My blog is called Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender and as I’ve been tapping away on the keyboard for over two years now, I think it’s about time I speak about lavender essential oil and how amazing it is!
Lavender essential oil is brilliant for so many things, if you only ever buy one oil, make it this one. It has been popular both as an oil and as a flower for thousands of years. It is a great balancing oil so is good for both mind and body. This essential oil is truly versatile and can be used for so many ailments and in so many ways, you’ll wonder why you’ve never used it before now!
Before I begin, I want to make it clear that you should never ingest essential oils, use them internally or use them on your skin without dilution using a carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil or apricot kernal oil. If you are pregnant, there are some oils you should avoid entirely and others to avoid during the first 3-4 months. If you suffer an allergic reaction please discontinue use. Please proceed with caution and if in doubt, do not use or seek advice in the first instance. Always use essential oils that are 100% pure, it should be clear on the bottle as to what is inside. You don’t want to use any synthetic oils.
Whilst lavender oil can be used neat on the skin, please do proceed carefully and use tiny amounts if doing so.
What are the therapeutic properties of lavender?
- Antiseptic – prevents bacterial infection
- Analgesic – reduces pain
- Anti-inflammatory – reduces inflammation
- Antidepressant – mood lifter
- Bactericide – kills bacteria
- Fungicidal – kills or inhibits mould or yeast growth
- Sedative – calming
What can we use lavender oil to treat?
This oil as I’ve said can be used for such a variety of things, far too many to list but here are a few:
- Burns
- Sunburn
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Muscular pain
- Acne
- Insect repellent
- PMT
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Worry
- Stress
- Mood swings
- Relaxation
How to use the oil
The oil can be used in numerous ways:
- Massage – blending lavender oil with a carrier oil, will make for a really relaxing massage. It is great for sore muscles and this is certainly the best way to use this oil.You can also use this as self massage on your temples if you have a headache or to relieve tension.
- Inhalation – You can do this by adding a couple of drops of the oil to a bowl of boiling water, covering your head with a towel over the bowl and inhaling.
- Diffusers or oil burners. These are great ways to get the fragrance into a room. It will make for a lovely relaxing environment, helping to ease any stress.
- Bath – pop several drops into the bath and move it around to disperse. Enjoy this just before bed.
- Pillow spray – spray onto your pillow before you go to sleep to help with relaxation and calmness.
- Tissue – pop a few drops onto a tissue for you to inhale throughout your day, to help you relax and be calm.
- Compress – whether a hot or cold compress, fill a bowl or sink with water and add in around 5 drops of lavender oil, whatever cloth you are using for your compress, pop it in and let it soak up the lavender oil infused water, wring it out before placing on the area requiring the attention.
These are some uses for lavender essential oil and how to apply, but these can also be used with other essential oils as well. As lavender oil can be used in so many ways, you can find the application that works the best depending on your ailment.
I certainly use lavender in the ways described above. I love to use it as a pillow spray or just by popping a few drops onto my pillow, it really does help you to drift off. If I’m having a particularly stressful day, then dropping some onto a tissue and inhaling, it really helps ease the stress and relax me.
Clients who come for a massage, usually want to feel relaxed and I always let them smell the oil before use. If they do not like it, then I don’t recommend using as they will not get the full benefit due to being put off by the fragrance. Chamomile Roman essential oil is a good alternative as a sedative/relaxant (it has a lot of similar qualities to lavender). So would use this in its place for massage if required.
I hope this has given you a brief insight into lavender oil, its properties, what it can treat and how to use. The next time you have an ailment, find out if lavender oil can be of use. You never know, it may be your new best friend!
Thank you for reading, take care, have a lovely week and relax with lavender.
Look after you, love Emma xxx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 