Health Benefits of Lavender
One of my all-time favorite scents is lavender. Just the thought of it makes me think of picturesque fields in southern France. Lavender has a way of calming my nerves and helping me relax after a long day. Did you know that lavender can also be used to improve your health? This post will discuss some of the health benefits of lavender.
Before I get into all of the ways we use lavender in our family, I want to advise you to check with your doctor to see if lavender is right for you. Also, lavender is not to be used in place of your physician-prescribed medication regimen.
What Are The Health Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil?
Lavender Is Used In Aromatherapy To Promote Relaxation
The main way we use lavender is through aromatherapy by means of a diffuser. We have a diffuser in just about every room of the house.
Our favorite is the Innogen diffuser. It lights up and changes color so it works as a great night lite for our kids.
It has an option to run continuously or intermittently with about 16-second pauses. Once the diffuser has run out of water it will automatically shut itself off. Simply fill the chamber to the fill line and add 5-7 drops of your favorite lavender essential oil. Our favorite brand to use is NOW Lavender Essential Oil.
Diffusing lavender essential oil helps us drift off to sleep naturally. It also helps reduce anxiety and stress that may be associated with monthly hormonal changes.
Got a kiddo nervous about an upcoming exam? Or, maybe that work project has you up at night? Light up that diffuser.
For more ways to add calm to your home, see 5 Simple Ways To Make Your Home More Relaxing
Lavender Acts As A Bug Repellant And Soothes Bug Bites
Earlier this year, my family and I visited Lavender Ridge Farms, in Gainsville, Texas. Let me tell you, I was in heaven!
Now, you might be asking yourself how in the world can lavender grow in Texas??? Well, it does and I was super impressed with this lavender farm.
One of the many amazing items they have in their store is “Bug Off”, a lavender based insect repellant. If you’ve spent any time here in Texas, you know that the bugs are big and so are their bites. I was happy to know that we could use this natural repellant without having to put toxic chemicals on our kids.
On those occasions, when an evil mosquito catches us off guard, we dab a little drop of NOW Lavender Essential Oil right on that little bite. In minutes the itching is gone as well as the swelling.
Lavender Helps Calm A Dry, Itchy Scalp
Do you have hard water that leaves your scalp dry and itchy? When we first moved into our house we started noticing problems with dry scalps.
So much so that my poor husband had to go to the doctor because it was so bad. He tried several creams that he applied daily but to no avail. So, we decided to try lavender. Yep, that did the trick!
It is not recommended to apply large amounts of lavender essential oil directly to the skin without a carrier oil. A carrier can be coconut oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or your everyday olive oil.
For our itchy scalp problems, we used 365 Refined Organic Coconut Oil. This consistency is not like olive oil, rather it is in a solid form. All you need to treat dry scalp issues is a tablespoon of the coconut oil and 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil. Within a week we started to notice an improvement in the discomfort.
Lavender Can Be Used To Alleviate Nausea
Did you know that you can cook with lavender? That’s right! I had no idea until we visited the lavender farm and purchased culinary lavender.
The lavender flowers can be used either fresh or dried. We purchased the dried version.
Simply bring one teaspoon of culinary lavender and 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain the lavender. Add 1 teaspoon of the boiled lavender water to a cup of tea to relieve nausea.
You can also add lavender water to a pitcher of ice tea on a warm summer day. I recommend starting with a teaspoon at a time when adding to a pitcher of tea until you’ve reached your desired flavor. Just know that the lavender taste will become stronger in the tea over time so go slow with adding.
One more thing…..Lavender Cheesecake Y’all!!!! Oh yes, I did!
If you are ever in the North Texas area between April to September, I highly recommend a visit to Lavender Ridge Farms. Not only do they have Lavender Cheesecake and Lavender Ice Cream, but also delicious sandwiches and salads at their cafe. You will not be disappointed!
Here’s to all the wonderful health benefits of lavender!
Health Benefits of Lavender
