| 13 Potential health benefits of lavender | | | | sores. |
| - Refreshes and tones the skin, and soothes the | | | | For applications as aromatherapy, add two to four |
| nerves. | | | | drops of lavender oil to two to three cups of boiling |
| - Reduce or heal depression, especially when they are | | | | water, and inhale the steam once per day. When |
| related to stress. | | | | used bath additive, six drops of lavender oil or 1/4 to |
| - Improves sleep quality. | | | | 1/2 cup of dried lavender flowers may be added to |
| - Promotes relaxation. | | | | bath water. A massage oil is made by adding a little |
| - Lifts mood in people suffering from sleep disorders. | | | | essential oil to a carrier oil and massaging into painful |
| - Natural antiseptic and astringent. | | | | muscles or the temples and nape of the neck for |
| - Soothe and heals insect bites using an infusion. | | | | tension headaches or the first hint of a migraine. For |
| - Antiseptic for common bacteria such as typhoid, | | | | nervous tension and mild depression, drink a cup of |
| diphtheria, streptococcus, and pneumococcus. | | | | lavender tea three or four times a day as needed. |
| - Soothe and protect sunburned skin. | | | | Side effects, precautions, interactions |
| - Helps prevent infection in blisters that often | | | | Although side effects are rare, some individuals may |
| accompany more severe sunburns and other burns. | | | | develop an allergic reaction to lavender. Excessive |
| - Healing on open wounds to speed healing. It can be | | | | intake (several times more than listed above) may |
| applied undiluted. | | | | cause drowsiness. Nausea, vomiting, headache, and |
| - Gently calms the nerves and helps reduce trapped | | | | chills have also been reported in some individuals |
| gas. | | | | following inhalation or absorption of lavender through |
| - Reduces stress headaches when rubbed on the | | | | the skin. Pregnant and breast feeding women should |
| temples, or sniffed like smelling salts. | | | | avoid using lavender, as it is a uterine stimulant. |
| - Reduce oily skin by taking and mixing one - three | | | | Lavender contains limonene which can cause photo |
| drops into one cup of white vinegar. | | | | sensitivity, especially when perfumes and cosmetics |
| - Promotes healing of rashes, bruises, minor cuts and | | | | are used containing lavender oil. |