Lavender

This entry is dedicated to my favorite plant - Lavender

The lavender plant (officially Lavendula angustifolia) is a true multi-tasker:

Lavender can be found in many gardens; it's flowers are being used for decoration, in wreaths, and potpourris. The dried flower buds are often sown into small pillows to be used as relaxing aid or in meditations. This plant is not only known in the botanical world but left its mark also in the culinary circles. The French cuisine is infused with lavender. Beekeepers know the value of this flower just as much as pastry chefs who use the flowers as decoration.

The history of lavender essential oil is just as rich as the preset uses. Lavender was used in Roman times when it was used in baths. Parts of the plants were thrown onto the floor to fumigate homes during the middle ages when it also was carried around to ward off plague. During WWI, the medicinal properties of lavender were used to disinfect floors and walls.

Lavender today decorates homes, enhances food, and is widely used as an Essential Oil. The flowering top are steam distilled to make this precious oil that can be used in a few different ways:

1. Apply neat* - straight from the bottle for first aid for burns, to disinfect a minor cut, sunburns, insect bites and insect repellant.
2. Dilute it with a base oil such as Almond Oil or even Olive Oil for eczema, dry skin, chapped skin or lips, or as deodorant.
3. Use as aromatherapy and diffuse a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil for migraines, depression, insomnia, or for motion sickness.

Personally, I use Lavender Essential Oil in most of my creams, I place a few drops on my pillow or diffuse it during meditation or after a hectic day. A study by Ryoko Masago et al (2000) showed that pleasant odors such as lavender can reduce tension and depression. The same study reports that inhalation of Lavender Essential Oil causes a reduction in alpha activity. Alpha waves are brainwaves that show up on an EEG during wakeful relaxation.

*Note: Always test the Essential Oil on a small spot on your skin such as the inside of your wrist for an allergic reaction before applying the oil neat.

Reference: Masago, R., Matsuda, T., Kikuchi, Y., Miyazaki, Y., Iwanaga, K., Harada, H., Katsuura, T. (2000). Effects of Inhalation of Essential Oils on EEG Activity and Sensory Evaluation. Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science. 19, 1. 35-42.