Lavender Essential Oil Use
Lavender oil has long been considered a basic by the many who use an aromatherapy oil warmer, scented candles, soaps and cosmetics. It is also traditionally thought of as effective in home made mosquito repellents, skin lotions, shampoos and house hold cleaning solutions. With lavender, the essential oil uses are many.
Please note however, that like all essential oils it is a powerful substance. It can be diluted for use on skin with a carrier oil, such as coconut, jojoba, hemp, almond, apricot kernel, or olive oil.
The word “lavender” is from the Latin verb “lavare”, to wash. As well as having a very clean smelling fragrance, lavender has been used as an antiseptic, “forever”.
The lavender essential oil is distilled from the plant’s flowers. Lavender flowers are decorative, and if dried, can be used is sachets for your drawers and closets.
Just let Lavender flowers dry out in the vase and then scrape the flowers into a bowl. Use small bags with a drawstring to make your sachets, or use baby socks and tie them.
Hang in your closet, hide on your shoe shelf, and tuck into storage drawers.
Smudging
Dried lavender flowers can also be used for smudging just like you would with a bundle of cedar or sage. The smoke is sweet and refreshing to most.
If you have never smudged before, please learn how to do this safely. You can burn yourself or drop embers onto the floor if you’re not careful.
Dry lavender flowers fall apart at the slightest touch, so just keep a bouquet in a vase. Pluck out one stem to burn, placing it in a bowl of sand. Place it away from you.
It will light quickly, burn fast, and go out quickly. Still, you can walk around the area you are cleansing and you’ll spread the fragrance.
Personally, I would not smudge at home if there are children, unless the smudge bowl, and lighter or matches are kept high out of reach.
Head Lice Natural Remedy
If you prefer to use only natural remedies for minor afflictions, you can try adding lavender oil to shampoo to treat head lice. It has been seen to remove them, and destroy the nits as well.
Another of lavender’s uses is for the relief of nervous tension. A couple of drops in your bath water or foot bath relaxes muscles and is cleansing as well. This is why lavender has gone into soaps, lotions, oils and cosmetics for so long.
⇒ Make Your Own Natural Lavender Bath Salts
Test New Oils
Whenever trying a new essential oil, try one drop on your skin and wait to see if you get any irritation. (Most stores have tester bottles).
Lavender oil is thought to be a milder oil and many people can put it directly onto the skin, but if you haven’t used it, test it.
⇒ Lavender Essential Oil: The Top Ten List of Healing Uses
Avoid Contaminants
Fragrance oils may be diluted with non-organic oils and chemicals. They are less expensive, but buying a locally grown essential oil is your best bet.
Unfortunately the word “pure” does not mean much on a label any more. However, “USDA Organic” certification is helpful, again, if the plants are locally grown and processed.
The Author:
Dianne Buxton taught, directed and choreographed for professional dancers for many years. Her interests now include nutrition for ballet/sports/fitness and the mind/body connection.
