| Lavender Essential Oil is often referred to as the | | | | we do not get the benefits we were expecting and |
| universal oil, because there is such a multitude of | | | | conclude that essential oils do not have much value. |
| uses for this oil, such as cuts, bruises, burns, | | | | When synthetic fragrance constituents are added, |
| headaches, and insomnia. | | | | the essential oil becomes weaker and weaker with |
| LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia) | | | | each stage of distillation. |
| ACTION: Antiseptic, analgesic, antitumoral, | | | | Many people have jumped on the bandwagon |
| anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-inflammatory. Lavender | | | | because of the money making potential they see in |
| essential oil is beneficial for cleansing cuts and wounds | | | | essential oils. They buy cheap oils, rebottle them, label |
| and is ideal for skin care, since it prevents the build | | | | them as 100 percent pure essential oils, and market |
| up of excess sebum, a skin oil that bacteria feed on. | | | | them without ever knowing their origin or who was |
| Lavender has also been clinically evaluated for its | | | | responsible for distillation. |
| relaxing effects. | | | | It is critical to make sure you are using 100% |
| TRADITIONAL USES: The French scientist Rene | | | | therapeutic grade essential oils from a reputable |
| Gatefosse was the first to discover Lavender's ability | | | | company that you trust. |
| to promote tissue regeneration and speed wound | | | | To ensure that you are getting therapeutic-grade |
| healing when he severely burned his arm in a | | | | essential oils, find a company that submits their oils |
| laboratory accident. He immediately immersed his arm | | | | for routine testing by independent laboratories and |
| into a bowl of liquid sitting on a table near him. | | | | whose oils are from organic source, distilled without |
| The liquid was Lavender essential oil. The pain quickly | | | | chemical solvents at minimum temperatures and |
| went away and the wound healed in a short time | | | | pressures, and are bottled straight from the still with |
| without scarring. Today, Lavender essential oil is one | | | | no alterations or adulterations. |
| of the few essential oils to still be listed in the British | | | | Oils with warnings on them about potential toxicity |
| Pharmacopoeia. | | | | are probably not therapeutic or safe to use, except |
| INDICATIONS: Burns (cell renewal), sunburns (including | | | | in massage, where they are diluted down to a 2-5% |
| lips), dandruff, hair loss, allergies, convulsions, herpes, | | | | concentration in neutral carrier oil. The proof of an |
| headaches, indigestion, insomnia, high blood pressure, | | | | oil's quality is in its manifested benefits when you use |
| menopausal conditions, nausea, phlebitis, tumors, | | | | it. |
| premenstrual conditions, scarring (minimizes), skin | | | | A few ideas of the many ways to use 100% |
| conditions (acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and | | | | Therapeutic Grade Lavender Essential Oil: |
| rashes) and stretch marks. It may be used to | | | | Rub Lavender oil on the feet for a calming effect on |
| cleanse cuts, bruises, and skin irritations | | | | the body. |
| FRAGRANCE INFUENCE: Calming, relaxing, and | | | | Rub a drop of Lavender oil on your palms and |
| balancing, both physically and emotionally.University of | | | | smooth on your pillow to help you sleep. |
| Miami researchers found that inhalation of lavender oil | | | | Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect |
| increased beta waves in the brain, suggesting | | | | bite to stop itching and reduce swelling. |
| heightened relaxation. It also reduced depression and | | | | Put 2-3 drops of Lavender oil on a minor burn to |
| improved cognitive performance (Diego et al., 1998) | | | | decrease pain. |
| Aromatherapy uses Lavender essential oil when | | | | Mix several drops of Lavender oil with V-6 Vegetable |
| treating psychological problems such as nervousness, | | | | Mixing Oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis. |
| insomnia, stress, depression, melancholy, fear and | | | | To alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place |
| irritability. This oil helps stimulate and regenerate the | | | | a drop of Lavender oil on the end of the tongue or |
| nervous system and bring a feeling of calm | | | | around the naval or behind the ears. |
| OTHER USES: Lavender is a universal oil with many | | | | To stop a nosebleed, put a drop of Lavender oil on a |
| different applications. It may help arthritis, asthma, | | | | tissue and wrap it around a small chip of ice. Push the |
| bronchitis, convulsions, depression, earaches, heart | | | | tissue covered ice chip up under the middle of the |
| palpitations, high blood pressure, hives (urticaria), | | | | top lip to the base of the nose and hold as long as |
| insect bites, laryngitis, nervous tension, respiratory | | | | comfortable or until the bleeding stops (do not |
| infections, rheumatism, and throat infections. | | | | freeze the lip or gum). |
| A Note Caution: If you are going to put Lavender | | | | Rub a drop of Lavender oil over the bridge of the |
| essential oil on a burn you had better make sure it is | | | | nose to unblock tear ducts. |
| 100% therapeutic grade essential oil from a reputable | | | | Rub Lavender oil on dry or chapped skin |
| company you trust! | | | | Rub a drop of Lavender oil on chapped or sunburned |
| When you actually have a burn that you are trying | | | | lips. |
| to treat with Lavender essential oil and you are | | | | To reduce or minimize the formation of scar tissue, |
| unknowingly instead putting more caustic chemicals | | | | massage Lavender oil on and around the affected |
| onto your burn this can be serious trouble. | | | | area |
| Lavender essential oil that is produced commercially is | | | | Rub 2 to 4 drops of Lavender oil over the armpit |
| often distilled for only 15 minutes with a steam | | | | area to act as a deodorant. |
| temperature of up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and up | | | | Rub a drop of Lavender oil between your palms and |
| to 155 pounds of pressure. Although the oil is easily | | | | inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of hay |
| marketed and sold, it is of very poor quality. | | | | fever. |
| Some people are more concerned about the price | | | | Rub several drops of Lavender oil into the scalp to |
| than the quality. You can easily sell inexpensive | | | | help eliminate dandruff. |
| Lavender essential oil if you can produce a pound of | | | | Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a cotton ball |
| oil in 15 minutes instead of a pound of oil in an hour | | | | and place in your linen closet to scent the linens and |
| an a half by using lower heat and lower pressure to | | | | repel moths and insects. |
| preserve the integrity of the oil. | | | | Place a drop of Lavender oil in your water fountain |
| In the larger fields of the world at distillation time, | | | | to scent the air, kill bacteria and prolong the time |
| you can see chemical trucks hooked into the distillers | | | | between cleanings. |
| pumping solvents into the water already in the boiler. | | | | Place a few drops of Lavender oil on a wet cloth and |
| This increases oil production by as much as 18 | | | | throw into the dryer, which will deodorize and |
| percent. | | | | freshen your laundry. |
| However, when you put a chemical in the water and | | | | Put a drop of Lavender oil on a cold sore. |
| force it with steam into the plant, it causes a | | | | Diffuse Lavender oil to alleviate the symptoms of |
| fracturing of the molecular structure of the oil, | | | | allergies. |
| altering its fragrance and constituents. Also you | | | | Spritz several drops of Lavender oil mixed with |
| cannot separate the chemicals from the oil after they | | | | distilled water on a sunburn to decrease pain. |
| come through the condenser. | | | | Drop Lavender oil on a cut to clean the wound and |
| Today most of the Lavender oil sold in America is a | | | | kill bacteria. |
| hybrid called Lavandin, grown and distilled in China, | | | | Apply 2-3 drops of Lavender oil to a rash to stop the |
| Russia and Tasmania. It is brought into France, cut | | | | itching and heal the skin. |
| with synthetic linolyl acetate to improve the | | | | PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article is based |
| fragrance, added to propylene glycol or SD 40, DEP, | | | | solely on the use of 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade |
| and DOP (solvents that increase the volume), and | | | | Essential Oils due to their high quality and tested |
| then sold in the US as lavender oil. | | | | purity. |
| Oftentimes Lavandin is heated to flash off the | | | | The use of a brand of uncertain quality and/or purity |
| camphor, and then synthetic linolyl acetate is added | | | | will provide you with potentially dangerous, if not |
| so that it appears as lavender. Consumers do not | | | | lethal, results. The author assumes no responsibility |
| know the difference and are happy to buy Lavandin | | | | for your improper use of this information. |
| for $5 to $7 per half ounce in health food stores, and | | | | The statements about these oils have not been |
| through mail order. | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| These synthetic and adulterated oils can cause | | | | These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, |
| rashes, burns, or other irritations. We wonder why | | | | or prevent any disease. |