Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular and versatile essential oils used in aromatherapy. Distilled from the plant Lavandula angustifolia , the oil promotes relaxation and believed to treat anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, depression , insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps.
In essential oil practices, lavender is a multipurpose oil. It is purported to have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, as well as antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifying, hypotensive, and sedative effects.
Lavender essential oil and its properties have been widely studied. Here's a look at the research. While there's currently a lack of large-scale clinical trials testing lavender's effects on people with anxiety , a number of studies show that the oil may offer some anti-anxiety benefits.
Several studies have tested lavender's anxiety-reducing effects in specific populations. In addition, a pilot study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in indicates that lavender-essential-oil-based aromatherapy may help soothe anxiety in high-risk postpartum women. In an experiment involving 28 women who had given birth in the previous 18 months, researchers found that four weeks of twice-weekly, minute-long aromatherapy sessions helped alleviate depression in addition to lowering anxiety levels.
There's also some evidence that ingesting lavender oil may help relieve anxiety. A more recent review of the literature found 5 studies , , , and showed benefits ins participants with moderate to severe anxiety. Several studies have shown lavender essential oil may help promote sleep and fight insomnia. A study published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine found a combination of sleep hygiene techniques and lavender essential oil therapy helped college students get a better night's sleep than sleep hygiene alone.
The study of 79 students with self-reported sleep problems also found inhaling lavender at bedtime improved daytime energy and vibrancy. A study published in Holistic Nursing Practice confirms lavender's effect on sleep. In this study of 30 residents of a nursing home, lavender aromatherapy was found to improve sleep onset, quality, and duration in an elderly population. Lavender essential oil may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction in some individuals.
If you experience nausea, vomiting, or a headache after using lavender, discontinue use immediately. Because consuming lavender essential oil can have toxic effects, this remedy should not be ingested unless under the supervision of a medical professional. There is no recommended daily allowance for lavender essential oil. According to the principles of aromatherapy, breathing in the scent of lavender essential oil or applying lavender essential oil to the skin transmits messages to the limbic system, a brain region known to influence the nervous system and help regulate emotion.
Free radicals are partly responsible for fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Lavender oil is full of antioxidants , which help protect you from the free radicals.
To use lavender oil for wrinkles, use a few drops of the essential oil along with coconut oil. The mixture can be used as a moisturizer once or twice a day. Painful inflammation can be treated with lavender oil.
To treat the inflammation on a burn , combine one to three drops of lavender oil and one to two teaspoons of moringa or coconut oil. You can apply the mixture three times a day.
If you have a sunburn, a lavender oil spray can help. In a spray bottle, combine a quarter cup of aloe vera juice, 2 tablespoons of distilled water, 10 to 12 drops of lavender oil and jojoba oil. Shake the bottle and spray onto your sunburn. Use the spray two or three times a day until the sunburn heals. If you have a burn, cut, scrape, or another wound, lavender oil may help speed up the wound-healing process. In a study , researchers found that lavender oil promotes the healing of skin tissue.
To use lavender oil on small wounds, mix three or four drops of lavender oil together with a few drops of coconut or tamanu oil. Apply the mixture on your wound with a cotton ball.
If your wound has already healed, lavender oil can reduce remaining scars as well. Lavender oil does double duty for insect bites.
It acts as an insect repellent, and it can relieve itching after a bite occurs. Many commercial mosquito repellents contain lavender oil. Both candles and sprays can be used to repel mosquitos and other bugs. You can add seven drops to the candle and put it outdoors. For a spray, mix eight ounces of water and four drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle and shake it.
Insect bites cause redness, itching, and pain. One study found that lavender fragrance could have a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in female college students. It is sold as a supplement only and should not replace any prescribed course of treatment. If you choose to use this essential oil, the FDA does not monitor these products.
There may be concerns about purity, safety, or quality. Only purchase essential oils from reputable companies. If you are already taking the above, seek medical advice before adding lavender to your drug regimen. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine NEJM revealed that repeated use of lavender oil on the skin might trigger prepubertal gynecomastia , a condition that causes enlarged breast tissue in boys before puberty.
The safety of taking lavender during pregnancy or while breast-feeding has also not been confirmed. Discuss any use of essential oils, herbs, or supplements with your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. As lavender is thought to slow down the central nervous system , doctors advise patients to stop using lavender at least 2 weeks before surgery.
We look at the eight best essential oils for sunburn. Vitamins E and C may help, as well as lavender, tea tree, and others. Included is information on…. Some essential oils can help ease the itch of a bug bite, including peppermint and menthol, tea tree, and lavender oil. However, there is still much…. Essential oils may help treat some allergies, especially when the reaction leads to breathing problems or affects the skin. Find out more about the…. Aromatherapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses essential oils to improve a person's health or mood.
Find out about the oils and how they…. Not only is cinnamon delicious, but adding it to your diet might be beneficial to your health. However, besides coconut oil, lots of beautiful and amazing things from the earth can be beneficial to us in a multitude of ways. Lavender oil. This pretty, purple plant has powerful benefits. Some studies have shown it's even an effective treatment for medical conditions dealing with neurological disorders of the nervous system , while others have shown that lavender essential oil can help with insomnia , hair loss , anxiety, stress , and postoperative pain.
Be sure to do your research. Fortunately, Nicholson pointed out the major difference between types of lavender oils that's important to be aware of. Lavender oils are simply perfume oils that are unlikely to contain any beneficial properties that are found in lavender essential oils. Lavender oil is not even derived from a lavender plant. Just to give you an idea of the volume of the herb on the market, " there are over 40 species of lavender discovered to date and over varieties ," says Nicholson.
These different kinds of lavender produce oils with differing chemical compositions, resulting in essential oils that can be more suitable for particular issues than others. To determine the authenticity of an oil or company, Nicholson suggests looking at the pricing of lavender essential oils —if it's cheap, it's safe to say it's probably low-grade or diluted by production and manufacturing practices used by the company.
Lavender is a favorite essential oil of many for its versatility. Read on for all the benefits of lavender oil you'll love.
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