Lavender, a soothing herbal
remedy to relieve anxiety
Where does Lavender come from?
Lavender is a flowering plant part of the mint family. It is
not uncommon to see lavender with its pretty purple flowers growing
everywhere as people plant this herb in their gardens quite frequently.
The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare,
which means "to wash." This name was most likely given to
this herb because of its traditional use in soaps and bath and hair
products. In ancient Egypt lavender was used in the
mummification process and in Persia, Greece and Rome it was popular
among women as a bath additive.
Traditionally, lavender was used for mental health purposes and as an
antiseptic, today, this herb is used to relieve restlessness, insomnia,
depression and anxiety.
How can Lavender help me?
In ancient times, pillows and bedding where sprinkled with lavender
flowers to assist restless people to fall asleep. Scientific
studies have now proven that aromatherapy with lavender slows down the
activity of the nervous system, thereby promoting relaxation and
improving sleep quality.
Massage with lavender essential oil increases mental capacity and
creates a more stable mood in people suffering from anxiety.
Adding lavender oil to a pre-bedtime bath can soothe your
nerves and help you to relax.
In certain European countries, lavender has been approved as a tea to
relieve restlessness, insomnia and stomach irritations.
Lavender essential oil is used in inhalation therapy to
relieve headaches and exhaustion, and when added to bathwater, it has
been proven to relieve muscle aches and pain.
Gels containing lavender extract are commercially available and bring
relief to people suffering from the pain of rheumatic conditions.
Research conducted of people with alopecia areata (a disease
characterized by hair loss in patches) showed that massaging the scalp
with lavender oil daily for several months experienced significant hair
regrowth.
Drinking lavender tea helps alleviate gas and bloating and calms an
upset stomach quickly. Pregnant women often drink lavender
tea to relieve morning sickness.
Linalool, which is a volatile oil in lavender, relaxes the bronchial
passages, thereby reducing allergic reactions and inflammation.
Lavender is often included in herbal remedies to treat
asthma, coughs and other respiratory illnesses. Linalool is
also considered an expectorant and an antiseptic.
Topical uses for lavender include soothing burn wounds and relieving
the itching associated with allergic skin conditions. People
who suffer from eczema also find relief when applying lavender creams
to their skin. Insect bites and stings are soothed by
applying lavender creams.
Outer
ear infections are soothed by rubbing lavender oil gently into the
outer ear area.
Adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bathwater will soothe mild
sunburn.
If I am already on medicine,
what are the interactions or side
effects I need to know about when using Lavender?
Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
There are few known side effects of lavender, however some people have
reported nausea, headaches and chills when absorbing of
lavender through the
skin.
Pregnant and breast feeding women should consult their health care
practitioner before using lavender herbal remedies.
Lavender might increase the effects of over-the-counter sleep aids and
sedatives. Use lavender with caution when taking
anti-depressants.
People who use antihistamines to treat hayfever and other allergies
have reported that the sedative effect of the antihistamine is
increased when using lavender.
How do I use Lavender?
To treat and disinfect cuts and scrapes, apply 1 or 2 drops of lavender
oil to the wound after rinsing the wound with clean water.
For outer ear ache, apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to the
outer ear and rub it in gently. This can be repeated during
the day as often as needed.
To relieve the itching and pain associated with insect bites, gently
rub a few drops of lavender oil into the affected area. You
can repeat this as often as needed. Please seek medical help
if you are allergic to bee stings.
To treat mild sunburn, add lavender oil mixed with almond oil to a cool
bath. This treatment is recommended twice a day.
For severe sunburn, seek medical attention.
For stomach upsets and nausea, use 1 teaspoon of dried lavender flowers
for each cup of water. Brew the dried flowers in a teapot
with boiled water for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want
the tea. Do not brew longer than 10 minutes as it will become
too bitter to drink. Strain the tea and add milk or sugar to
taste.
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