The Healing Power of Lavender...
Lavender is one of the most widely used,
versatile herbs known today. It is considered a member of the Labiatae
family, which also includes mints and the plant originated in England,
France, Tasmania, and Yugoslavia.
Lavender
flowers have long since been used to treat digestive problems,
insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness. Until World War I, lavender was
used to treat and disinfect wounds. For centuries, English farmers
would place lavender flowers in their hats to prevent headache and
sunstroke. Women would place sachets of lavender in their closets and
wardrobes for fragrance, in addition to using it in potpourri.
Hospitals used lavender as an antiseptic and disinfectant to sterilize
surfaces and equipment.
Today,
lavender is used in much of the same way, for many of the same reasons.
Both the flowers of the plant and the essential oils derived from the
plant can be used for therapeutic uses.
According
to the book The New Healing Herbs, the essential oils extracted from
the flowers contain more than 150 compounds. Lavender essential oil is
easily and quickly absorbed into the skin, and can be detected in the
blood in as little as 5 minutes.
Today,
lavender is most commonly used for anxiety, depression, mental
exhaustion, insomnia, scrapes and wounds, digestive problems,
headaches, skin problems and women's health problems. In addition to
this, lavender can be used to treat exhaustion, heat exposure, fevers,
aches and pains, over-exertion, jet lag, rashes, sprains, sunburn,
sunstroke, bruises and burns. It can also be used as a disinfectant and
insect repellant. Lavender is an antiseptic, natural antibiotic,
sedative, detoxifier.
Anxiety and depression. The
essential oil of lavender has a calming, sedative, and anti-convulsive
effect. It can also increase the effectiveness of other relaxants.
Insomnia.
A study conducted at the University of Leicester in England showed that
the use of lavender essential oil is just as effective in promoting
sound sleep as traditional medication. In fact, many British hospitals
offer their patients lavender pillows to help with sleeplessness.
Scrapes and wounds.
Lavender essential oil has very powerful antiseptic properties.
Applying it to wounds can not only increase cell growth causing the
wound to heal faster, but it also decreases the appearance of scars.
The oils anti-microbial action protects scrapes and wounds from
infection, while allowing them heal.
Digestive problems.
Lavender has also been endorsed by Germany's Commission E to treat all
sorts of stomach and digestive disorders. It soothes the lining of the
digestive tract and promotes the secretion of bile, which helps the
body digest fats. In addition to this, lavender can also relieve gas
pressure and constipation.
Headaches.
Massaging lavender oil onto the temples, neck and forehead can relieve
neck and head tension and promote relaxation, thus relieving a variety
of headaches. Those included are general headaches, gastric headaches,
nervous headaches, sinus and tension headaches.
Skin problems.
By massaging lavender oil into the skin, it can be used to treat a
number of skin problems such as acne, burns, dry skin, eczema, itchy
skin, sunburn, seborrhea, and skin inflammation.
Women's health problems.
For pregnancy, lavender can help sooth and relieve flatulence and
indigestion. It can diminish the look of stretch marks and scars. It
can relieve cramps, edema, exhaustion, infection, breast abscesses, and
post-natal depression. A study of lavender by British researchers
suggests that using lavender oil during pregnancy and childbirth can
help ease delivery pain and promote a speedy recovery.
By
either adding lavender to the bath or massaging it into the skin,
lavender can help relieve pre-menstrual syndrome, and menstrual cramps.
It is effective in aiding the treatment of chlamydia, pelvic
inflammatory disease, thrush, vaginal infections, inflamed vaginal
tissue, vaginitis, cystitis, Raynaud's Disease, breast abscesses, and
cervical cancer. If being treated with radiation for any form of
cervical or uterine cancer, lavender oil can prevent and diminish
irradiation burns.
The
uses of lavender are endless. Lavender is a must-have for all homes
because of its calming, antibiotic, antiseptic, disinfectant, antiviral
and anti-inflammatory properties. It is good for treating or aiding in
the treatment of a number of health problems. By mixing lavender with
water, it can be sprayed on surfaces and used as a household
disinfectant, and applying it to the skin can deter insects.
According
to the book The New Healing Herbs, the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute believes that a particular compound in lavender, known as
perilly alcohol has been shown to exert remarkable action against a
variety of cancer tumors in the breast, lung, liver, colon and
pancreas. It is noted that currently, this particular compound is being
tested as a possible cancer preventative, as well as treatment.
Lavender
is an extremely useful, beneficial and versatile herb. It can be used
to therapeutically treat a variety of ailments, contains antibiotic,
antiseptic, disinfectant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties,
is safe for most all adults, has a pleasant aroma and calming
qualities. Lavender is truly a must for every home and should become an
excellent addition to the first aid kit.
Resources: Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs. U.S.A and Canada: Rodale Press, 2001
Worwood, Valerie Ann.