One of the most beautiful things you will ever see is a field of lavender in full bloom. The colors are brilliant and the air seems to shimmer with the scent of the blossoms.
There is much more to the humble lavender than its beauty, though. Over the years, researchers have discovered dozens of uses for the flower and its oils. From health to beauty to cleaning and decorating, There seems to be no end to what lavender can do.
It is becoming more important every day for us to back away from products that are full of unfamiliar chemicals. Using botanicals to create your own concoctions from medicine to furniture polish is one way to keep your environment healthy.
We’ll start with ways the essential oils can improve your health and then move into the more fun uses. Here are 25 surprising applications that will affect our lives in positive ways.
1. Be your healthiest self.
Lavender is rich in antioxidants which are important weapons against many common diseases and may even help prevent cells from cancer damage.
Some researchers are studying the effects of lavender on diabetes and have determined there is some protection from the disease when the oils were used properly.
2. Tame that raging headache.
To ease the pain of migraines, rub lavender essential oil (undiluted) on your temples. Some studies suggest that inhaling the oil from a diffuser relieves. Treatment with lavender seems to help in almost 50% of cases studied. While not a cure, some comfort can be expected.
3. Comfort for a painful ear
Add a few drops of essential oil to some olive oil and warm it slightly. Using an eyedropper, place a few drops into the ear or gently rub a few drops onto the outer ear several times a day.
Of course, if the symptoms last longer than a couple of days or the pain intensifies, see your Doctor.
Related: 14 Healthy Uses of Grapefruit Essential Oil That Will Benefit Your Life
4. Cramps and nausea be gone!
Since lavender is an anti-inflammatory, rubbing the oils into the abdomen can relieve cramps.
The calming scent also helps with nausea. Spraying diluted lavender on skin and clothes is an effective way to utilize its effects.
5. Bring the happy back.
The scent of lavender is a natural mood elevator and may help with depression.
It is shown to alleviate anxiety, insomnia, and depression. The best administration of the lavender would be to have a diffuser by your bed. The scented moisture will surround you all night.
Studies are now underway to determine its effect on dementia and PTSD and they are promising.
6. Soft and tanned and young and lovely…
Mix lavender oil with aloe or coconut oil for an especially effective skin cream. The combination has been shown to regenerate new skin cells. Add the oils to your usual face cream or lotion for a little extra repair work. Since lavender is an anti-bacterial, it can help with acne and eczema
Try it on chapped lips and cold sores. Its ability to reduce inflammation makes it a good remedy for skin redness and conditions such as burns, eczema, and psoriasis. Skin that has been affected by stress also benefits from lavender.
7. Nothing alluring about dry hair and dandruff.
Make a conditioner spray by mixing oils with some warm water in a squirt bottle and spray after shampooing. Between shampoos, put a few drops on your brush and brush through your hair for extra shine. Rub the oil directly onto your scalp if dandruff and flaking skin is the problem.
8. Counting sheep is not the answer.
There are several ways to use the properties of lavender to help you sleep. Place a few drops into your cupped hands and inhale the fragrance. Put a few drops of essential oil on your pillow.
Treat yourself to some lavender tea before bed. Keep a diffuser by your bed so you can benefit from the fragrance all night.
A relaxing bath with a combination of lavender and Epsom salts is always a good idea.
9. Calm down, deep breath.
Inhale from a few drops in your cupped palms. Rub on your temples and wrists. You will feel the calming effects immediately. The relaxing properties of the fragrance make it a natural for therapeutic aromatherapy. It can also be used internally for anxiety and nervous stomachs.
10. Sniffles keeping you awake?
Add a few drops to the water in your vaporizer.
11. Cool it down
Rub the oil directly on burns. It brings down inflammation, reduces pain, and prevents scarring
due to its anti-microbial properties. Results are enhanced when mixed with other essential oils like tea tree or clove.
12. Can I get a back rub?
Rub the oil directly into sore muscles or mix a few drops in a tablespoon of castor oil or coconut oil and massage into the affected area. Smells a lot better than the camphor smell most muscle rubs have and it is gentle on the skin.
Note on the medicinal applications: Always check with Dr if you are on prescription meds to determine if there is a possible interaction. Avoid for a while if scheduled for surgery with anesthesia.
Related: 45 Surprising Uses For Essential Oils That Will Blow Your Mind
13. Something bit me!
Relieve the pain and itching from insect bites by rubbing the oil directly on the skin. You’ll find that it also reduces swelling.
14. A scar is not a sign of character
Rub the oil directly onto the injured tissue as soon as possible. It will promote healing.
15. Getting a little stuffy in here.
Spritz your clothes and bedding with a diluted mixture of lavender oil and water. In the bathroom, a light spray on your towels will freshen the air all day. The anti-bacterial properties will keep the rooms fresher longer.
16. Oh, you smell so good!
Lavender blends well with many other scents or use it alone, rubbed into the skin, or diluting for a softer scent. You can personalize your perfume by adding citrus notes or spices. Commercial perfumes can contain chemicals and other toxins, making natural homemade scents a really fine alternative.
17. Why not countertops?
Lavender is a natural antiseptic which makes it a natural for cleaning countertops in the kitchen or bath. Add lemon juice to lighten the scent.
18. Go away little bug.
To use as a natural insect repellent, rub the oil directly into the skin or spray with a mixture diluted with mineral oil. You can also spray your roses and other garden plants to prevent aphids and other insects from attacking them.
That also keeps the people in the yard a little bit safer from annoying bugs.
19. Deer and rabbit and raccoons, oh my!
If your pests are larger than garden variety insects, lavender repels animals like deer and rabbits. Just spray on plants and vegetation surrounding the area you wish to protect.
Plant lavender bushes around the perimeter of your house to keep mice away. Tuck a few sachets in the corners to discourage them further,
20. Food for thought.
Use lavender to bring excitement to your kitchen. Make lavender ice cubes, add blossoms to ice cream or sprinkle them on top of a cake The blossoms are edible and part of the mint family.
Use very small amounts as a flavor enhancer because you don’t want it to overwhelm the other flavors. It pairs well with balsamic vinegars, honey, and cocoa.
Make sure to use culinary lavender and not the flowers you find in flower shops and grocery stores that may have been treated with pesticides.
21. Make it shine and smell good, too.
Lavender adds natural luster to wood surfaces. Rub directly into the wood or dilute with water for a quick clean-up. There are many “recipes” for lavender furniture polish that you can whip up at home.
Freshen carpets by sprinkling them with a combination of lavender and baking soda. Add a few drops to your laundry. Spray a hand towel with lavender mixture and add to the clothes in the dryer.
Related: 15 Orange Oil Uses and Benefits That Will Astonish You
22. Mold be gone
Since the flower is anti-fungal, spray areas prone to mold and mildew to prevent spread.
To clean up mold or mildew on contact, mix 1/2 gallon of water, 1/3 C vinegar, and 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Rub on surfaces. let it sit a minute then wipe it off. Repeat as needed.
For tough mold, mix Castile soap (to emulsify the oils), 15 drops of essential oils, and alcohol (rubbing alcohol or a high proof Vodka). Shake gently, then spray.
23. Bring flowers.
Lavender adapts well in fresh or dried arrangements. The beautiful color and shape add interest as well as fragrance. The fresh flowers last a long time and are easily dried for future use.
When the flowers dry, harvest the petals and make sachets for your dresser drawers. Your socks and undies will thank you.
24. Make a pretty yard.
Lavender is a perennial shrub that will add drama to your garden. It works well in flower beds and makes a beautiful hedge. Try clusters along a path. A real plus is that it is disease resistant.
25. No moths on my woolens, please!
The flowers smell better than cedar or mothballs and is just as effective in shooing away moths from our sweaters. Sprinkle dried lavender in your dresser drawers and hang little sachets in your closet as a deterrent to wardrobe culprits.
By now, you must be intrigued!
The lavender flower and its essential oils can make you feel better physically and mentally, make you look better, clean your house, keep the deer and moths and mold away, give your meals an exotic touch, and make you and everything around you smell terrific.
For most people, lavender is safe to use but you should always to check with your doctor before you ingest any supplement in case it might interfere with any ongoing treatment. That would be a rare occurrence. Most studies show even children can use it safely.
With lavender oils, you can replace almost every cleaning and beauty solution in your home with a natural, homemade product, free of chemicals.
This video from ActiveBeat is not only filled with more helpful information, but it also has wonderful images from sweeping fields of lavender to close-ups of the blossoms. Enjoy.
Now that you have discovered the dynamic benefits of lavender essential oil, it’s time to try it out yourself.
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Lavender has calming effects on the body and mind, reducing stress, anxiety, as well as hysteria. Because of its antiseptic properties it can be used to heal minor wounds, cuts, bee stings, and protects against minor infections throughout the body.