Lavender, the most versatile and best-loved of all the essential oils, a first aid kit in a bottle. There are many varieties of lavender but Lavandula angustifolia 'Avice Hill'is the most popular, the most therapeutically active and the safest. It is one of the most commonly used essential oils in aromatherapy; producing a pharmacological and psychological effect on our bodies through its calming, soothing, healing and balancing properties. It is absorbed into the body through the skin, the lungs and the nasal chamber. Safe to use, cost effective, easily available, holistic; lavender essential oil is the ideal complementary medicine for home use.
Application of Lavender Oil
There are several ways in which lavender essential oil can be applied:
Application to the skin:
Baths – add up to 5 drops of oil to your fully run bath water.
Neat – 1 or 2 drops can be applied neat to the skin.
Massage – gently massage the body with a blend of 10 - 15 drops of lavender oil and 30ml of sweet almond oil.
Inhalation:
Steam – add a few drops of oil to a bowl of hot water, inhale under a towel.
Neat – add 1 or 2 drops to a handkerchief and place inside your pillow case.
Indirect – place a few drops in a room vaporiser or diffuser.
Uses of Lavender Oil
Skin
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, stimulates growth of healthy skin cells and reduces scarring; an antiseptic & an analgesic.
Used to assist treatment of: acne, insect bites, minor burns, bruises, sunburn, scarring and stretch marks.
Application: apply neat for minor burns, insect bites and cuts. Apply in a massage oil blend to bruises.
Nervous system
Properties: Soothing, calming, balancing, relaxing; a sedative, analgesic, antidepressant & a tonic.
Used to assist treatment of: headaches, insomnia, nervous tension, anxiety, mood swings, stress and PMS.
Cancer: used palliatively to improve wellbeing and reduce anxiety.
Application: apply 1 or 2 drops neat to the temples or back of the neck for headaches, migraine and insomnia. Use in baths and gentle massage, applied directly to pillow or indirectly in vaporisers and diffusers.
Respiratory system
Properties: Anti-inflammatory, an expectorant, decongestant, antiseptic, analgesic & a sedative.
Used to assist treatment of: bronchial congestion, coughs & colds, influenza, sore throats, croup & laryngitis.
Application: chest rub using massage oil, steam inhalation, applied directly to pillow or indirectly in room diffusers.
Babies & Infants:
* The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy infants be placed on their backs for sleep, as this is the safest position for an infant to sleep.
Properties: Soothing, calming, relaxing; an analgesic, antiseptic & a sedative.
Used to assist treatment of: fretfulness (e.g. with teething problems), insomnia, eczema & nappy rash.
Application: Massage: newborn baby 1 drop and a 2 to 12 month old baby 3 drops in 30 ml sweet almond oil. Massage baby’s body avoiding eyes, mouth and genitals.
Inhalation: 1 or 2 drops in a room vaporiser/diffuser. Bath: add 1 drop to bath water.
Pregnancy:
It is recommended that essential oils are only used during pregnancy under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist.
Adverse Effects:
Generally regarded as non-irritant and non-sensitising. However over-use of the oil in sensitive individuals could lead to contact dermatitis/contact allergy, especially with the use of neat oil.
Interactions:
Could potentiate effects of sleeping tablets, sedatives and antidepressants if used concurrently.
References:
University of Otago, Canterbury Medical Library, Complementary & Alternative medicine section.
*KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN* *NOT TO BE TAKEN INTERNALLY* *AVOID DURING PREGNANCY*