I am often asked what the most versatile essential oil is – I always answer with Lavender.
Lavender is probably the most useful, certainly versatile and popular essential oils. It is native to the Mediterranean region but is now cultivated in many countries across the world including here in Australia.
Lavender is more than just a Herb as all parts of the plant are used and the plant produces colour, perfume, flavour and essential oil. Lavender may seem old-fashioned in this modern world – however it is still very effective. Depending on how it is used and the other oils you mix it with Lavender can be either stimulating or relaxing. It is also a powerful antiseptic and healing oil. Excellent for tension, tiredness and depression. Lavender is a very safe oil and can be used in many ways including massage, baths and inhalation. Lavender calms, refreshes, invigorates and lifts the spirits.
I use Lavender in many of my Avalon Essences including my bath soaks, massage blends, herbal tea, new all natural soaps and my healing balm.
Lavender as a second oil in a blend can improve another oil’s therapeutic properties. For example the anti-inflammatory action of Chamomile is strengthened by the addition of Lavender.
Physical benefits from Lavender:- Use to treat
- all inflammations of the skin
- muscle spasms
- pain related to arthritis
- sprains & strains
- headache
- nausea
- burns
- sunburn
- acne
- eczema
- psoriasis
- all wounds
- cuts
- bites and
- scarring.
My Avalon Essences Healing Balm uses shea butter, mango seed butter, jojoba along with Geranium, Lavender & Calendula to soothe, protect and heal skin and is fabulous on scars, cuts & bites.
Emotional benefits:- Use to treat
- nervous tension
- balances emotions
- irritability
- insomnia
- stress
- soothes nervous system
- exhaustion and
- anger.
Here’s just a couple of ways you can use Lavender around your home:-
- To ease stress and to improve the condition of your scalp and hair add a couple of drops of Lavender to your conditioner in the palm of your hand then massage the conditioner and oil into your scalp and hair and leave a couple of minutes before rinsing
- If you hand-wash your delicates add a couple of drops of Lavender to freshen and soften your clothes
- If you are having trouble sleeping add a 3-5 drops to a tissue and place in your pillow case before going to bed
- As an Insect repellent – mix a few drops of lavender oil with a little carrier oil (eg. sunflower oil, almond oil etc) and rub onto skin
- If you have a headache gently massage a couple of drops of lavender oil into your temples
Lavender can also be used in cookery:-
Here is a yummy Lemon Tea Cake with Lavender recipe that I stumbled across
LEMON TEA CAKE WITH LAVENDER
Ingredients:-
- 125g butter
- 1 cup castor sugar
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- ½ cup milk
- 1 and ½ cups self raising flour
- 2 rounded teaspoons of dried Lavender flowers
Method:
- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and beat well
- Add lemon zest and lavender flowers and beat well.
- Add milk and sifted flour in two batches and mix well.
- Grease and paper line (on base) a 20cm cake tin. Pour in cake mixture.
- Bake in preheated 180C oven for 40 minutes.
Check with skewer to test if cake is cooked. Remove cake from the oven and while hot pour topping over the cake. Allow the cake to cool in the tin.
TOPPING:
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup castor sugar
- Mix well
But the best way to enjoy the heady and heavenly scent of Lavender is to unscrew the lid of the bottle bring it right up to your nose and breathe in deeply and let the healing power of Lavender wash right over your body.
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