• Lavender- A beautiful flower and healing herb

    03-Nov-2008

    Tags: Lavender , Plant , Flower , Oil , Shortbread Lavender , Plant , Flower , Oil , Shortbread , Health , Lavender Tea , Lavender Buds more more more less


    Lavender, we have all seen in someone's garden and the flowers have a beautiful sent. Lavender oil is extracted from its leaves.  The oil can be used to treat depression, relax muscles and ease tension. It also has great antiseptic properties so it can heal sunburn or treat acne and it is also great for your skin and hair.  Lavender oil is an oil that can be used directly without dilution.

    lavender 

    So lets talk further about lavender and it's benefits.

    1. Nervous System: Lavender essential oil has a calming scent and helps in treating migraines, headaches, anxiety, depression, nervous tension and emotional stress. Its smell removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.
    2. Sleep: Lavender essential oil promotes sleep and is suggested for insomnia.
    3. Pain Relief: Lavender essential oil is great for sore muscles, tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache and lumbago. Massage with lavender oil provides relief from pain in the joints.
    4. Respiratory Disorders: Lavender oil is extensively used for various respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil can be added to a vaporizer or applied on the skin of neck, chest and back
    5. Skin Care: It can be used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammations. It heals wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns rapidly as it aids in the formation of scar tissues. Lavender oil is added to chamomile to treat eczema.
    6. Hair Care: Lavender essential oil is useful for the hair as it can be very effective on lice and lice eggs or nits.
    7. Blood Circulation: Lavender essential oil is also good for improving blood circulation. It lowers blood pressure and is used for hypertension.
    8. 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.
    lavender plants

    The list goes on and on! So what are the active ingredients of lavender?

    Well lavender oil contains up to 50% of linalol, an alcohol that helps to kill germs i.e. Bacteria and viruses and also helps in healing sores and burns. Compounds called esters are also present which also help in the same thing plus they help regulate your moods. Lavender oil contains ketones that help in relieving pain reduce inflammation, build new skin, and cause sleep!

    Lavender Recipes for you to try.

    Lavender Bath

    Excellent for aching muscles, relaxation, stress relief. Add 6-8 drops Lavender essential oil after running the water and vigorously agitate water. Add the drops to a capful of milk or Epsom salts and then put in the bath as this helps to disperse the oils through out the water. This is a great way to receive the benefits of Lavender oil.

    Lavender Vaporization

    Fill the top dish of an 'oil burner' or 'vaporizer' with water and add 6-8 drops of Lavender oil.

    Lavender for Burns

    After running cold water on the burn for approx 10 minutes, put a few drops of neat lavender oil onto the burnt area (including sunburn). This will greatly assist the healing process. Remember serious burns must be seen to by a doctor.

    And if you are game you can cook with lavender.

     Lavender Shortbread

    • 3 Tbsp. fresh organic Lavender flowers
      OR 1 1/2 Tbsp. dried organic Lavender flowers
    • 1 cup butter
    • 1/4 cup (scant) cornstarch
    • 1/2 cup icing sugar
    • 1 1/2 cups flour
    • 1 Tbsp. Lavender "Tea"*
      (extra Lavender or substitute: see footnote)

    Method 

    1. Set oven at 325° F.
    2. Use food processor to blend chilled butter (not room temperature) plus Lavender flowers, icing sugar & cornstarch.
    3. Add half the flour amount and Lavender tea*. Pulse gently until roughly cut into a "crumbly" texture.
    4. Blend in remainder of flour until it "balls" into smooth dough. Roll in a wax paper log like frozen cookie dough.
    5. Chill 30 minutes.
    6. Cut into 1/2 inch rings, bake on ungreased cookie sheet until just golden on the bottom. Aprox 20 minutes. Cool before handling.
    7.  Makes aprox 30. Store in tight tin.
    		 shortbread

    * Lavender Tea
    Use 4 teaspoons of fresh Lavender or 1 Tbsp. dried. Place in a mug & pour 1/4 cup of boiling water over the Lavender. Use a saucer as a lid & steep 5 minutes. Stain & measure tea as a flavour booster, drink remainder as you wait for cookies!
    Can substitute 1 Tbsp. Lemon juice or 1 tsp. vanilla extract.

    The dough can be frozen. (This way you can make the dough rolls in fresh season & bake for Christmas!) Please ~ thaw before slicing so dough does not crack.

    So as we can see Lavender is one versatile plant.

    lavender buds

    (sources:.organicfacts.net, nutrasanus.com, enhancing your mind body spirit magazine, netherfield.co.nz, happyvalleylavender.com)

    Previous Previous
    Random Random health
    Next Next
     
    Sponsors



  • Sponsors



  • Useful Resources