Therapeutic Values of Lavender

Flowers are indispensable part of our celebrations and ceremonies. They are widely used in our social and religious life: births, nuptials and even deaths. However, most of us may not know, flowers also ply the trade in maintaining our health and general well being. Dried or fresh flowers and flower extracts have medicinal value, because the highest concentration of life force in a plant is found in flowers.

Lavender is not only essential flower in perfumery, but also has medicinal properties. Lavender extracts (essential oils) and dried lavender can be used externally and internally to heal body and mind. Many cosmetic products and traditional herbal remedies extensively use lavender extracts. It is one of the common flowers in aromatherapy. Herbal teas and body care products usually contain lavender because of its relaxing and stress-relieving properties.

Health Benefits of Lavender

If you are battling with depression and insomnia, lavender is the flower for you. Lavender extracts or lavender essential oil helps to relax body and mind. Use few drops of lavender essential oil on the pillow before you go to sleep, this will alleviate stress and anxiety.

Lavender is very useful for skin. You can use lavender oil to prepare home remedies for skin. It heals skin conditions such as fungal infections or eczema. If your skin is itchy or dry, rub lavender oil on infected parts.

Massage your scalp with lavender essential oil if you have hair loss problem. Scalp massage with lavender oil also cures headaches.

Lavender helps to curb post-operative pain.

Use lavender essential oil or dried lavender in baths to lift your mood.

Lavender hydrates your skin. You can use lavender essential oil in the day time or bed time.

How to Heal From Lavender

Lavender essential oil and dried lavender flowers are used in lavender flower therapy. It can be used externally or internally to alleviate certain mental and physical conditions.

Lavender essential oil is extracted from fresh flowers. Lavender oil has many health benefits. You can extract lavender oil yourself but you need lots of flowers to extract little bit of oil. If you cannot extract lavender oil, you can buy it in the herbal stores.

If you have grown lavender in your backyard, you can dry the flowers and later use as herbal medication. When you are drying flowers, remember to keep away from direct sunlight.

Take a warm bath by adding a tablespoon of lavender essential oil before going to sleep. This will help you to eradicate your sleeping disorder.

If you have skin irritation, make a relaxing bath by using dried lavender. Fill a drawstring muslin bag with half cup of dried lavender, equal amount of oatmeal and 2-3 drops of lavender oil. Place the bag under running water and let the ingredients soak in water. Your bath will be ready in ten minutes.

Lavender Tea

You can make hot or cold tea from dried lavender flowers.

If you are suffering from depression, lavender flower tea will help you. Lavender flower tea is also beneficial to nervous system. There is no side effect of lavender flower tea, you can drink it daily.

How to make lavender tea

Boil 1-2 table spoon dried lavender in a cup of water for two minutes, strain and drink. You may also add 1-2 pieces of cardamom or clove to spice up your tea. You can sweeten your lavender tea with honey.

To make cold lavender tea, soak dried lavender in a cup of hot water for ten minutes. Strain, add ice cubes and honey. Your cold lavender tea is ready.

Lavender Aroma Therapy

Lavender aroma lifts mood by activating nervous system. Lavender aroma therapy greatly helps people battling with sleeping disorder. Lavender is a good alternative to sleeping pills. Importantly, it is not addictive like sleeping pills.

You can use lavender essential oil as room fresher by burning lavender essential oil in an aromatherapy burner. Lavender aroma soothes your nerves and pacifies your mind.

To manage stress and anxiety, add 2-3 drops of lavender oil in a steamer and inhale the steam along with lavender aroma. This will also alleviate dryness in your facial skin. You can also apply lavender essential oil as makeup base because it moisturizes your skin.

Many diseases are rooted in our mind and emotions. When the transformation occurs at the emotional level, the physical change is long lasting. The ancient philosophies reveal that, we cannot enjoy total well being until the mind, body and the spirit are in equilibrium. Healing power of flowers lies in their energy fields that give them their unique healing characteristics.

If you are sick don’t rush to medicine cabinet, instead experiment with alternative medicine such as flower therapy. More and more researches are being carried out to prove benefits of traditional medication. Lots of the formulas have scientific basis.