Living Earth Newsletter
Lavender ( L.angustifolia, L.officinale, L.vera)
If someone told me I was to be stranded somewhere for a length of time and I could only have one single bottle of essential oil with me, Lavender would most likely be the one I'd choose for it is probably the most versatile of all the essential oils. It's therapeutic properties include a very extensive list of actions on the body and mind and it is one of safest and most widely used oils in aromatherapy, being one of the very few oils you can use full strength on the body.
A Little on Lavender's History
This fragrant herb has been cultivated for hundreds of years by humans. It was native to the Mediterranean regions and quickly spread throughout Europe. The word lavender comes from the Latin lavare , meaning 'to wash', referring to the Roman custom of strewing this aromatic herb in the bath water. Indeed, this herb was used for centuries in Egypt and the Middle East for perfuming the bath. It has been mentioned by Pliny and Dioscorides as well as Gerard, Turner, Matthiole and Culpepper, to name a few. It was also traditionally used in preparing for childbirth as well as being burned in the birthing area by the midwife and was also placed in baby pillows. During the days of the plague, lavender was strewn on the floors of houses and churches and it was a popular herb to strew on the floors of sickrooms and places where the ill were cared for. It was an important herb grown in the traditional monastery medicinal herb gardens of the 13th and 14thcenturies. Lavender was used to make one of the oldest English perfumes and Elizabethan Ladies would sew sachets of lavender into their skirts for it was thought to help maintain a pure and virtuous character as well as masking body odors. It was a popular potpourri herb and they also used lavender sachets in the linen closet for its fresh scent and to deter moths, an effective practice that is still in use today.
Chemistry
The main important chemical constituents in Lavender are linalol and linalyl acetate. Linalol is an oxygenated hydro-carbon and is an alcohol chemical which is sedative, though most alcohol chemicals are stimulants. This chemical is found in the flowering tops of lavender. In addition to being sedative, linalol has fungistatic activity as well as being a potent antiseptic. Linalyl acetate is an ester, also found in the flowering tops of Lavender, and bestows the therapeutic properties of antiphlogistic (aids in reducing swelling) , antifungal, sedative, pain and tension relieving, skin soothing, and emotionally balancing. Linalyl acetate is also used in perfumery and lavender has the special quality of harmonizing scents of different origins thus making a blend which is rounded and harmonious.
The Psychological Effects of Lavender
Lavender is known to have the following psychological effects : Calming and soothing, aids in helping one let go of compulsions , balancing, nurturing , good for treatment of depression as well as paranoia , helps in high stress situations, aids in inducing feelings of personal renewal and revival, is good for mental debility and memory loss , fights anxiety and aids in cases of insomnia. It is specific for central nervous system disorders.
Lavender's Therapeutic Properties for the Human Body
Lavender essential oil is good for supporting the immune system for it helps to regenerate white blood cells and is cleansing and detoxifying. It aids in feverish conditions, for when used in small amounts, it will have a cooling effect for 'hot' fevers and when used for chronic conditions accompanied by chills and fatigue and cold hands, feet , and extremities, a larger dose of lavender oil can be used for a warming effect on the system. For effects on the digestive system, lavender is good for gas , stomach cramps , nausea , motion sickness , and conditions of constipation. For the reproductive system it helps to calm and aids in relieving pain during childbirth. It's a good support oil for aiding with hormonal balance. It reduces inflammation of the urinary tract and aids in cystitis. It is a good oil for soothing muscular and joint aches and pains and helps inflamed tissues in the muscular-skeletal system. For the respiratory system it is soothing to the mucous membranes and treats inflammation, it is good for conditions of bronchitis, asthma, sinus infections, throat infections and laryngitis, and it also has antitussive properties to help in coughing conditions. This is the best essential oil for the skin, for it heals the skin, having cell regenerative properties, and is a must for the healing of burns and sunburn (better than aloe!) , nicks, cuts, sores and abrasions, allergic rashes, rashes due to any type of irritations, itching conditions of the skin, insect bites, abcesses, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It is effective against biting insects and skin parasites as well as being effective against fungal infections, and is a very good antiseptic for the skin , being good for all skin types.
Summing It Up
Surely you can now see why this would be my oil of choice if I could only have one. I often recommend that people keep a bottle of this essential oil in their first aid kit or medicine chest. I have personally used lavender oil on myself, my family and my clients for a plethora of complaints and with very remarkable results in most all cases. There are some people that do not like the smell of lavender but it's fragrance is easily masked when combined with other oils. With all it's remarkable healing properties, it is an important component in many aromatherapy and herbal healing blends and one not to be ignored !
Blessings, happiness and good health to All,
Jody L. Boda~Newell for Living Earth Herbalist Society
This newsletter is not meant to be used for diagnosing or to replace the care of a physician. All information contained in this newsletter is obtained through scientific research, years of research from other practicing aromatherapists and herbalists and my own personal experiences as a practicing aromatherapist and herbalist.
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