Lavender oil has both positive and negative effects on the human body. A plant like lavender has a pleasant, delicate, inviting and incomparable aroma. Lavender is used to produce a valuable essential oil. Today this product is widely used in various spheres of human activity.
Natural essential oil of lavender helps to preserve youth, get rid of various chronic diseases, etc. It is useful to have this product in your home, because it is a unique natural remedy that helps to cope with a wide variety of problems.
The chemical composition and properties of lavender oil
Lavender is one of the oldest Mediterranean plants, previously used exclusively for aromatherapy. The plant was used for washing linen, added to the bathroom as a soap to give the skin a pleasant scent.
At first, lavender was used only by the ancient Romans, but after the dawn of their country, all of Europe learned about the unique properties of this beautiful plant. Soon, lavender became a sacred plant, and during the Middle Ages it could not be used for cosmetic purposes, since such actions were severely punished by the Catholic Church.
Believers were convinced that lavender should only be used to scare away witches and devils. That is why body crosses were worn, for the manufacture of which lavender sprigs were used. Lavender returned to its former glory with the onset of the Renaissance, since during this period it began to be grown in monastery gardens, used to produce perfumes for noble ladies, which could also be called "Hungarian water".
Art workers were engaged in the glorification of lavender in their works, where it was a symbol of love, charm, beauty and sophistication. And today this beautiful plant is treated the same way, but there are many more ways to use it for different purposes. This is not surprising at all, since lavender has a rich and unique chemical composition.
Lavender oil is a colorless light liquid (in some cases it can have a yellow-green tint), it goes well with other essential oils. Lavender oil contains:
- acetic acid with bitterness and resins;
- coumarin;
- herniarin;
- caproic acid;
- lavender;
- ursolic acid;
- geraniol;
- tannins;
- caryophyllene;
- borneol;
- butyric acid;
- valeric acid;
- L-linalool (alcohol ester).
It is thanks to this rich composition that lavender oil has a lot of positive qualities:
- It is a natural antiseptic that quickly relieves inflammation.
- It has a choleretic and diuretic effect.
- Relieves spasms, helps with toothaches and headaches.
- It has an analgesic effect.
- Helps get rid of depression and other types of psycho-emotional disorders.
- Recommended for the treatment of a variety of female diseases related to gynecology.
- Improves memory, improves performance.
- It is used in cosmetology, due to which the condition of the skin, nails and hair is significantly improved.
- It removes phlegm from the bronchi.
- Helps with various viral and colds.
- Accelerates the healing process of wounds and postoperative scars.
- The immune system is strengthened.
- It has a tonic effect on the body, therefore it is useful for physical and mental stress.
- It improves blood circulation in the body, thereby normalizing blood pressure and blood supply to the brain.
- Helps fight rheumatism.
Features of using lavender oil
Lavender is widely used in various spheres of human life. To achieve the desired result, it is enough to know the basic rules and technologies for using this natural product. Lavender oil can be used both for health maintenance and for home cosmetology.
Lavender oil in medicine
Natural lavender oil is an effective and efficient medication that can be used as a topical ointment or tincture for internal use.
For the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, nervous disorders, as well as neurological problems, you need to take lavender essential oil (5 drops) and dilute in alcohol or honey (1 tablespoon). The finished product should be taken three times a day. It is strictly forbidden to use lavender oil in its pure form, as there is a risk of severe burns to the gastric mucosa.
This remedy helps in the treatment of the common cold, including other diseases of the respiratory tract. For this, an inhalation procedure is carried out - 3 drops of lavender oil are added to hot water, the duration of the procedure is no more than 7 minutes.
To prepare a natural remedy for treating the delicate skin of a newborn baby, you need to take sour cream, kefir or yogurt (30 ml) and mix with lavender oil (2 drops). If the cream is to be used for skin care of an adult, you need to add 4-6 drops of lavender oil. This remedy helps to remove excess tone in the legs of the child and has a calming effect. If a severe burn was received, there are scars or abrasions, they must be lubricated with the prepared cream, thereby accelerating the healing and regeneration of skin cells.
A simple compress will help relieve sore throat - 7 drops of lavender essential oil are added to hot water.
Lavender oil is useful for aromatherapy massage for people who have had a stroke. To do this, mix sour cream (10 ml) and lavender oil (5 drops), add rosemary oil (10 ml). The resulting agent lubricates the patient's body, and this composition is also useful for people suffering from high cholesterol.
Lavender oil helps relieve tired legs. To do this, you need to make a relaxing bath - lavender oil (10 drops) dissolves in water.
Lavender essential oil can also be used to treat the bite site of some insect. This remedy helps relieve itching and speed up the healing process.
Lavender oil in cosmetology
Most often, lavender essential oil is used in the field of cosmetology. This product helps to care for hair, body and delicate skin of the face. We can say that this is a real elixir that every girl can independently use to maintain beauty and youth.
Lavender oil is recommended for hair care:
- You can add lavender oil to shampoo, conditioner or rinse (this procedure is carried out just before shampooing) - 5 drops of lavender oil are taken per serving.
- While brushing, it is helpful to apply a few drops of the product to the comb and treat dry hair.
- A mask with the addition of lavender oil brings benefits - burdock oil (2 tablespoons) is taken and heated in a water bath, then egg yolk and lavender oil (5 drops) are added. All components are well mixed, and the resulting product is applied to damp hair, then the strands are wrapped in a plastic bag and insulated with a towel. The mask is washed off after 20 minutes.
Natural lavender oil is also useful for the care of delicate facial skin:
- If you have acne or any other type of rash on your face, you can prepare an effective cream based on lavender oil. For this, egg white is beaten, then lavender oil (5 drops) and tea tree oil (2 drops) are added. The components are well mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained, after which the cream is applied to the skin. After 15 minutes, you need to wash with warm water.
- To care for sensitive skin, you can use the following composition - mix linseed oil (1 tablespoon) with lavender oil (2 drops). The resulting product is applied to the skin, after which the face is wiped with a clean cotton pad, previously moistened with warm water.
- To restore elasticity and firmness to the skin of the face, it is recommended to combine lavender oil (4 drops) and jojoba oil (1 tablespoon). The resulting composition is applied to the skin about 2 hours before bedtime.
Home use lavender oil
Lavender essential oil can become an irreplaceable assistant in everyday life:
- To prepare a natural detergent for cleaning dishes from various types of dirt, you need to take lavender oil extract (5 drops) and dissolve in water (1 tbsp.). The resulting solution is poured into dirty dishes and left overnight. Thanks to this tool, all bacteria are removed, and the dishes are perfectly clean.
- To remove the unpleasant smell in the refrigerator, you need to drop a few drops of lavender oil on a cotton pad and place it inside.
- You can add a few drops of oil to the iron and set the steam mode to give your washed clothes a pleasant lavender scent.
- Lavender oil is an effective and natural mosquito repellent. To do this, it is worth preparing the following spray - lavender oil (5 drops) dissolves in water (250 ml). The resulting liquid is poured into a spray bottle and the room is treated. The room will smell good and will no longer be annoyed by harmful insects.
- To get rid of fleas, it is recommended to moisten cotton pads with lavender oil and simply spread them in the corners of the room where pests have been noticed. This de method is also recommended for moth control.
Contraindications to the use of lavender oil
It is not always possible to use lavender essential oil, as this natural product can cause serious harm to human health. That is why you need to familiarize yourself with the existing contraindications and restrictions:
- Pregnancy and lactation. At this time, you should not experiment with your own health, as there is a risk of negative effects of the drug.
- Lavender oil is contraindicated in diagnosing hypotonic dystonia, because this product has the ability to lower blood pressure.
- The presence of individual intolerance is also a serious contraindication. Lavender oil can cause severe allergic reactions, so it should always be strictly prohibited.
- In case of taking iron-containing preparations or with anemia, it is strictly forbidden to use lavender oil.
Today, you can easily buy lavender essential oil at almost any pharmacy, because it is presented in a fairly wide range. The product has a very affordable cost, so it will be useful for many to acquire this natural and unique elixir, which can be used both for medicinal purposes and in cosmetic or in everyday life.
More on using lavender oil in the following story:
