5 Amazing Benefits of Lavender

Inhaling lavender is known to relax and calm nerves, which makes it great in helping to reduce anxiety and stress.

• Ease yourself into a peaceful sleep by spraying your pillow with a lavender mist, placing a sachet of lavender flowers inside of your pillowcase, and/or adding a few drops of lavender essential oil into a bubble bath. You can also purchase a sleeping mask filled with lavender flowers from several retailers.
• If life has been stressful, a massage with lavender oil will do wonders. It is also a good idea to keep a vial of lavender oil at your desk. When you're feeling stressed or anxious at work, open it up and inhale the scent with slow, deep breaths. This will relax you and it can also help you refocus. Lavender candles, oil diffusers, and room sprays will work too.

A study performed by dermatologists showed that 44% of alopecia patients experienced new hair growth after massaging lavender oil into their scalps daily.

If you want to encourage hair growth or improve the health of your hair:

• Mix 3 Tbsp of olive oil and 3-5 drops of lavender oil.
• Massage mixture all over your scalp then place a shower cap or warm towel over your head.
• After letting it sit for 15 minutes, shampoo your hair as normal.

Popping pain medication can be very convenient when you're dealing with pain but it's certainly not the healthiest thing to do. Give lavender a try. You can receive the pain relieving benefits of lavender from inhalation, applying directly to the skin, and even consuming it.

• Migraine sufferers have benefited greatly from the use of lavender. If you have a headache, apply a drop of lavender oil onto your temples and gently massage in circular motions.
• A lavender rice compress works great for relieving sore muscles, painful joints, and headaches. They can be used hot or cold, depending on your needs. They are very affordable, whether you choose to buy one or make one yourself.
• Lavender tea has been known to help fight pain linked to arthritis, cancer, and menstrual cramps.

Lavender has proven to be very beneficial to the respiratory system due to its antibacterial and expectorant properties. It can help battle colds, bronchitis, and respiratory infections.

• To use lavender as a respiratory treatment, add 5-8 drops of lavender oil to your humidifier. If you do not have a humidifier, add the lavender oil to a bowl of hot water. You will then need to place a towel over your head and lean over the bowl, inhaling the steam for a few minutes per treatment. Make sure not to burn your face by leaning too close to the bowl and close your eyes to avoid irritation.

Lavender is amazing for your skin. It treats and heals rashes, cuts, scars, acne, and burns. Diluted lavender oil or a natural lotion containing lavender oil can be used.

• Lavender provides an almost immediate relief to itchy skin. This is a welcome benefit for those suffering from rashes, bug bites, and even serious conditions like psoriasis.
• Massaging lavender oil on a wound speeds up the healing process and also improves the appearance of scars.
• Lavender can both treat and prevent acne. Applying directly to the pimple gets rid of bacteria and calms the irritated skin. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to your facial cleanser or moisturizer.
• Lavender has been used for well over a century to treat burns. The oil provides pain relief, speeds up the healing process and promotes less scarring. To treat first and second degree burns, run cold water over the burned area then apply 8-10 drops of lavender oil onto a cold or tepid compress and gently apply it to the burn. You may also add aloe vera gel to the lavender oil for a more soothing treatment.

• The scientific name for lavender is Lavandula.
• There are several different types of lavender. The main three are English, French, and Spanish.
• While lavender is one of the milder essential oils, it is recommended to dilute it before applying to the skin. This can be done with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or olive oil. It may also be diluted with water or a cream.
• 1705: The year "lavender" was first referred to as a color in the English language.
• Lavender oil should not be taken orally.
• Lavender is widely used in the culinary world, in both savory and sweet dishes. A good way to introduce yourself to cooking with lavender would be to buy "herbes de provence". It is common in most groceries and contains a mixture of thyme, savory, lavender, rosemary, oregano, and marjoram.
• The scent of lavender can repel pesky mosquitoes.
• You can make honey from the nectar of lavender.