Lavender essential oil is the most used essential oil in the world! It not only affordable but it is also filled with anti-oxidant and antimicrobial properties that help heal the body and fight disease. Lavender essential oil can be used therapeutically and cosmetically for many different reasons and in many different ways. Today we will show you ten of the best uses for this powerhouse essential oil.
History of Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender, is a perennial evergreen plant that has produced the most used and known essential oil in the world for over 2500 years. It grows best in oceanic climates and can be found in the Mediterranean region, Europe, the Middle East, and India. The name Lavender is believed to be derived from the Latin word “lavare,” meaning “to wash,” as it was often used in baths and laundry for its fragrant properties. It was also used in Egypt for the process of mummification. The Romans used lavender for cooking and bathing and in the Bible there are many instances where lavender oil was used for anointing and healing. It was also turned into a costly perfume.
Top 5 Benefits:
1. Antioxidant Boost
Antioxidants are one of the best defenses against toxins, chemicals and other free radicals. Free radicals are the culprit for many diseases that plague our bodies and they are responsible for damaging your immune system. Our bodies create antioxidants on their own, however most people are deficient from not eating a healthy enough diet and an overexposure to free radicals. Lavender essential oil can prevent toxins from hurting your body and it can also aid in reversing disease. A study was done finding that lavender essential oil can reverse disease and bring enough antioxidants into the body to form a barrier to help fight disease.
2. Reduce Stress
Lavender has been used to relieve stress, anxiety and to boost your mood. Studies have proven that lavender can reduce the levels of stress and depression. It was also found that it helps many people sleep and have less sleep disturbances. An easy way to use lavender essential oil for stress is to add it to a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil and apply it directly to the skin or you can also diffuse it while you sleep or in your office or at home.
3. Strengthens Hair and Skin
Because of its’ antioxidant properties, lavender essential oil has many benefits to your skin and hair. When mixed with a carrier oil it can strengthen hair and reduce inflammation, acne and aging. It has also been proven to help with hair loss when mixed with cedar wood or rosemary. When applied to the skin lavender can also help with eczema, skin rashes or diaper rash for babies.
4. Helps with Headaches
There are many essential oils that help with tension headaches but lavender is one of the best ones because it induces relaxation. It also has calming agents and relieves tension. A study was conducted and the people who inhaled lavender for 15 minutes had significant decrease in their migraine pain. You can apply lavender to the skin, diffuse or add a few drops to a warm bath to obtain its’ benefits.
5. Improves Sleep
One of the most well known benefits to lavender is better sleep, and there is much evidence to prove that. A study was done on 158 women who had just had a baby and were in postpartum. One group was given lavender to inhale before bed and the other group was not. The women who had lavender had significant better quality of sleep than the women who did not. Lavender has been proven to reduce sleep disturbances, fight insomnia, and improve the overall quality of sleep. Lavender also has no side-effects, so you want wake up groggy the next morning. To benefit at night, apply topically before bed or diffuse while you are sleeping.
Top 5 Uses:
1. Air Freshener
Candles and plug-ins are filled with chemicals and toxins that fill the air, making it more dangerous to your health and your families health. But diffusing natural oils not only smells good, but you gain all of the benefits as well at the same time purifying the air. You can spray it around the room, diffuse in a bedroom or bathroom to create a calming and soothing environment. You can also spray it on your sheets and pillow before bed. Just mix water and lavender in a spray bottle and gently mist.
2. Perfume
More findings are coming out about the dangers of perfumes, so more and more people are switching to safer alternatives and essential oils are a great place to start. In the same way you use lavender as an air freshener you can also use it as a perfume. You can dab a few drops directly onto your skin or you can mix with water and spray, just like the pillow spray. You can also add essential oils to lotions for smell and to obtain the benefits.
3. Flavor Boost for Cooking and Baking
What is so amazing about essential oils is that they are safe to ingest as well, and you can use them in many different ways in the kitchen. Some ideas for adding lavender in the kitchen is when you are baking breads, scones, or muffins. It can also be used in tea or salad dressings. One tip to remember is that essential oils are so pure that you do not need to use a lot. Just a few drops will do the trick in any recipe.
4. BugBites
Because of the calming products, lavender essential oil is great for healing bug bites, especially mosquito and ant. It is highly affective in relieving the itchiness that comes. Simply rub a few drops onto the bug bites, and if your skin is sensitive dilute with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba.
5. Cuts and Burns
Apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to a burn or cut. It stops bleeding, cleans wound and kills bacteria and for burns it stops redness, pain and swelling. Because of its’ antibacterial properties it is a great oil to keep on hand in purse, backpack or diaper bag. It can be used on children, if they have sensitive skin simply dilute with water or a carrier oil.