Lavender Essential Oil

BOTANICAL NAME: Spanish - lavandula stoechas

GRADE: therapeutic

DISTILLATION METHOD: steam

ORIGIN: Spain

PARTS USED: flowering tops

FRAGRANCE: floral, fresh, light, sweet

BLENDS WELL WITH: allspice, amyris, basil, carrot, cedarwood, chamomile, cistus, clary sage, clove, cypress, dill, eucalyptus, fennel, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, lemon, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, marjoram, myrrh, neroli, orange, patchouli, pepper, peppermint, petitgrain, pine, ravensara, rosemary, spearmint, spikenard, tangerine, tea tree, thyme, tonka, verbena, vetiver, wintergreen, yarrow.

AROMATIC & PHYSICAL BENEFITS: aggression, anxiety, balancing, calming, concentration, cooling, exhaustion, fatigue, hysteria, nervous tension, relaxing, soothing, stress, analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, carminative, cholagogue, Cicatrizant, deodorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypotensive, nervine, rubefacient, sedative, stimulant, sudoforic, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary.

MAGICAL USES: balances chakras, business success, celibacy, conscious mind (stimulates), happiness, health (maintain), love, peace, protection, purification, sleep, third-eye chakra

Lavender Information:

The health benefits of lavender essential oil include its ability to remove nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation, and to treat respiratory problems. Lavender oil is extracted from the flowers of the plant through steam distillation. The essential oil can be used in making perfumes, aromatherapy, soap, candles, potpourri, and many other aromatic preparations, almost too numerous to mention.

Definitions:

Analgesic: any medicine that reduces pain without inducing unconsciousness.

Antidepressant: an agent that prevents or counteracts depression.

Anti-inflammatory: an agent that prevents or counteracts inflammation.

Antimicrobial: capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microbes.

Antiseptic: a substance that inhibits the growth and reproduction of microorganisms.

Antispasmodic: referring to something that suppresses spasms.

Carminative: relieves discomfort of gas in the digestive tract.

Cholagogue: an agent that promotes the discharge of bile.

Cicatrizant: a healing agent.

Deodorant: Any agent acting to eliminate, reduce, mask, or control odor.

Diuretic: increases the amount or frequency of urination.

Emmenagogue: stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus, causing menstruation.

Nervine: acts upon or affects the nerves; quiets nervous excitement.

Sedative: Calming, soothing, inducing sleep, tranquilizing

Stimulant: increases physiological or nervous activity in the body.

Sudorific: produces sweat.

Tonic: restorative and curative; intended to invigorate.

Vermifuge: something that acts as a drug to cause expulsion or death of intestinal worms.

Safety Warnings: As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender essential oil. It is also recommended that diabetics stay away from lavender oil. It may also cause allergic reactions to people having sensitive skin. Lavender is one of very few essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin without a carrier oil.