helps to lighten ones mood 🙂

For the respiratory system

To help with colds and flu, bronchitis, throat infections, catarrh conditions, and asthma of a nervous nature.

For the circulation

Will help to improve circulation and lower blood pressure.

Finally

If lavender were a person, it would most definitely be a mother.  For just as a mother cooks, cleans, nurses, teaches, is councilor and cares for every aspect of her child’s needs, so too, lavender takes care of many conditions of the body and mind at the same time.

My last words on lavender essential oil?

Cooling, soothes & supports, calming, relaxing, anti-depressant, uplifting  🙂

I hope that you have enjoyed my summation of lavender essential oil.  I hope that I’ve been able to tell you something you didn’t already know about this well known oil.

Please let me know if you use lavender and if you do, how do you find it to be most useful, massage, in a diffuser, in a bath or on your pillow at night? I’d love to hear from you 🙂

Until next time… improve your health & well being 🙂

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