Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is one of my staple go-to oils I like to use. I have some in my bedroom, my bathroom, my kitchen, and on my key-chain I carry around with me. Its usages are very versatile. And in some cases, it is easy to see immediate results with this oil (in my experience).
Before I write about lavender essential oil and ways it can be used, I’d like to first explain a bit more about the plant, itself, and how the essential oil is made out of it.
Where Does Lavender Essential Oil Come From?
Not only is the lavender plant beautiful to look at (inside or outside), it also has other beneficial qualities. It repels fleas. It’s a great herb to add to cooking, and it provides a lovely fragrance. (1) But when the oils from the flower are extracted, it makes a potent and effective tool to add to your natural medicine cabinet.
Lavender essential oil is most often extracted by using a low-heat steam distillation process. In this process, the oils in the plant are lifted into the steam. Then the oil naturally separates from the water as it cools.
Calming and Relaxing Properties
Lavender is most commonly known for its calming and relaxing properties. Many people use lavender essential oil in their bedrooms at night, which helps to promote a restful night’s sleep. Science-based research shows how lavender essential oil can particularly help a postpartum woman with sleeping (2), midlife women with insomnia (3), young men and women (4), and some studies also suggest that lavender can help babies with falling asleep. (5) In addition, studies positively also point toward lavender essential oil aiding those with ischemic heart disease. (6)
Here are some practical way to use lavender essential oil toward getting a good night’s rest: Add a few drops of the oil to your pillows or bedding or the bottoms of your feet before bedtime. (If you are applying lavender topically (directly onto the skin) to a baby or a young child, it may be wise to first dilute the lavender with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil or olive oil.)
Diffusing 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil into your bedroom is also a great and effective way to get the benefits into your body and enjoy the more subtle scent in your bedroom.
Also try taking a warm epson salt bath with several drops of lavender essential oil into it. Add more or less, depending on your preference. But use caution and moderation. I usually love adding 6 drops to my baths. It relaxes both my muscles and my mind. It also leaves my skin feeling more smooth and silky.
Other Ways to Use Lavender Essential Oil
Here are some other practical ways to use lavender essential oil:
*Apply to a burn, insect bite, or wound. Its healing properties will help alleviate pain, itching, swelling, and bacteria.
*Apply to a all-natural cleaning spray. It will promote a lovely fragrance, as well as antibacterial properties.
*Apply diluted lavender oil to a skin rash to help with calming the skin’s irritation.
*Add a few drops to your cooking or baking for a unique and delicious flavor! (Be sure the brand you are using is pure and clean of all additives and chemicals first.)
