When it comes to essential oils, lavender is on top of my list. Not only does it smell heavenly, it also has a gamut of uses that encompasses everything from stress relief to healing burns.
It is always a good idea to have lavender essential oil handy, but choosing the right quality is the most important consideration.
There is a big difference in the healing properties of essential oils vs. fragrance oils. Fragrance oils, besides being cheaper, provide you with just that, fragrance and nothing else. They are great for infusing a scent in a large room, for example, just to give it a nice smell. However, fragrance oils do not have healing qualities.
Here is what the label should contain: the words “pure,” “therapeutic grade,” “pharmaceutical grade,” which should precede the words “essential oil.” The word essential is not sufficient to determine the quality of the oil because it is used so freely, and some retailers put essential oil on bottles that simply contain fragrance oil.
The term “organic” may also be misleading, because some fragrance oils are organic but are not essential oils. So, look for pure, organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils to be sure that you are using something that heals.
Essential oils don’t come cheap, but you use only a small amount at a time. One drop of lavender oil to put on the temples of your head and the back of your neck is sufficient to release stress and calm you down.
Anti-inflammatory
Lavender oil can also be used with your lotions, creams and coconut oil. Used in many skincare products, lavender oil is relaxing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It gives you smoother and healthier skin. Even those with skin conditions can usually tolerate it, but remember to do a spot test first or dilute for highly sensitive skin. Five to six drops in your favorite shampoo will even ease dry scalp and dandruff.
Lavender oil is also very mild and one of the few essential oils that you can apply directly to the skin without dilution with carrier oils. It immediately soothes burns, relieves insect bites and can even shrink a pimple overnight.
Spray on your pillows and sheets before sleeping for a good night’s sleep and amazingly scented bedding. You can even add a drop or two on the spray water bottle you use for ironing for lightly scenting your clothes.
Lavender spray
- 20 drops of lavender oil
- 50 ml water
Put this in a spray bottle and you can use it as an air freshener, bed spray, room spray and to spray on your clothes while ironing. It can even be used as a face spritzer or toner. It is a safe, natural and effective anti-bug spray for you and your children.
Skin elixir
- 5 drops of lavender oil
- 10 ml carrier oil (use grapeseed oil, almond oil or virgin coconut oil)
- Pump bottle or spray bottle
You can use this as an afterbath moisturizer or you can substitute it for those expensive night creams. Use as a massage oil. You can even massage this on baby’s feet for a good night’s sleep.
This also works for eczema and psoriasis.
Aromatherapy
You can diffuse lavender oil and water in a burner and allow the scent to permeate your bedroom or any room at home, giving you all the aromatherapy benefits of the oil.
Finally—and this is where you really need to be sure that your essential oil is therapeutic grade—add a drop to a cup of hot water, and you get lavender tea that is perfect right before bedtime. You can even add a drop of lavender in lemon water as a morning detox ritual.
Enjoy the many uses of this healing gift from nature.