Lavender

I realized that I had not dedicated a blog entry to my favorite plant ~ LAVENDER.

How could I have missed that?!

So today, because I'm in a lavender kind of mood, I'm writing about Lavender and its multiple uses and benefits...

The History of Lavender in brief

Lavender has a long history and dates back to at least 2,500 years. In ancient Egypt, it was used as perfume and for mummification. Romans have used lavender oils to scent the air, for cooking, and bathing. Quite possibly, the Latin root derives from those times. Lavare - to wash and Livendula - livid. During the middle ages, the dried lavender was thrown on the ground or floor to fumigate the homes. Lavender was mostly used by monasteries but by the time Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, lavender moved into the gardens of domestic homes. The women used it to give their lines a fresh scent. Sachets were created and placed between clothing. During the 16th century France lavender was used against infections. The story of the great plague and the thieves that stole herbs and oils divide a bit and some stories include lavender while others do not. It is said that during the plague the thieves who stole Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Rosemary were spared from the illness. During WW II, lavender was used to disinfect floors and walls and it was also used as a first aid for burns.

Uses for Lavender Essential Oil


Nervous System: Lavender has a calming effect on the nervous system and is therefore great for

• headaches
• anxiety
• depression
• nervous tension or 
• stress

It has a calming scent, a refreshing aroma and antidepressant properties.

Sleep: Due to the calming scent, lavender essential oil is great for

• insomnia
• difficulty falling asleep

Pain Relief: The anti-inflammatory properties of lavender make for a wonderful first aid for minor

• burns
• sunburn
• sores
• muscle aches
• rheumatism
• sprains
• backache. 

Mixed in massage oil, lavender can provide deep relief. Its antispasmodic properties make it great for

• cramps of all kinds thus is great for female issues or infections of the bladder. 

Respiratory Problems: Lavender is a decongestant and its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties aid when having

• throat infections
• flu
• cough
• cold
• asthma
• sinus congestion
• bronchitis
• whooping cough
• laryngitis
• tonsillitis

Use it in a diffuser or apply a few drops of 100% pure, Grade A, therapeutic essential oil directly on the skin of your neck, chest, and/or back. It is a great addition for inhalers.

Skin Care: I use lavender essential oil in virtually all my body products. It has antiseptic and antifungal properties and is wonderfully soothing for

• eczema
• psoriasis 
• achne
• sunburn
• minor burns
• healing scars
• cell regeneration
• wrinkles

Digestion: Due to its tonic, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties, lavender is great to aid

• indigestion
• stomach pains
• colic
• flatulence
• vomiting
• diarrhea

How to use Lavender Essential Oil

Aromatherapy

1. put a a drop or two in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together and cup them over your nose, breathe in deeply
2. put a few drops onto a cotton ball and place it into your room, on your nightstand, next to your pillow etc.
3. put a few drops in either a steam or electric diffuser.

Topical Application

1. Use only pure, 100%, Grade A, therapeutic essential oils when using directly on your skin.
2. Test your skin for any allergic reaction before using the oil(s) neat on your skin.
3. Lavender Essential Oil is great to use in creams, lotions, soaps or massage oils.

Other Uses for Lavender

The dried flowers are wonderful in sachets or potpourri. The scent will freshen up any closet or room. Also, the flowers are often used in the culinary world where they decorate cakes and other baked goods. Lavender Essential Oil is used in food such as melted chocolate, deserts, infused in drinks, and used as a spice. Honey is produced from Lavender flowers.

Have a lovely lavender-scented day!

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Free Essential Oil Products

Hello Dear Reader,

I am so excited that all I could think of is to share my joy with you. Maybe you know - or maybe you don't - I am a distributor with Young Living. Oh no! No, don't worry, this is not a sales pitch. Absolutely not! My intention is purely that of sharing my joy and information about the oils :)

So, part of the benefit of being a distributor (or customer) is that you collect points for each order you place. Even though I am a distributor, I have been using the oils mainly for personal use and for my products. My talent is not in sales, LOL. So far, I've collected over 400 points and thought today is the day to redeem my gift for these points.

Ooops, I realize now that my headline may sound a little misleading. Unfortunately, I am not giving away any free products :( I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Please continue reading! While I am not giving away any products, the benefit to you is there, indirectly. I am sharing information with you that I hope you are interested in. I do hope that I spark your interest a little bit to use essential oils (whatever brand works for you) in your life. So let me tell you about the oils that I ordered:

• Dream Catcher has an exotic aroma and aids in visualization and dreaming. Thus it is great for meditation as well. It aids in the formation of positive thinking and fosters the realization of dreams and goals. Since it is a blend, it includes Tangerine, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Black Pepper, Bergamot, Juniper, Blue Tansy, and Anise. 
• Helichrysum is a great oil to use in skin care as it provides a defense against harmful free radicals. It works wonders for eczema sufferers and reduces scar tissue. 
• Jasmine has a sweet, warm and exotic aroma. It is such a lovely addition to any cream and gives it the most wonderful scent. Not only do I add Jasmine for its aroma but Jasmine also has a soothing and calming effect on the nervous system. So added to your body cream, you have the double effect of the floral and seductive fragrance that uplifts your spirits and enhances self-confidence. 
• Sacred Frankincense ~ this powerful oil comes from the Boswellia Sacra tree and the resin is widely used for spiritual practices. This sacred oil is a very valued addition in my skin care regimen as it provides the transportation of oxygen to cells. It has an astringent effect on the skin and makes your skin look younger, healthier, and is excellent for mature skin as well as eczema sufferers due to its soothing and calming effect. 
• Australian Blue ~ the name alone implies the ancient wisdom of aboriginal culture as it includes Blue Cypress that has been used pharmaceutically for thousands of years by aborigines. It is another exotic blend, warm and sweet with earthy undertones. I am going to use this oil for its grounding qualities, uplifting the spirit, as well as for its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-arthritic and antibacterial properties. It is great for sores, moles, skin cancer or for ligaments. 
• Immu Power - with the winter coming, and my new internship starting in a hospitals emergency room, I am going to use this oil to boost my immune system. 
• Copaiba comes from the Amazonian Rainforest and has a nice woodsy aroma. It is a well-known essential oil in European Medicine and dates back to 1600s. It is a great pain reliever and reduces inflammation. 

Since I work with essential oils on a daily basis, have seen their benefit and how they changed not only my life but also the life of many others, I am truly excited to receive and work with these oils. Not for nothing are hospitals now incorporating the use of aromatherapy for their patients benefits.

I would love to hear from you! 

Have you ever used Essential Oils before? 

Are you using Essential Oils in your life? 

What is your favorite oil and what are you using it for? 

Have a scentsational day!

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New Silky & Scentsational Concoctions

I have to apologize for this delay in posting. I had been sick which caused the irregularity in my ability to write. I have not forgotten about my promise that I made on August 13th in my entry "Lovely Goodies." However, today, I got carried away and made new creams and thought it would make a nice blog entry.

I need to mention though that the below concoction has rather a lot of ingredients. Please do not let this discourage you to make your own product(s)! You really only need a few oils such as almond, apricot, or even olive oil to make a nice and smooth feeling body cream. I just felt in the mood to splurge :)

So, today I made two new creams.
1) Nurturing Body Silk ~ an all-around cream that can be used for the entire body
2) Hot & Heavy ~ a sensual experience and great for a hot date

I truly splurged today and made the most extravagant base cream with the following ingredients:

24 g Shea Butter
20 g Almond Oil
10 g Jojoba Oil
10 g Apricot Oil
10 g Hempseed & Evening Primrose Oils
8 g Borage Seed Oil
6 g Calendula Oil
5 g Vitamin E
5 g Rosehip & Perilla Oils
5 g Wheat Germ Oil.

As emulsifier, I used 1 g of Stearic Acid, 5 g Beeswax & 1 tbsp Borax and 22 g Emulsifying Wax.
I added a little Honey and Aloe Vera as well.

The texture of this concoction feels very smooth and silky. It leaves your skin feeling very soft and nurtured. It is excellent for mature and dry skin as well as elbows and knees. A little of this cream goes a long way.

To the above base cream, I added some Essential Oils in order to give it a nice scent and enhance the properties of the cream itself with the added benefit of some incredible Essential Oils by Young Living (YL).

Nurturing Body Silk ~ Wrap yourself in love with this nurturing, sensational and silky touch. Nurturing Body Silk is enhanced with the following YL Essential Oils: Lavender, Roman Chamomile,  Frankincense, Sandalwood & Rosemary

The Essential Oils in Nurturing Body Silk make it a great cream for itchy skin, rashes, or even eczema. The soothing qualities of Lavender and Roman Chamomile and the calming effect of Frankincense and Sandalwood are just so nurturing to the skin. I had an itchy blotch on my skin and after applying this cream only twice, the itchiness is gone and the redness is decreasing. 

Hot & Heavy ~ For a sensual experience. Enjoy a first calming sensation followed by a heated progression for ecstasy. Hot & Heavy is enhanced with the following YL Essential Oils: Lavender, Peace & Calming, and Joy.

I want to say Thanks to ZenGirl who assisted me in the process and provided her mental brain power in the description of the new silky & scentsational concoctions.

Enjoy the silkiness of these creams and venture into a world of scentsational delight :)

If you like to learn more about how to make your own products, visit my website where you can learn all about making your own products. The information provided is absolutely free :)

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