|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home >
Research Department
>
Supplement Articles
> Lavender |
|
Supplement Articles |
|
|
LAVENDER
Articles by a Naturopathic
Doctor ( N.D.)
The ancient Romans associated lavender with purity of the spirit, as well as the body, and commonly used it in their bathwater ...
The ancient Egyptians wore it as perfume. In ancient Persia and and Greece, lavender was known for its antiseptic properties, used to disinfect sick rooms and hospitals. In India and Tibet, lavender was used to treat mental illness. Similarly, Ayurvedic medicine still uses lavender to treat depression.
|
|
LAVENDER |
|
|
|
Lavender is an excellent sent to use for those suffering from insomnia or anxiety. |
|
|
By the middle ages, Lavender was being distilled in oil and used for dressing wounds and bites, for relieving cough and cold, for rheumatic aches and pains, as well as being known for its calming and sedative effects. Whenever and wherever it was used, it was both an effective medicine as well as a pleasantly powerful aromatic experience.
We now use Lavender most commonly for anxiety and insomnia. It is extremely effective in calming the mind and the body, settling an overactive brain, relieving a tension headache, as well nervous intestinal complaints. The most important medicinal compounds in Lavender are linalool and linalyl acetate. They are rapidly absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes and have been shown to depress the central nervous system as well as have anti spasmodic effects on smooth muscle, calming peristalsis, lowering heart rate and relaxing muscular tension. Many individuals still use lavender as an antiseptic for wound healing and disinfection. It is also shown to increase circulation and is often added to bathwater for this purpose.
One must use lavender with caution at first, as it is a common allergen. There have also been a few cases of Lavender (when added to shampoo) causing gynecomastia (abnormal breast tissue growth) in prepubescent boys. It is safest to use the essential oil in diluted form and in small quantities. Lavender is not toxic when ingested, and the flower is becoming a popular addition to simple rice, salads and baked goods. Lavender flowers are often candied and used for cake decoration.
One must use lavender with caution at first, as it is a common allergen. There have also been a few cases of Lavender (when added to shampoo) causing gynecomastia (abnormal breast tissue growth) in prepubescent boys. It is safest to use the essential oil in diluted form and in small quantities. Lavender is not toxic when ingested, and the flower is becoming a popular addition to simple rice, salads and baked goods. Lavender flowers are often candied and used for cake decoration.
|
Lavender –
QUICK FACTS
|
PARTS USED
|
· Flowers, Essential Oil. |
|
APPLICATIONS |
· Anxiety, insomnia, tension headache, nervous stomach and indigestion, wound healing and disinfection.
|
OPTIMUM
DOSAGE
|
·
Tincture, 60 drops (1:5 in 50% alcohol)/day. Tea: 1-2 tsp steeped in 1 cup water. 1-3 cups/'day. |
WORKS WELL
WITH
|
·
lemon balm, tea tree, and chamomile (for sleep enhancement). |
|
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
click for products |
· Be cautious of lavender allergy, dilute essential oil if applying directly to the skin. Watch labels to ensure you are getting lavender (lavandula angustifolia) as opposed to lavadin oil, as lavadin does not have the same healing properties.
|
|
|
For
informational
purposes only.
Please consult your
health care
practitioner before
taking natural
health care
products. Click here
for full disclaimer. |
|
|
|
All articles
copyright National Nutrition 2001 -
2011. For educational
purposes only. Please note
that while National Nutrition
supports your right to use
natural health care products for
any therapeutic purpose that you
see fit, that the information on
this website should not be
considered as a claim or as a
substitute for medical advice. |
|
|
|