Take a walk around the health and beauty sections of any drugstore (or quick Google search) and you are bound to see an endless supply of lavender products -- from soaps and shampoos to lotions, oils, and even herbal tea. Lavender not only smells good but it is good for you too.
While there are several species or types of lavender, the most common is lavandula angustifolia, sometimes called English Lavender. Lavender can be found in different forms -- fresh, dried, or as an essential oil. For those with a green thumb, it can be grown in a backyard garden if the environment is suitable.
Benefits, and why you should start using lavender
Perhaps the most well-known benefit of lavender is its calming effect that can be a great help to those who have anxiety, tension, or just need a little help sleeping. Simply using the essential oil in a diffuser is an easy way to calm nerves and get some rest.
Lavender oil can also be added to a small container of baking soda as a long-lasting (and cheap) room freshener, just give it a stir or add a few drops as needed to refresh.
If you are tea drinker, make your own with dried (culinary grade) lavender by itself or add to chamomile tea for a soothing bedtime remedy (or whenever you need it). If you’d like, you can also purchase it in tea form from the grocery store, health food store, or even Target.
You can also used lavender tea (or dried lavender) to infuse a Carrier Oil to make your own lavender oil.
Other uses
Lavender can also be added to your shampoos, lotions, and other beauty products. Not only will your nerves thank you but your skin and hair will too, because lavender Benefits also include eliminating dandruff and other scalp irritations -- and also treating hair loss.
Parents will also appreciate that lavender is helpful in removing lice.
Lavender added to a carrier oil like coconut oil can be used as a gentle but effective moisturizer for your face and body, used to treat eczema, sunburn, and the swelling from bug bites and bee stings. Make your own soothing remedy for Restless Leg Syndrome by adding a few drops of lavender oil to a mixture of ½ coconut oil and ½ olive oil and apply to your legs as needed, but especially at night.
The mixture is not greasy and it will help calm your legs.
Lavender is gentle so it can also be used in products for children as well, but be sure to research and/or check with your doctor beforehand for sensitivities/allergies.
