Lavender

Lavender

Latin Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Family: Lamiaceae

Part used: Flower.
Energetics: Bitter, Cool with warming potential, Restoring.
Iris: All types
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

Safe alongside Herb
  • Amoxicillin
  • Diazepam
  • Digoxin
  • Erythromycin
  • Imipramine

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Avoid if sensitive to the Lamiaceae family
  • Therapeutic amounts avoided in early pregnancy due to emmenagogue effects. Ok in third trimester.
  • Internal use of the oil in pregnancy should be avoided.

ACTIONS

  • Anti-depressive
  • Analgesic
  • Sedative
  • Antispasmodic
  • Carminative
  • Tonic to nerves
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-protozoal
  • Neuroprotective
  • Astringent
  • Uterine tonic
  • Prostate tonic
  • Anti-ulcer
  • Anti-oxidant (rosmarinic acid)
  • Anti-convulsant
  • Anti-neoplastic
  • Rubefacient
  • Cholagogue
  • Diaphoretic

Main Constituents

  • Flavonoids (luteolin)
  • Coumarins
  • Triterpene (ursolic acid)
  • Volatile oil up to 3%
  • Monoterpenes (borneol, carvacrol, cineole, limonene, up to 35%, linalool up to 55%, linalyl acetate, thymol)
  • Phenols
  • Sterols
  • Tannin up to 10%.

Main Uses

Antispasmodic
Digestive System: Flatulence, IBS, Colic.
Skin: Bruises, Cuts, Burns, Eczema, Nappy rash, Acne, Stimulates tissue repair and minimises scar formation, Varicose ulcers, Insect bites, Stings, Episiotomy healer.
Lavender oil can be useful in treating LPS-induced chronic wounds by decreasing the inflammation via inhibiting caspase 11 mediated macrophages pyroptosis.
Gargle: Sore throats, Tonsillitis, Gingivitis, Mouth ulcers, Toothache, Cough: can be used as an infusion or tincture due to its antimicrobial, decongestant, and expectorant actions
Circulatory: Palpitations, Fainting.
Mental/Emotional: Anxiety, Depression, Amnesia.
Nervous system: Nervous headache, Neuralgia, Motion sickness, Migraine, Its floral scent having a soothing and calming effect, the flowers can be used in tinctures and infusions to ease stress and improve the sleep quality.
Musculo-Skeletal System: Rheumatism, Arthritic pain, Gout, Muscular tension.

Infections:
Bacteria: Atrobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginitis, H. pylori, MRSA, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis.
Fungi: Aspergillus, Candida, Trichophyton rubrum.
Protozoa: Giardia, Trichomonas vaginalis

More About Lavender

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, Middle East and India and has been used for at least 2,500 years. The name Lavender comes from the Latin word ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash’. Many ancient societies used this herb in baths, beds, clothes, on their bodies and in their hair.
The ancient Egyptians used Lavender during mummification. Romans used lavender oils for bathing and cooking. The flower’s soothing and refreshing characteristics as well as the insect-repellent effects of the fragrance added to the value of the herb in ancient times.
Dioscorides, the Greek physician of the Roman army used lavender to relieve indigestion, sore throats, headaches and to treat the wounds.
An English herbalist from sixteenth century considered lavender good for “all griefs and pains of the head and brain.”
The French biochemist Margueritte Maury developed her own method of aromatherapy massage used now around the world. The doctors used lavender during the WWII to treat the wounds.
Lavender is particularly good at releasing spasm from anywhere in the body, especially of the lungs and bowel. The volatile oils are effective against fungi and bacteria and the essential oil of Lavender can be added to a base as an effective agent for Trichophyton, eczema, burns, head lice and dandruff, as well as speed the healing of tissue after childbirth.
It can be added to water for use as a mouthwash when there are loose teeth or dental pain or added to water and alcohol to create an insect repellent, along with peppermint and lemon essential oils.
Lavender tea or tincture can be taken for stress-related symptoms, such as headaches or insomnia. It lifts the spirits and restores energy. It can selectively inhibit either sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous functions, depending on need. The calming, relaxing action can help in cases of anxiety, anger, depression and aid in acute emotional crises (family crisis, caffeine/sugar/drug addiction, explosive feelings).
Lavender combines well with Damiana, Oat seed, Holy basil and Rosemary.

Recipes:


Lavender Calendula Gel

Ingredients:

  • 118g of aloe vera gel
  • 1 tablespoon dried lavender buds or 3 tablespoons fresh lavender buds
  • 1 tablespoon dried calendula petals or 3 tablespoons fresh calendula petals

Directions:

  • Mix together the aloe vera gel, lavender, and calendula in an ovenproof glass container.
  • Heat the mixture gently, until very hot but not boiling. Do this by placing the container in a water bath on the stovetop.
  • Let the mixture cool completely and sit for 24 hours.
  • Strain out all of the flower petals and solids and pour into a clean container.

To use:
Massage into clean skin or use as a spot treatment for minor cuts, scrapes, and bites.

Relaxing Lavender Oatmeal Soak:

This is perfect for relaxing and also soothing for dry, sensitive skin. It contains oatmeal, baking soda, and lavender all of which have healing properties and can be used by all skin types. This bath soak works well in calming the skin especially if you have a bad rash, sunburn, or insect bites.

Ingredients:

  • 236g of dried lavender buds
  • 472g of whole oats
  • 118g of baking soda

Directions:

  • Place all the ingredients inside a food processor or blender.
  • Grind until you have a smooth fine powder. The powder should have the consistency of whole-grain flour.
  • Pour into a clean airtight container.

To use:
Pour 118g of the mixture into your bath as you fill the tub.
You can also fill a muslin tea bag or tie up the bath mixture inside a square of cotton fabric and toss it into the tub.

    References


    Anxiety and Sleep quality

    Aromatherapy: The Effect of Lavender on Anxiety and Sleep Quality in Patients Treated With Chemotherapy.
    The authors compared trait anxiety values before and after chemotherapy and found a significant difference in the lavender group. In addition, a significant change in PSQI measurements before and after chemotherapy was observed.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29547610/
    Karadag, E., Samancioglu, S., Ozden, D. and Bakir, E. (2017), Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality
    and anxiety of patients. Nurs Crit Care, 22: 105-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12198
    Woelk, H., & Schläfke, S. (2010). A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil
    preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine :
    international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 17(2), 94–99.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.10.006
    Lillehei, Angela Smith. (2014). Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy via Inhalation and Sleep Hygiene on
    Sleep in College Students with Self-reported Sleep Issues. Retrieved from the University of
    Minnesota Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/165750.
    Ozkaraman, A., Dügüm, Ö., Özen Yılmaz, H., & Usta Yesilbalkan, Ö. (2018). Aromatherapy: The Effect of Lavender on Anxiety and Sleep Quality in Patients Treated With Chemotherapy. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 22(2), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1188/18.CJON.203-210

    Anxiety

    The Effect of Music Therapy and Aromatherapy with Chamomile-Lavender Essential Oil on the Anxiety of Clinical Nurses: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
    The results showed that the interventions of music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil could reduce the anxiety of nurses.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32341707/

    Wound healing

    The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence.
    The current body of literature suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of lavender essential oil in wound healing.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32589447/

    Migraine headache

    Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.
    The present study suggests that inhalation of lavender essential oil may be an effective and safe treatment modality in acute management of migraine headaches.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22517298/

    Dental anxiety

    Can lavender oil inhalation help to overcome dental anxiety and pain in children? A randomized clinical trial.
    Aromatherapy with lavender oil relieves the child by reducing the level of anxiety and facilitates dental treatment. During surgical procedures such as local anesthesia and tooth extraction, lavender oil inhalation decreases pain levels of children.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32030454/

    Sleep Quality

    Effect of Inhaled Lavender and Sleep Hygiene on Self-Reported Sleep Issues: A Randomized Controlled Trial
    Lavender and sleep hygiene together, and sleep hygiene alone to a lesser degree, improved sleep quality for college students with self-reported sleep issues, with an effect remaining at follow-up.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26133206/

    Neuropathic Pain

    Rivaz, M., Rahpeima, M., Khademian, Z., Dabbaghmanesh, M. H. (2021). The effects of aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil on neuropathic pain and quality of life in diabetic patients: A randomized clinical trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 44, 101430.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101430

    Further Research on Lavender

    You, J., Shin, Y. K., Seol, G. H. (2024). Alleviating effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and its major components on postherpetic pain: a randomized blinded controlled trial. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 24(1), 54.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04362-z

    Lu, Y. Y., Lu, C. C., Huang, C. L., Tsai, H. P., Wang, W. T., Zhang, Z. H., Wu, C. H. (2022). Linalyl Acetate Ameliorates Mechanical Hyperalgesia Through Suppressing Inflammation by TSLP/IL-33 Signaling. Neurochemical research, 47(12), 3805–3816.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-022-03763-1

    Sasannejad, P., Saeedi, M., Shoeibi, A., Gorji, A., Abbasi, M., Foroughipour, M. (2012). Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. European neurology, 67(5), 288–291.
    https://doi.org/10.1159/000335249

    Shahram Rafie, Forough Namjoyan, Fereshteh Golfakhrabadi, Fatemeh Yousefbeyk, Alireza Hassanzadeh, Effect of lavender essential oil as a prophylactic therapy for migraine: A randomized controlled clinical trial, Journal of Herbal Medicine, Volume 6, Issue 1,2016, Pages 18-23,ISSN 2210-8033,
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2016.01.003.

    Ebrahimi, H., Mardani, A., Basirinezhad, M. H., Hamidzadeh, A., Eskandari, F. (2022). The effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and stress in older community-dwelling people: A randomized controlled trial. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 18(3), 272–278.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.012

    Hay, I. C., Jamieson, M., Ormerod, A. D. (1998). Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Archives of dermatology, 134(11), 1349–1352.
    https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.134.11.1349

    Bungau, A. F., Radu, A. F., Bungau, S. G., Vesa, C. M., Tit, D. M., Purza, A. L., & Endres, L. M. (2023). Emerging Insights into the Applicability of Essential Oils in the Management of Acne Vulgaris. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 28(17), 6395.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176395

    Samuelson, R., Lobl, M., Higgins, S., Clarey, D., Wysong, A. (2020). The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 26(8), 680–690.
    https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0286

    Ao, X., Yan, H., Huang, M., Xing, W., Ao, L. Q., Wu, X. F., Pu, C. X., Zhang, B. Y., Xu, X., Liang, H. P., Guo, W. (2023). Lavender essential oil accelerates lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic wound healing by inhibiting caspase-11-mediated macrophage pyroptosis. The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences, 39(5), 511–521.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.12654

    Batiha, G. E., Teibo, J. O., Wasef, L., Shaheen, H. M., Akomolafe, A. P., Teibo, T. K. A., Al-Kuraishy, H. M., Al-Garbeeb, A. I., Alexiou, A., Papadakis, M. (2023). A review of the bioactive components and pharmacological properties of Lavandula species. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg & #39;s archives of pharmacology, 396(5), 877–900.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02392-x

    Lavender and Hormone Disruption

    Chemicals in Lavender and Tea Tree Oil appear to be hormone disruptors
    Male gynecomastia occurring before puberty is relatively rare, but a growing amount of cases have been reported to coincide with topical exposure to lavender and tea tree oil, and the condition went away after the boys stopped using the oil-containing products.
    https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2018/chemicals-in-lavender-and-tea-tree-oil-appear-to-be-hormone-disruptors

    Back to top