Benefits and Uses of Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is undoubtedly the most common essential oil that you will find in many natural products. In addition to having a lovely fragrance, lavender oil also has beneficial health properties and healing powers, due to its antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Lavender oil is commonly used to help with stress, anxiety, fungal infections, inflammation, and much more.
Benefits of Lavender Oil
With so many benefits, it’s no surprise that lavender oil is used in many products. We will not cover all of its benefits here, but here is a quick glimpse of what you can do with it.
Lavender Oil Benefits for the Hair
Lavender oil has multiple ways to improve your hair health, some of which are:
Hair Growth
Multiple studies have been conducted on the benefits of Lavender oil for hair growth and have shown that by applying lavender oil to the scalp, hair grew at a faster pace than normal and was also of a thicker texture. Because of its effects on hair growth, lavender is commonly used to help cure pattern baldness and alopecia.
Healthy Scalp
Because lavender oil has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti inflammatory traits , it can reduce the amount of bacteria and fungus growth on the scalp, helping to treat scalp infections and inflammation, dermatitis, dandruff and itching.
Head Lice Repellent
Lavender oil is also an effective and safe treatment of head lice and is also used as a lice repellent. Because it does not kill the nits (eggs) however, it is best to mix it with other oils, such as a tea tree, to enhance its effectiveness.
Lavender Oil Benefits for the Skin
Lavender oil is a great oil for skin care and can be beneficial to all skin types.
Acne Treatment
Because of its antibacterial properties, Lavender oil cleans out the pores, removing bacteria and clearing acne. With regular use, it can help prevent breakouts and heal inflammation on your skin.
Wrinkle Reduction
While it’s commonly known that Lavender reduces stress by relieving oxidative stress inside the brain, new findings have shown that the same effects of stress reduction may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines when applied topically to the skin. This makes lavender a great oil to use in skin care products for prevention of wrinkles and anti aging treatment.
Chapped Lips Remedy
Whether your lips are naturally dry or tend to easily dry out and become chapped in the winter months, Lavender oil can help. Lavender hydrates and moisturizes the skin leaving you with healthy non-flaky lips.
Caring for Burns and Scratches
Lavender also has pain relieving and anti-inflammatory qualities that can help speed up the process of healing. Quickly healing minor burns and scratches reduces your chances of being left with a permanent scar!
Lavender Benefits for the Health
Reduce Migraines and Headaches
A 2013 study found that people reported a significant reduction in pain from headache or migraine after only 15 minutes of inhaling Lavender essential oil. Breathing in the scent helps to reduce stress, relax the muscles and alleviate pain.
Improve Sleep Quality
To help naturally improve your sleep quality, try using Lavender oil as aromatherapy to help you relax and dose off into deep sleep. It can also be beneficial if you’re suffering from insomnia or anxiety.
Reduce Blood Pressure
In a 2006 and 2012 studies, it was discovered that along with lowering the effect of anxiety, lavender oil can also help lower blood pressure. By relaxing and calming down the body, Lavender reduces stress levels, which in turn can reduce blood pressure.
Reduce Anxiety
Lavender essential oil has been extensively studied for its effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety. When you inhale lavender oil, your body processes the smell and stimulates the brain, specifically the limbic system, which helps to control your emotions, behavior and mood.
Safety Tips for Using Lavender Essential Oil
While essential oils have many healing properties, please keep in mind that essential oils are highly concentrated and precautions need to be taken when using them. Here are some safety considerations for lavender oil:
Lavender oil is not safe to use internally. It is for external use only.
Lavender oil is safe to use aromatically and topically.
While most essential oils should be properly diluted before applying to the skin, Lavender oil however can be applied directly to the skin (just a few drops) or can be diluted with a carrier oil before application.
Make sure to test the oil (one or two drops) on a small patch of skin before applying to a larger area. Allergic reactions and sensitivities can occur to any essential oil.
Who Can Use Lavender Essential Oil?
Expecting moms
Lavender oil is one of the few essential oils that is safe to use during pregnancy. It can help provide comfort and calm to the mom and her unborn baby. Keep in mind however, that you should properly dilute the lavender oil before applying to the skin.
Kids and babies
While it is perfectly safe to diffuse Lavender essential oil for inhalation in order to decrease stress and anxiety, applying essential oils topically (for kids and babies) is a controversial topic. While Lavender oil is generally safe and can be beneficial in treating skin rashes and soothing irritated skin, make sure to dilute properly before applying as kids are more sensitive to essential oils than adults. Adding a couple of drops to the bath water can also have soothing and calming effects for babies.
Dogs
While lavender oil is safe to use on dogs, caution should be taken when applying to the dog’s coat. The oil should be properly diluted and use very small quantities, as overdose can be harmful.
Cats
It is not safe to use essential oils on cats as most cats cannot efficiently metabolize the compounds in essential oils, leading to a toxic build up in their bodies. In some states, using essential oils on cats is considered animal cruelty as it can be extremely harmful to them.
DIY Lavender Blend for Sleep
Use a diffuser or blend and spray lightly on your pillows before bed time.
Sleep Aid Synergy Blend
4 drops Lavender
2 drops Ylang Ylang
2 drops Neroli
