Lavender - The super plant that should be under your nose
Lavender is as old as humankind. Traced back 2,500 years, this beautifully-scented herb has been used in the following ways: perfume, disinfectant, deodorant, aphrodisiac and insect repellant.
Did you know lavender was also used in ancient times to tame lions and tigers? Perhaps ancient peoples intuitively knew what researchers are finding out about lavender...it calms anxiety and provides natural stress relief. And that's not all -- lavender has a long list of medicinal properties, making it a natural health superstar.
These days, lavender is enjoying renewed popularity as an alternative to conventional drug treatments.
LAVENDER AND RELAXATION
Lavender is known as a calming and relaxing herb and has frequently been used for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and natural stress relief.
One recent study discovered that the scent of lavender increases the time you spend in deep (slow wave) sleep, though the effects were stronger for women than for men. Other findings suggest that lavender reduces the severity of depression when taken concurrently with an antidepressant.
While lavender aromatherapy can help with your sleep and mood, it also has a wide range of health benefits.
LAVENDER AND YOUR HEALTH
Throughout history, people have turned to lavender for all kinds of ailments including acne treatment, skin disorders, digestive complaints, pain relief, and to prevent and treat infections.
While much of the evidence that supports the medicinal use of lavender is anecdotal, scientists are starting to research the effects of lavender on the body and have discovered that lavender has anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Lavender has also been shown to reduce the progression of candida albicans and may be an effective treatment for other infections.
In combination with other oils, lavender was found to slow the growth of breast cancer tumors in mice.
Aromatherapists feel that lavender essential oil is the most versatile because of its many healing properties and considers it one of the best essential oils to have on hand.
LAVENDER HAS BEEN USED FOR:
- Pain relief
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle aches and sprains
- Menstrual cramps
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Relaxation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Inducing sleep
- Digestive distress, gas and colic
- Inflammation
- Burns
- Insect bites
- Chicken Pox
- Acne treatment
- Dermatitis
- Insect repellant
- Dry skin
- Muscle relaxant
SOURCES OF LAVENDER
Lavender grows naturally in dry, sunny, rocky areas and is native to the Mediterranean. France is the world leader in lavender trade, but it can be grown anywhere if you select the right variety and provide ideal growing conditions.
Commercially, lavender is already in many personal care products, although most of the time, it is in trace amounts and combined with chemicals that are not ideal for your skin or your health. If you want to experiment with the many uses of lavender, it is available fresh, dried and powdered, and as an essential oil.
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from the plant, making them 70 times more potent than the plant itself!
Shop the Lavender & Pine beard oil from the drop down box in the shop.
Available in 30mL & 50mL varieties.