Lavender essential oil is one of the most famous and widely-used essential oil in aromatherapy. This essential oil is extracted from the plant Lavandula angustifolia. Lavender promotes relaxation and helps with anxiety and insomnia. People were using lavender leaves and stem to make brews that could heal digestive system diseases and rheumatism. Lavender essential oil benefits and uses are many and we will discuss them more thoroughly in this article.
Today, many people use lavender essential oil, but its important benefits were found over 2,500 years ago. The Egyptians used lavender as a perfume and for mummification. Surprisingly, in 1923 they opened King Tut’s tomb and detected a faint scent of lavender after 3000 years!
Moreover, studies show that Romans used lavender essential oil for bathing, cooking and purifying the air. While in the Bible, lavender was one of the oils that people used for anointing and healing.
According to research, lavender is multiple benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Research results also show that lavender essential oil has analgesic, detoxifying and hypotensive results.
We should note that science has only recently started to evaluate lavender oil health benefits, yet there are many studies to prove its capabilities.
You can check on Aromavibes where you can find a wide collection of lavender products!
Lavender Essential Oil Benefits
1. Improves Mood and Reduces Stress
Several studies showed that lavender essential oil is very helpful if you want to manage anxiety. Lavender is used for relieving migraines, stress, anxiety and depression.
A research study showed that lavender-oil-based aromatherapy is beneficial to calm anxiety and depression in high-risk postpartum women. Ingesting lavender oil is also beneficial for anxiety according to a 2014 research study that found using Silexan (lavender oil preparation) was more successful against generalised anxiety disorder than placebo. After treatment, there were zero instances of withdrawal symptoms or adverse side effects. Another study published in 2019 showed lavender essential oil’s effects on reducing stress and anxiety levels. According to the study, inhaling lavender oil, which is one of the most effective anxiolytic oils, reduced anxiety before dental surgery. Researchers suggested its usage as a sedative for patients undergoing surgical procedures and anaesthesia.
2. Promotes Sleep and Relieves Insomnia Symptoms
One of the biggest benefits of lavender essential oil is it helps in promoting sleep and fights insomnia. According to a 2018 study, lavender oil enhanced sleep onset, quality and duration in the elderly.
In another study published in 2020, a group of researchers found that using lavender oil is a successful and reliable method to improve sleep quality in patients with life-limiting illnesses.
Try peaceful sleep massage and bath oil which can help alleviate insomnia symptoms!
3. Relieves Pain
Lavender oil can relieve pain if applied topically. A published study showed that the combination of lavender, marjoram, peppermint and black pepper essential oils could help with neck pain when applied to the affected area.
Another study published in the Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research in 2016 found that using lavender aromatherapy for 2 months was effective in reducing pain intensity in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.
4. Promotes Wound Healing
One of the widely known benefits of lavender is its antimicrobial properties. People have been using it for ages against various bacterial and fungal infections. A published research study compared the effects of several treatments for wound healing on rats. The researchers compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), saline solution, povidone-iodine and lavender essential oil. The study showed that wounds closed faster when using TENS or lavender oil indicating the beneficial effects of lavender oil in wound healing by increasing growth factors.
5. Alleviates Some Skin and Hair Conditions
Lavender is widely used in many cosmetics due to its great benefits for hair and skin. Also using lavender essential oil topically can help with many skin conditions, such as acne and age spots. Also, lavender has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can aid in calming skin reactions and relieving allergies.
Lavender essential oil can help with alopecia areata (hair loss). In a study, participants who used a mix of lavender essential oil with other essential oils including thyme, rosemary and cedarwood to massage the scalp daily showed improvement in alopecia areata. Another study showed its amazing effects in stimulating hair growth in mice.
How to Use Lavender Essential Oil:
If you want to use lavender essential oil and still don’t know how we list a few ideas. Lavender is one of the widely used oils and is a great option for beginners.
You can choose essential oil blends from Aromavibes where you can find quality products that are free of synthetic fragrances and have 100% pure grade essential oils.
1. Natural Perfume
If you consider using lavender essential oil in your everyday life, you don’t need to keep on using chemical-containing perfumes. Instead, you can use pure lavender essential oil as a natural scent.
Add 2 -3 drops of lavender essential oil to a carrier oil or a moisturiser then mix and rub your hands together to mix it and apply it to your skin.
It is also possible to add 2 drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle with about ½ cup of water and see it as a spray on your body, hair or clothes. You may need to reapply it throughout the day as the essential oil smell can fade away quicker than a normal perfume.
2. Non-toxic Freshener
You can use lavender essential oil in the same way you use an air freshener by spraying it around your home. You can create a relaxing atmosphere in your room. Spray lavender essential oil & water mix on your bed sheets and pillows. You can do the same in your bathroom to create a calming scent before taking a bath or shower.
3. Chemical-free Lip Balm
Another use of lavender essential oil is its capability of healing, moisturising and relieving pain which can bring enormous benefits to dry lips. You can add drops of lavender essential oil to shea butter or organic coconut oil to make a lip balm which you can use daily on your lips. You can store the rest in a clean container for regular use.
In case of body sunburn, you could follow the same instructions as discussed above. The skin can heal faster and it can help relieve itchiness and irritation.
You can read more on this blog and on Medical News Today.