Lavender:
Do you remember as a child walking past
lavender and pulling off a few of the flowers and squeezing them between your fingers and smelling the sweet aroma all the way home?
Now when you do the same thing in milliseconds it takes you back to your childhood.
A smell can bring on a flood of memories, influence people's moods and
even affect their work performance. Because the olfactory bulb is part
of the brain's
limbic system, an area so closely
associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called the "emotional
brain," smell can call up memories and powerful responses almost
instantaneously.
That is one of the beauties of Aromatherapy it transcends all boundaries.
Here are some of the other benefits and uses of Lavender:
Possible Uses: Acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma,
athlete's foot, bruises, burns, chicken pox, colic, cuts, cystitis,
depression, dermatitis, dysmenorrheal, earache, flatulence, headache,
hypertension, insect bites, insect repellant, itching, labor pains,
migraine, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, scars, sores, sprains,
strains, stress, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough.
Here are some of the many uses of lavender essential oil:
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Relaxing nervous tension (Stress): Lavender
aromatherapy has been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects on
the nervous system. It helps with migraines, headaches, anxiety,
depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Just dab a few drops
on your temples, neck and wrists and sniff throughout the day. Of put a
few drops on a cotton ball and keep close by.
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Better sleep: Because lavender aromatherapy is so
relaxing and calming, it helps induce sleep and is often used for
insomnia. Put a few drops on your pillow at bedtime, or in the
bedroom,use a diffuser.
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Muscle tension: Lavender's relaxing and
anti-inflammatory qualities make it an excellent remedy for muscle pain
and tension. There's nothing more wonderful than a taking a hot bath
with lavender essential oil to soothe and relax sore or overworked
muscles or rheumatism. Be sure to add the lavender oil to bath salts or
epsom salts first so they will mix with the water.
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Menstrual pain: Gently massage lavender over the lower abdomen, in a circular motion for menstrual, pre-menstrual or menopausal tension.
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Respiratory infections: Lavender aromatherapy is
extensively used for various respiratory problems including throat
infections, asthma, bronchitis, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus
congestion, etc. It can be diffused into a vapor or applied topically
onto the neck, chest and soles of the feet.
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Lavender Skin Care: Lavender essential oil is ideal
for skin care because it is gentle, yet effective. It moisturizes, helps
skin maintain elasticity and prevents the build up of excess sebum – a
skin oil that bacteria feed on. It helps skin conditions such as acne,
wrinkles, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and rashes and helps minimize
stretch marks. It is also beneficial for cleansing cuts and wounds as
well as burns and sunburns as it stimulates healing. It is also helpful
for bruises, hives and insect bites.
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Hair Care: Lavender essential oil is useful for the
hair and scalp as it conditions the scalp and prevents the build up of
excess sebum. It's antiseptic qualities disinfect the scalp, help
dandruff, hair loss and prevent and treat head lice.
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Massage: A massage with lavender essential oil is a
supremely relaxing and aromatic experience. Both sore muscles and joints
respond to lavender's anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects.
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Freshening Closets: In ancient days, small bundles
of dried lavender were placed in closets to help keep clothes smelling
fresh and keep moths away. You can do the same today by hanging sachet
bags inside your closet or placing them between your sheets, in the
laundry room and on your pillow. Or you can hang ceramic pieces that
you've infused with lavender essential oil.
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Calming Children: Lavender aromatherapy is ideal for
restless children and babies because it it so gentle and calming, yet
powerfully antiseptic. Also because of lavender's gentleness, it can be
used "neat" (full-strength) even on baby's skin without dilution.
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Wash: Put a couple of drops of lavender on a piece of cloth and place this in your drier; it will make the clothes smell oh so fresh.
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Blood Circulation: Lavender essential oil is also
good for improving blood circulation in the body. It also lowers blood
pressure and is used for hypertension.
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Digestion: Lavender oil is useful for digestion as
it increases the mobility of the intestine. The oil also stimulates the
production of gastric juices and bile and thus aids in treating
indigestion, stomach pain, colic, flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea.
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Immunity: Regular use of lavender essential oil provides resistance to diseases.
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Skin Care: The health benefits of lavender oil for
the skin can be attributed to its antiseptic and antifungal properties.
It is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles,
psoriasis, and other
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Business cards and Stationery: When you give out business cards or stationery why not make a more memorable statement.
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Take a tissue and place a few drops of lavender oil
on it, then take a freezer bag and place your business cards,
stationery, Christmas cards in the reseal able plastic bag then put the
tissue with the lavender oil on it into the bag and seal it, leave it
for a day or so, the lavender aroma will be absorbed by the paper.
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Lavender should not be used during the early stages of pregnancy. Use Lavender with caution if you have low blood pressure.
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Some oils can cause sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals.
Lavender is one of the few oils that can be used neat,it does not have
to be diluted with a carrier oil,to get better coverage when massaging
it is best used in a carrier oil.
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When using a new oil for the first time, do a skin patch on a small
area of skin. Place a small amount of the diluted essential oil (never
use essential oils undiluted on the skin, however, Lavender is an
exception to this rule as is tea Tree oil.) on the inside of your elbow
and apply a bandage. Wait 24 hours to see if there is any form of
reaction. Even if a particular essential oil is not known to cause
irritation, this step should not be ignored. Even if oil does not
irritate you, it still can irritate someone else. It is important that
you always keep that in mind.
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Aches and pains: We have been using lavender in our body wraps since 1995, as the therapeutic benefits of the heat and lavender help to relax muscles and keep you calm.
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Lavender Body wraps: Check out our "Pot Luck" page for extra savings.
Lavender is also antimicrobial, anti-infectious and
antiseptic, making it effective in the treatment of wounds and as a
front line defense against respiratory infection. It is tonic to the
cardiovascular and digestive systems, lowers blood pressure and helps
thin the blood due to the presence of coumarins. Lavender is indicated
for muscle spasm, sprain, strain, cramp, contracture and rheumatic pain.
It is sedative to the central nervous system and relieves headache,
nervous tension, and insomnia; it can also help balance mood swings.
Spiritually, lavender is said to balance the physical, astral and
etheric planes.
Because of lavender's many therapeutic properties, if I were stranded
on a desert island with only one essential oil, it would be lavender (it
also takes the itch out of insect bites and helps heal sunburn!) But
what other essential oils can be called in to use here in civilization?
What should you use if your client does not want the deep relaxation or
sleep-inducing effect of lavender, or if they have a tendency toward
lowered metabolism or low blood pressure? What if they need to relax
because they are about to take an exam, give a presentation or walk down
the aisle?
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