Lavender is Among the Most Versatile of Plants in Herbal Medicine

(Article by Brandon Scott)

“Meanwhile, spring came, and with it the outpourings of Nature. The hills were soon splashed with wild flowers; the grass became an altogether new and richer shade of green; and the air became scented with fresh and surprising smells -- of jasmine, honeysuckle, and lavender.”
– Dalai Lama XIV, Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama

A staple of the herbal cabinet is lavender, for it is a powerful plant that offers a myriad of medicinal effects, from soothing to sedating to purifying, to only name a few. Among the world’s most intoxicating scents, ranging from sweet to floral with a hint of herbaceous intensity, lavender is a memorable and unique aroma that can soothe with the briefest inhalation. While it’s unfortunate that it’s not springtime as the Dalai Lama described above, and only the start to winter among us Ohioans, stores of dried lavender and the essential oil can come in handy all year long.

Lavender can be used in a tea or as an extract, a topical or the oil can be employed via Aromatherapy. As I write this article, I have the essential oil diffusing throughout my office and I can feel my mind… relaxing and… my thoughts… moving… slower.

Anyway, the most important health benefits of lavender may be its ability to relieve stress, improve and stabilize mood, promote relaxation and sleep, soothe nerves and anxiety, and is a capable of performing as a powerful anti-inflammatory when used topically. Lavender is also known to aid in the rejuvenation of aged, dry and irritated skin, while proving effective on wounds and injuries with use as an antiseptic. Some people have reported that lavender can assist in pain relief while speeding up wound healing time, too. Known also for its positive effects on hair, lavender is celebrated as an antimicrobial that may prevent and kill head lice, while also actively promoting the stimulation of new hair growth.

Many studies have shown how lavender can work positively for memory, mood, and cognitive function, while also being effective in treating stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, as well as soothing headaches and digestion issues like vomiting, nausea, upset stomach, intestinal gas, and abdominal swelling. The essential oil alone can have a list longer than this article of benefits and suggested applications, which is why it’s found in many of our medicinal salves, tinctures, and teas.

Personally, I use lavender for mood, stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. For about six months in early 2018, I struggled with making it through the night, due to the joining of insomnia, back pain and anxiety. This spell affected me so much so that it created a lot of tension in our home life and I struggled to think clearly, and my productivity rate suffered for it. With the help of what is now our Dream Balm and treatment from a physical therapist for my back, I’ve seen a total change in my ability to sleep through the night, as well as a major reduction in my anxiety levels.

Every night, I simply take a small dollop of our Dream Balm and melt it in my palms before massaging the salve into my feet. I then breathe in the aroma of the salve with deep, long breaths and simply relax back into my pillow (which I now spray with a bedtime pillow spray that’s infused with lavender), and within minutes, like clockwork, I fall asleep, awaking the next morning, relaxed and ready to meet the day. It’s been transformative for me.

Even Jenni has her own story of the positive effects of lavender: Last month while she burned designs into her holiday wood ornaments, she twiddled the knob on her woodburner, thinking she turned it off to let it cool down before exchanging the tip size. She went off to make a batch of soap and when she came back, she quickly grabbed for the hot tip, only to realize she had in-fact boosted the temperature to the max. Her skin melted in that brief encounter, and so she treated herself with our lavender essential oil and our Comfrey Salve, and she reports today that it never bubbled up, swelled, or bled, and the searing pain ebbed away and stayed away. How cool is that?

We can make no promises or guarantees about how well lavender can work for you, but if you suffer from any of the above mentioned ailments, give it a try. If you’re suffering from insomnia, stress or anxiety, maybe try out our Dream Balm and see if it might work for you. Our Dream Balm is a potent medicinal salve that can be effective for easing tension, stress and relaxation, and will work as a sleep aid that has sedative and anti-anxiety properties. We start our Dream Balm with sun tea blend of Lavender, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and Hops in a mix of moisturizing oils, and finish with a wide range of powerful essential oils. We always focus on medicinal strength, so a little goes a long way.

Dream Balm ingredients: Infused Oil of Lavender, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Hops With Sweet Almond Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil. Beeswax, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Camphor, Lavender, Vetiver, Neroli, Patchouli, Sweet Orange, Cedarwood, Sandalwood.

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​*The information presents in this article has not reviewed by the FDA. We do not make any claims, promises, or about the health benefits of any products. All statements are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease, but rather to be used for entertainment and educational purposes. We only offer our opinions and resources based on research, product testing, and customer reviews. Use at your own risk. We are not responsible for accidents, misuse, or adverse reactions.

(Photo by vermazeren via Flickr)

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