This post will focus on the many benefits of lavender, one of the most versatile and beloved plants in the world. We will discuss its calming properties, its culinary uses, and its many health benefits. We will also look at the best ways to use it in your day-to-day life, from cooking to aromatherapy. Finally, we will look at some of the best places to purchase products, as well as some of the most popular recipes that make use of this fragrant herb. Whether you’re looking for an easy way to relax after a long day or a delicious addition to your next meal, lavender is a perfect addition to any lifestyle.
Health Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is an essential oil derived from the plant. It has a wide range of uses, such as in aromatherapy, as a topical treatment, and as a natural cleaning agent. Known for its calming, relaxing, and soothing properties, it is often used to treat anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, and headaches. It also has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful in treating skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Lavender essential oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce the appearance of redness and swelling, as well as soothe irritated skin. It is also good choice for people with rheumatic pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Use it in a bath, or combine them with a base oil and apply gently to the painful area.
- Acne Treatment: Lavender oil is a natural antiseptic and anti-fungal agent, making it a great choice for treating acne. Acne can be treated with lavender. Lavender is calming to the emotions and the skin; it also fights bacterial infection. Apply it with a compress or put it in bath.
- Stress Relief: Lavender oil can be used to help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as to promote a sense of calm and relaxation. If you feel tense or irritable or have trouble sleeping, lavender can help you relax. Try it in a bath or as an inhalant, or slip a lavender-filled sachet under your pillow. For anxiety use lavender oil in a bath or a massage, or add some to a room diffuser for extended relief. It’s calming qualities soothing nervous over activity, stress-related headache, and migraine.
- Natural Skin Toner: Lavender essential oil is a natural skin toner, and can help to balance the skin’s natural oils and reduce the appearance of pores.
- Hair Care: Lavender essential oil can help to reduce dandruff and stimulate hair growth, as well as add a pleasant scent to hair products.
- Antioxidant: Lavender essential oil is a powerful antioxidant, and can help to protect the skin from environmental damage. It also has minor painkilling properties. It appears to reduce the transmission of nerve impulses that carry pain signals. Mix a few drops of the oil in a tablespoon of carrier oil and rub it in.
- Natural Fragrance: Lavender essential oil has a pleasant and calming scent, making it a great choice for aromatherapy. To lift your spirits, use the oil in any form.
- Insect Repellent: Lavender is believed to repel many species of insects, including mosquitoes, moths, flies, fleas, and ticks. Lavender is a natural, easy-to-find mosquito repellent that can be used to make an effective homemade repellent. The aroma of the plant is known to repel mosquitoes, and the plant can be used to make a fragrant spray that can be applied directly to the skin. Lavender also relieves itching and can be the perfect remedy for insect bites and stings.
- Create a bug repellent spray: Add 30 drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle with 2 cups of water. Shake the bottle to mix the solution and spritz around your home, patio, and plants to repel insects.
- Make a bug repellent skin oil: In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of almond oil and 30 drops of lavender essential oil. Rub the mixture onto exposed skin to repel insects.
- Make a bug repellent candle: Fill a Mason jar with soy or beeswax and add 10 drops of lavender oil to the wax before it cools and hardens. Place a wick in the middle of the jar and light the candle to repel bugs.
- Place around your home: Place a few sprigs of the plant around your home, patio, and garden to help repel bugs. The aroma of the dried lavender will naturally repel bugs.
- Lavender is considered a spider repellent because it has a strong odor that spiders find unpleasant. It’s scent can help to keep spiders away from your home, as well as other insects. Additionally, the oil can be used in homemade repellents to help keep spiders away.
- To make effective mosquito repellent, boil a handful of lavender leaves in 2-3 cups of water for 10-15 minutes. Once cooled, strain the liquid and pour it into a spray bottle. Add a few drops of tea tree oil for an extra boost of protection and to make the scent more pleasant. Spray the repellent directly onto your skin, especially in areas that are prone to mosquito bites. Reapply as needed throughout the day to keep the mosquitoes away.
Seed Plantation
The best way to germinate lavender seeds is to first soak them in water overnight, then plant them in a pot of well-draining potting mix. Make sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy, and put the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Once the seedlings emerge, thin them out to the desired number of plants. The best companion for this plant are rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, sage, yarrow, and catmint. All of these plants have similar growing requirements, and their fragrances blend nicely with that of lavender. Planting rosemary and lavender together is good idea. They both need full sun and well-drained soil, so they make good companions. Plus, their fragrances will blend nicely in your garden.
How To Grow Sapling from Seed?
- Start by obtaining some fresh lavender seeds.
- Fill a seed tray or pot with a mix of sterile potting soil and perlite.
- Scatter the seeds over the surface of the soil and lightly press them into the soil.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and lightly mist the top of the soil with a spray bottle.
- Place the tray or pot in a sunny location and keep the soil moist.
- Once the seedlings emerge, thin them out to give the saplings more room to grow.
- Transplant the saplings into larger pots or into your garden once they are large enough.
- Once established, lavender saplings require very little care. Water them only when the soil is dry and prune them occasionally to maintain a neat shape.
How To Grow Lavender At Home In the Pot?
- Choose a pot that is at least 8-10 inches deep and 12-14 inches in diameter. The pot should have drainage holes at the bottom.
- Fill the pot with a well-draining potting soil. Lavender thrives better in sandy soil, so make sure the potting soil is sandy and not too heavy.
- Place the plant in the pot. Make sure the soil is evenly distributed around the root ball.
- Water it thoroughly until the water runs out of the drainage holes.
- Place the pot in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of full sun each day.
- Water the plant once or twice a week, making sure the soil is moist but not soggy.
- If necessary, fertilize the plant using a balanced fertilizer every month.
- Trim the lavender every few weeks to encourage bushier growth.
- Check the plant regularly for pests and diseases. Remove any affected leaves or stems immediately.
- Harvest the flowers in the summer, when they are in full bloom.
FAQs.
Q. Is lavender oil and lavender essential oil the same?
Lavender essential oil is a concentrated liquid made from steam distilling the flowers of the lavender plant. It contains the natural aroma and healing properties of the plant. Lavender oil, on the other hand, is usually a combination of lavender essential oil and a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or apricot kernel oil. It is usually much milder than essential oil and is ideal for use in aromatherapy massage.
Q. What is the difference between lilac and lavender purple?
They both are purple hues, but they are not the same color. Lilac is a more muted, gray-purple shade, while lavender is a bright, saturated purple.
Q. Is lavender oil safe to diffuse around dogs? Is it safe for cats and dogs to smell?
While lavender essential oil is generally considered safe for humans and pets, it is important to use caution when using it around pets. Some animals may have adverse reactions to the oil, particularly cats. It is also important to use only pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils and to dilute them properly when using them around animals. Additionally, it is important to keep pets away from any diffusers, as the concentrated essential oils may be too strong for them. Essential oils should always be used with caution and with proper dilution. It is also important to consult with a veterinarian before using any essential oil diffusers around pets.
Q. How to take care indoor lavender plant?
They are not difficult to maintain and easy to care which require very little maintenance. Lavender plants prefer full sun and well-draining soil and can benefit from occasional trimming and pruning. They need to be watered regularly but should not be overwatered.
- The best time to plant is in the spring or early summer, when the soil is warm and the days are starting to get longer. Planting in late summer or early fall is also possible, but the plant may not have enough time to become established before the cold weather sets in.
- Place your lavender in an area with plenty of light. It requires plenty of sun to flower and thrive indoors.
- Water regularly, making sure to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
- Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil that is slightly alkaline (pH 6.5-7.5) is best for lavender.
- Overwatering can lead to root rot and cause the leaves to turn grey. Insufficient drainage can cause nutrient deficiencies that can also cause the leaves to turn grey.
- Frost damage can cause the leaves to turn grey or brown, while too much direct sunlight can cause sunburn and discoloration.
- Fertilize the plant every other month with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
- Prune it in the spring to keep it from becoming leggy and overgrown.
- Keep the humidity levels in your home consistent. Dry air can cause the leaves to become brown and crispy.
- Take good care of your lavender as it may turn grey due to a number of factors, including overwatering, insufficient drainage, frost damage, or too much direct sunlight.
- Repot the plant every other year to make sure it has enough room for new growth.
- The best time of year to transplant is in the spring or early summer, once the threat of frost has passed.
Q. How to make lavender essential oil at home?
Making lavender essential oil at home is not recommended as it is difficult to produce a high-quality essential oil without the proper knowledge and equipment. It is best to purchase your lavender essential oil from a reputable essential oil supplier. Here are few tips to guide you:
- To choose best brand, look for organic or wild-harvested oil. Many essential oils are produced with synthetic ingredients or processed with chemical solvents, so it’s important to look for organic or wild-harvested oil. Lavender essential oil made from organic and wild-harvested flowers is the highest quality and most beneficial for your health.
- Check the botanical name. It can be made from many different species of lavender, so it’s important to check the botanical name of the oil before purchasing. The most common type of lavender essential oil is Lavandula angustifolia, but other types are also available, such as Lavandula latifolia and Lavandula stoechas.
- Check the scent. Lavender essential oil should have a strong, pleasant, floral scent. If the oil smells harsh or synthetic, it’s not of high quality and should be avoided.
- Choose a reputable brand. It’s important to purchase essential oils from a reputable brand. Look for brands that are transparent about their sourcing and processing, and use third-party testing to ensure quality.
- Some of the most popular brands include Young Living, doTERRA, Plant Therapy, and Now Foods.
Q. What are common names and traditions associated with Lavender?
Lavender is also known as Lavandula angustifolia / Lavandula bipinnata (Scientific Binomial Name), Feather-leaved Lavender (Common English), Shankhpushpi (Ayurvedic), (Unani), Dharu (Hindi), Sankhaholi (Urdu), (Tamil), Ghodegui / Shankhavalli (Marathi), Mangalya kusuma (Sanskrit), Barabhutra (Bengali), Erra vishnukaraantha (Telugu), Vishnukarandi / Vishnukranti / Visnukranti (Kannada), Krisnakranti / Vistnu-clandi(Malayalam). It has been used to scent baths and toiletries since Roman times. In Arabic medicine, the herb is still used today as an expectorant and remedy for chest problems. Lavender has many benefits beyond its wonderful smell. The medicinal properties of its oils can create a deeply calming effect.
Q. How to make lavender tea? What is lavender tea good for?
The flowers can be made into a pleasant-tasting tea taken at night for sleeplessness or during the day for headaches and nervous tension. The same tea will also help to cool feverish conditions, encouraging sweating and thus lowering the body temperature. Here is quick DIY recipe to make lavender tea at home:
- Take 2 teaspoons of lavender flowers.
- Add it to a cup of boiling water.
- Sweeten with a little honey if required.
Q. Is lavender tea good for the heart? Which tea is best for lowering cholesterol?
To treat high cholesterol drink an infusion made with lavender flowers:
- Take 3 cloves of garlic, 2 pinches of lavender and 3 pinches of sage.
- Add 1 cup of almost boiling water.
- Cover and leave to steep for 10 minutes.
- Drink twice daily.
Q. What was the use of lavender essential oil in ancient times? What are some folk remedies associated with it?
It contains many medicinal components, and research has shown that simply inhaling the fragrance can be calming. An essential oil can be steam-distilled from the flowers and is a vital member of the first aid kit.
- Use it diluted (add 10 drops of lavender oil to 1 teaspoon of sunflower or almond oil) as a massage for muscular aches and pains or massage gently into the temples and nape of the neck to relieve tension headaches and migraines.
- The same amount of lavender in an infused St. John’s wort oil base makes a soothing lotion for sunburn and minor scalds and it can also help deter insects if applied to exposed skin. Lavender oil can be applied to the skin in almost any situation involving pain. Massage the oil onto herpes or shingles sores, rheumatic joints, the cheek overlying an aching tooth, or the forehead and temples for a migraine.
- A few drops of oil on a cotton ball plugged into the ear relieves a mild earache.
- Lavender is great in a tea, bath or in a pillow to lend its relaxing aroma to your bedtime routine. For the bath brew a handful of flowers for 15 minutes before straining and adding it to the bathwater.
- The tannins in lavender kill bacteria and help prevent minor cuts and scrapes from becoming infected. Soak a clean cloth in a lavender infusion and apply the compress to the wound.
- If you have diarrhea, use lavender oil to soothe gastric cramps. Add a few drops to a massage oil, and rub gently onto abdomen. It also helps ease intestinal gas. To make an infusion, use 1 or 2 heaping teaspoons of lavender flowers and steep for 10 minutes in a cup of boiling water.
- To ease breathing and loosen congestion, mix essential oil in a base, and rub it directly on chest.