Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oil in the market has gained its popularity for its overwhelming medicinal properties and uses. Lavender essential oil is one of the most versatile oils that are believed to have features that help us relax and soothe our senses.
With its multipurpose spectrum, the oil has been reported to be an anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic agent. Its fresh and soft aroma is widely used in various products in the market, such as soaps, creams, shampoo, etc.
Essential oils for sleep, essential oils for weight loss , Lemon Essential Oil and many more health benefits oils are there in the market, a lavender essential oil is known to be an all-rounder and are highly used for all these purposes
Lavender oil has been in use from ancient times in many therapeutic practices due to its known medicinal benefits. It is very often perceived to be the queen of medicinal plants. If you are still looking out for more information about the uses and benefits of lavender essential oil, then you are at the right place because we have summarized all your doubts and curiosity in this article.
So let’s begin with where it all starts
What exactly is lavender essential oil?
Lavender essential oil is essentially a crude extract of the oils derived from the lavender plant; the process of steam distillation primarily prepares them. Utmost care is taken while extracting the oils from the plants.
Lavender essential oils are used for various purposes and are known for its beautiful scent; the oils are mainly extracted from the flower of the plant; it is one of those oils that should be there in your closet no matter what.
About lavender plant:
The plants is not that easy to grow and are primarily found in the natives of Northern Africa and some other regions of the Mediterranean.
The powerful aroma of the lavender plants are mainly from the dried flowers of the plant that hangs from the stem of the plant, these flowers are also edible and are known to be used in baking, seasoning, etc.[1]
How to make lavender oil?
- The primary thing to make lavender oil is to choose the proper buds of lavender flowers where you would want to extract the oil from.
- The buds are dried but not directly in the sunlight; they are placed in a slightly cool and dry place.
- The distillation process needs to be carried out: capturing the buds’ steam as we apply heat and pressure. ‘
- Suppose non-distillation is to be done: using alcohol to grind the buds and filter it. There are several methods that one can follow in order to do so.
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS
Anti-microbial agent
The lavender essential oils are known to be one of the best agents for anti-fungal infections and fight against throat paint, acnes, etc.[2]
Helps to treat anxiety
Essential oils for anxiety are very well researched, and lavender is known to be the most relevant and affected one of all of the other.[3]
Acts as an anti-inflammatory agent
Lavender oil has long been used as an active anti-inflammatory agent; it helps to soothe the pain. Oils have unique ingredients that such as beta-caryophyllene that essentially act as the anti-inflammatory agent.[4]
Assists in the process of wound healing
The lavender essential oil has the potential to heal burns and wounds. Studies show that lavender has a wound healing property and its extracts can help in better development of skin cells, fibroblast, and other potential cells that promotes wound healing process. [5]
Helps to deal with insomnia
Several studies have shown the effects of essential oil for sleep, and although there are a few that help promote sleep, lavender oil tops them all.
Studies show that the use of essential oil helps people to get deeper and longer sleep, lavender essential oils effect on a person’s sleep has been studied by many researchers and most of them state the effectiveness of the oil to improve one’s sleep pattern, quality, and quantity of the sleep.[6]
Helps with headache/sore throat
Lavender essential oil is the go-to essential oil for treating headache and sore throat.
SCIENCE BEHIND LAVENDER OIL BENEFITS
There are various properties of lavender oil that we have seen above. Still, its very interesting to know what is responsible for the benefits we get from the use of essential oil.
The extracts of lavender essential oil contain some beneficial active compounds that help in the process of health care.
Few of these active compounds are:
- Aromatic compounds
- Phenols and polyphenols
- Flavonoids such as apigenin
- Linalool and linalyl acetate
- Cineole and camphor
These are a few of the compounds that help boost our memory, improve skin texture, and help us relax and regulate our mood swings.
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL USES
The wide range and broad-spectrum property of lavender essential oil make it useful in many ways; one can use it for their health purpose, for their hair, skink, and for their home. Thus we have listed down how what are the ways you can use lavender essential oil for various categories.
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR SKIN
Lavender essential oils, as mentioned before, are an excellent anti-microbial agent and also helps with skin textures.
Lavender essential oils help to treat with acne and any fungal infections like candida. Studies have shown that the use of lavender essential oil with some carrier oil when applied topically to some disease helps treat them faster.
It also helps to deal with skin wounds and burns; lavender oil has the property to improve skin texture and produce more elastin and fibroblast cells that are responsible for skin formation.
Where to use it:
- Use for some bug bites
- Vaginal infections
- Use for skin lightening
- Use as an anti-aging agent
- Itchy skin
- For better moisture and hydration
- Use it as a massage oil
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR HAIR
If you have an itchy scalp and are dealing with dandruff issues, lavender essential oils might help you get rid of them.
Daily use of lavender essential oil with your hair oil helps you deal with dandruff and helps in relaxing your head and body at the same time.
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR HOME
Description: Lavender essential oil due to its anti-microbial properties are very often used with cleaning soaps and detergents to in house to clean surfaces and also provide aroma to the house.
Lavender essential oil due to its fantastic aroma will make you want to use it in and around your house. This not only helps in giving a sensation of relaxation but also helps to rejuvenate you and your mind.
Use lavender essential oil as a room freshener or also as a cleaning agent as it is also known for its anti-microbial potential.
Home DIYs are there with lavender essential oil that will help you reduce anxiety and stress in your life as soon as you start using it, people use it due to its better sleep inducing properties.
How to use for home
- – Use it as an air freshener
- – Use it as a cleaning agent
- – Use it for a relaxing bath
- – Use it for removing bugs and mosquitoes
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL FOR HEALTH
Lavender oil, apart from its hair and skin care properties, also helps as a whole for the entire bodily functions such as helps to improve memory, helps with respiratory disorders, etc.
- – Helps with lower back pain
- – Headache
- – menstrual cramps
HOW TO GET BEST LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
You need to check and buy 100% natural lavender oil in order to invest in a good quality essential oil.
There are few criteria’s that you should be looking at before buying the essential oil:
- – Look for organic lavender essential oil
- – Look out for 100% natural product
- – Look for the ingredient lists and recheck it with some useful content
- – Check out for the expiration date
PRECAUTIONS:
- – Do not try to use the essential oil directly on your skin, in the concentrated form.
- – Always dilute it with water or with some other carrier oil to avoid skin burn.
- – Do not consume lavender essential oil in any case.
- – Kindly consult a doctor before using it if you are pregnant or under 18 years.
- – Avoid using it and going out in the sun, its light sensitive.
- – Keep the bottle of the essential oil in the cold and dark place to ensure the oil’s longevity.
- – Keep it away from children.
TAKE AWAY NOTE
Although there are many things to look forward to in lavender essential oil, much research doesn’t show any such difference in one’s body that is much significant and useful. But the positive studies do outnumber the negative ones, and thus although there is a need for more research in this particular arear in order to conclude something, the prospects are ways high, and it’s worth a try.
Lavender essential oil, as seen in this article, has multiuse and can be used according to your need, thus keeping at least one bottle of an organic lavender essential oil will help you deal with so many issues, and that’s commendable.
