Lavender may be the most widely used of all aromatherapy herbs. The plant itself is beautiful; growing in long purple rows that make you think of Tuscany or Provence. It's romantic; evoking feelings of peace and well-being.
The lavender scent is calming and soothing, and lavender has additional medicinal benefits in the healing burns and wounds, helping digestion, and improving respiratory problems. One of the most useful aromatherapy herbs, lavender is well tolerated even by people with allergies, and does not normally cause skin irritation.
Dried Lavender
Lavender blossoms are formed into wreathes, tied into bunches or braided into wands, then dried. Used decoratively, lavender adds color and texture to a room, and the delicate scent lasts for months. Sometimes the buds are stripped from the stems and made into sachets or used in potpourri. Because it aids sleep, lavender is often sewed into pillows, sometimes called "dream pillows."
Essential Oil
Like other aromatherapy herbs, lavender is most therapeutic as an essential oil (the concentrated sap of the plant, boiled from the flowers and stems). Lavender's essential oils have a wide range of therapeutic uses, including healing wounds and burns, headaches, lung diseases, digestive problems, aiding in sleep and helping lower stress.
When purchasing essential oils, make sure the product is 100% essential oil, and not diluted. (Although, you do need to be careful handling 100% pure essential oil.) Essential oils are best when made from organically-grown aromatherapy herbs, because chemical soil additives can change the scent and lessen the therapeutic nature of the product. Essential oils are rated for purity on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being most pure.
Essential oils are very concentrated and should be used sparingly. A drop or two in an oil diffuser or on a light bulb ring will scent an entire room. Essential oils can be diluted with carrier oils (such as pure rapeseed or safflower oil) to make massage or bath oil, or to add to unscented shampoos, soaps or lotions.
Cream, Lotions and Bath Products
Lavender is often added to bath products because of its calming effect. Luxurious creams and lotions are also calming and romantic. Lavender massage oil helps relax and soothe sore muscles.
Lavender is safe to use on babies because it is gentle and soothing. Lavender baby powder and lotion help cranky babies relax and sleep, and lavender diaper cream is soothing and mildly antiseptic.
Candles and Room Fragrances
Lavender candles and room fragrances, like lavender wreaths, are soothing and romantic, as well as accenting your decor. Using lavender scent throughout your home may help relieve the seasonal affective disorder-type of depression, usually seen during rainy weather and the winter months. The scent of lavender may also help calm agitation in older people with dementia.
Before trading in the aspirin and burn relievers with lavender essential oils, it is important to keep in mind that, as with all aromatherapy herbs, not everyone responds to lavender the same way. Even without any medicinal effect, however, most people enjoy the romantic scent of lavender.
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