Lavender most likely got its name from the Latin root word lavare which means to wash.
This essential oil is an herbal mixture of naturally occurring phytochemicals derived from the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) and is obtained through distillation of the lavender flower.
It is one of the most popular essential oils on the market because of its fresh, sweet scent along with many health and beauty uses.
Lavender essential oil, due to its fragrance, can be found in many soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and sachets.
It has been used for a long time in baths to help purify the body and soul and used to remedy many health problems like insomnia, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
The calming, relaxing, anti-fungal, carminative, sedative and antibacterial properties of lavender oil make it a good addition to a healthy life style.
Here are 14 great lavender essential oil uses you should try
1. lavender oil to help sleeping good
Are you stressed from a long day at work and can't seem to relax or just having trouble sleeping? Don't forget to have the lavender essential oil because it is widely known for its sedative properties.
For years, lavender was often put under ones’ pillow at night to help them rest.
Recent research concluded that people who smelled lavender essential oil before bed had a 20% increase in their quality of sleep.
Research also concluded that people who smelled lavender at bedtime slept more soundly and felt more energetic.
But, you may be thinking how to use lavender oil for sleep: Here is the way to use it for a better night rest, just place a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow or in a diffuser, and yes, it is that simple.
2. Lavender essential oil treats parasite infections
Parasites are organisms that live and thrive in our bodies or on our skin.
Some of the more common parasites that we are familiar with are malaria, ringworms, roundworms, tapeworms, toxoplasmosis, bedbugs, and scabies.
Lavender essential oil contains insecticidal and antifungal properties and can be used in cleaning and laundry to deter or kill any parasites living in the home.
The antimicrobial property of lavender oil helps kill worms and protozoans.
3. Lavender oil is a mood stabilizer
Lavender oil has been used for centuries as a mood stabilizer, antidepressant, and to improve intellect.
The lavender essential oil contains phytochemicals like alpha-terpineol, borneol, lavandulyl acetate, camphor, and pinene that have healthy mood boosting effects.
Along with all this, it has also been shown to increase alertness while relieving anxiety and helping you concentrate and improve memory.
4. It relieves anxiety and depression
Throughout history, the lavender essential oil has been used for anxiety and depression, either by taking internally or by smelling or sniffing of the oil.
Anxiety is a common disruptor of many people's lives today.
It can be brought on by the stresses of everyday life and can result in the long-term chronic anxiety and depression as well as difficulty sleeping.
When used in aromatherapy, lavender oil was shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression.
One research shows that when patients used 80mg of lavender oil every day for three months, anxiety and depression were reduced and sleep improved significantly.
Not only this, but there are many studies that support the anti-depressive and calming effect of the lavender essential oil.
5. Lavender essential oil improves blood pressure
However, there is supposed to be no exact cause of high blood pressure. But, the long-term sleep disturbance could be a potential risk for high blood pressure.
This study also clarifies that insomnia (sleep disturbance) and high blood pressure (hypertension) often coexist.
But, with the essence of lavender essential oil, you could improve your sleep and so your blood pressure.
According to a study that was published by the Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, the lavender essential oil has sedative properties and its application promotes deep sleep in young adults.
Some of other beneficial properties of the lavender essential oil consist of calming and relaxing properties that are also useful if someone is diagnosed with high blood pressure.
According to a study published in the Hindawi, inhaling of essential oils found to be effective in reducing the blood pressure in prehypertensive and hypertensive people.
The goodness of the lavender essential oil is not limited to this only; it has also anticonvulsant, vasodilating, and anti-inflammatory properties that promote good health.
6.Lavender essential oil promotes hair regrowth
Hair loss has been a common problem in the United States. Here is the latest report from the statisticbrain. This clearly shows that out of 321 million people of U.S., 56 million women and men are experiencing hair loss.
All of us lose hair every day; in-fact losing 50 to 60 hairs a day is normal.
But, if you lose more than that then it is something to be taken seriously. This could be alopecia areata, a medical condition that results in some people losing their hairs excessively. In this condition, the hair follicles are weakening because the immune system mistakenly attacks there and obstructs hair re-growth.
But, the lavender essential oil is a natural way to help with this problem. It is regenerative and rejuvenating and found in many hair products.
In a Scottish study, the efficacy of some essential oils including lavender essential oil was monitored in people diagnosed with alopecia areata. The study found that people who were massaged with essential oils have improved their condition.
7. Using lavender essential oil improves skin condition
Lavender has long been used for its ability to nourish, soothe, and soften the skin.
The astringent and anti-bacterial qualities of it make it good for people with oily or acne-prone skin.
It has also ability to reduce the skin redness and skin inflammation and is good for many skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even burns.
Another good thing about this oil is, it is absorbed quickly into the skin making it great for new cell growth and skin regeneration.
8. It helps reducing pain and calm down
Whether you are having acute or chronic, long-term aches and pains, lavender oil can be used to help relieve pain and soothe the body.
It is equally helpful in relieving muscle cramps, strains, headaches, neuralgia, mood swings and calming down the stress.
The good things of this essential oil do not end up here, it has also been used during labor to help the mother calm down and help soothe the pain of contractions, as well as for pain relief in the first few days of post-partum care.
A study which was conducted by the Department of Anesthesiology, New York University Medical Center, found that the postoperative use of lavender essential oil is good for the pain control of patients.
Another study also favors the analgesic behavior of lavender oil in pediatric patients.
9. It repels fleas and ticks
Lavender oil is a great natural alternative to repel fleas and ticks because it has insecticidal properties and is not harmful to people, pets, or the environment.
Lavender oil can be added to any pet shampoo or can be made into a spray with water that is great for spraying around the feet and ankles of both animals and humans and helps repel fleas and ticks.
10. Helps in Allergies
Allergies cause our nasal passages to become inflamed resulting in seasonal allergy symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, wheezing or coughing.
Lavender oil is anti-inflammatory, helps relieves headaches, and is a natural antihistamine.
It can be combined with lemons and peppermint oil in water and swished and swallowed, made into a capsule and taken orally, added to a diffuser or rubbed onto the back of the neck in order to help relieve allergy symptoms.
11. Lavender essential oil helps lice removal
Lavender oil has insecticidal properties that make it a great natural alternative for treating and preventing lice.
It works to suffocate and kill the lice which are already there and can be used as a preventative treatment to repel lice and prevent more infestations.
Here is how to use the lavender essential oil for lice removal:
Apply a few drops of oil onto hair and leave for two hours.
Shampoo and rinse hair, then using a nit comb, comb through hair removing any nits you see.
You can keep on doing this for about ten days to see the positive outcomes of lavender oil for lice removal.
You can also place a few drops of lavender oil on your child's comb every day before brushing hair as a preventative measure.
Lavender oil may not be safe for children under two so consult your doctor before using.
12. It lowers elevated cholesterol levels
Stress has a lot bad to do with our health. It can also elevate our cholesterol levels.
According to Dr. Stuart Seale” Stress increases cholesterol levels not only for short-terms but also for long terms”. But, using the lavender essential oil can help you getting your cholesterol numbers at the good level because it reduces stress and anxiety.
13. Helps in healing wounds faster
Lavender essential oil also promotes faster healing of wounds. The latest study on rats has confirmed the fact.
14. It has antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants are essential to fight harmful free radicals in the body that cause cell level damages to our body. But, the antioxidant properties of lavender oil maintain the health of the body.
Conclusion
Lavender is generally safe for most adults when taking orally, topically or inhaled in safe amounts.
However, lavender oil has hormonal effects that could possibly be unsafe for young boys who have not reached puberty.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender oil and should not be used two weeks before any surgery, as its use along with surgical anesthesia could slow down the central nervous system to unsafe levels.
Lavender oil on its own has sedative properties and should not be taken in conjunction with any other sedative medications.
Lavender oil could cause drowsiness so care should be taken in certain activities and as always consult your doctor before using any medications, oils, or supplements.
Whether you are looking to brighten skin, soothe nerves or anxieties, improve sleep or just calm down and relax, lavender oil is a great addition to your arsenal of natural ways to improve and maintain good health.