Lavender or Lavandula Angustifolia is a flowering plant of the mint family well known for its oil and aromatic properties. As a plant, Lavender is closely bonded to culinary herbs like oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, etc. Native to the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East, this plant has a deep history with human civilization.
This beautiful silvery green plant provides light purple flowers, giving it its magnificent name. It is most valued for its retainment of aromatic essential oils. Which has diversified uses in aromatherapy, medication, skincare, and other dermatological products.
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What Is Lavender oil?
Lavender’s spiky flower contains a valuable essential oil most commonly unlocked by a sophisticated distillation process. There are 400 lavender plants, and each of their essential oil slightly different from the others. It is known as purple, Lavandula angustifolia, chromatic, lilac, shrub oil.
After steam distillation, you may get an almost colorless liquid with sweet, fresh, floral, and mildly fruity smells. Like all essential oils, it consists of phytochemicals like Linalool, linalyl acetate, etc. The essential oil is most commonly used for aromatic purposes, skin care products, hair growth products, medicinal purposes, anti-fungal functions, and repelling pests.
Origin And Cultivation of Lavender
If you search for the origin of Lavender, you have to trace it back to as far as 500 BCE Egypt. They used Lavender for mummification, and even the tomb of Tutankhamun revealed a trace of Lavender. Ancient Romans used Lavender in their bathhouses. The word Lavender even came from the Latin word for Bathing.
Lavender is a hardy plant and can grow in semi-arid rocky landscapes. The optimal condition for growing Lavender is sunny and dry with moderate temperature. It can not do well in humid climates.
The leading producer of Lavender in the world is France, China, Bulgaria, Russia, and other East European nations for their favorable climatic condition. Most of their produce goes to the perfume and cosmetic industries.
Nutritional Value of Purple Oil
Like all other essential oil, you may know Lavender is not a chemically singular compound. It consists of various chemicals, and the following four of them are the core of it.
You can find from 11.4% to 46.7% Linalool in different species of Lavender. Linalool is a mild terpene well acknowledged for its effect on serotonin receptors which can help reduce your anxiety and depression. Moreover, it can help you to fight insomnia.
Additionally, it contains 7.4% to 44.2% Linalyl Acetate, which is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The α-terpineol in Lavender is the main reason behind its pungent aroma. High concentrations of α-terpineol (up to 4.5%) are the reason behind its preference in the perfume industry.
Lilac oil is well-received for its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. The high levels of Terpinen-4-OL (up to 18.7%) is the main reason behind those attribute of this oil.
This oil is well-renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, and a moderate amount of cineole (4-11%) is the reason behind it, which is one of the best ingredients for treating respiratory problems. In addition to all functions, Lavender is rich in calories and fat. It will also provide you with Vitamin A (287IU) in every serving of it.
Best 20 Health Benefits of Lavender oil
This oil has numerous health benefits, including reducing anxiety and stress, improving sleep quality, easing pain and headaches, improving skin health, promoting relaxation, boosting mood, reducing menstrual cramps, and promoting wound healing. It can be used aromatically, topically, or internally, and is considered safe for most people when used properly. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using the oil, especially if you have a health condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Here are the details of the benefits:
1. Anti-anxiety function
Several studies have proven the anti-anxiety properties of Lavender. A study published in 2005 in Physiology & Behavior states that breathing the scent of Lavender can reduce anxiety and improver a person’s mood. Inhaling the oil in limited quantities is a common organic way to reduce stress and anxiety among patients.
2. Insomnia
Purple oil can help you fight insomnia and have a long healthy sleep. Inhaling itcan improve your bedtime, making you more energetic all day. A study published in 2018 in the Holistic Nursing Practice Journal shows that lavender-based aromatherapy on older people has improved their sleep quality and duration.
3. Oils for Alopecia
Lavender oil has some essential nutrients for your hair that will nourish your scalp and make your hair healthier. Lavender’s soothing properties can reduce your stress and stress-related hair loss. Massaging your scalp with this oil will improve the blood circulation on your scalp. With the improvement of scalp health, your hair grows healthier and more robust.
4. Anti-depressant
Our sense of smell is closely related to our mood. With depression, our odor sensitivity reduces, and it can change my mood faster than you thought. Lavender essential oil is one of the well-recognized natural remedies that alleviate depression and elevate your mood.
5. Allergies, fever, and Cold
Inhale the oil with water vapor is an excellent way to treat cold and open a stuffy nose. It will reduce your cold and allergy-related suffering. If you can not stop incessant sneezing, you can sniff raw oil directly from the bottle. You can seek comfort from fever through a simple oil-soaked cold wet towel wrapped around your body for a few minutes.
6. Fungal Infection
Purple oil has strong anti-fungal properties. If any part of your body gets fungal infections, you can apply a few drops of oils on it with the help of a soft and clean cotton ball. You can dilute The oil in water and sink the infected body parts in it. Both of the technique works like magic.
7. Natural Bug Repellent
Lavender and its oil are excellent insect repellents. You can plant Lavender on your window to discourage bugs from coming in. If you have bugs in your mattress or on other furniture, you can infuse oil in water and spray them. For outdoor camping, insects are the most common problem. You can infuse the oil with any other career oil and massage it on your exposed body parts before going out.
8. Treat Acne and soothes Skin Irritation
Its anti-micobial, anti-fungai, and anti-inflamatory properties are excellent for treating Acne and skin irritation. Regular use of oil with your skin product can keep Acne at bay. Moreover, oil massage can soothe skin irritation related to allergies and other skin problems.
9. For Brain Health
The oil can help you with problems like memory loss or dementia. It’s a potent antioxidant that can save and improve the functions of your gray brain cells. Recent studies reveal that oil helps treat specific nervous disorders and reduce brain-related risks like stroke.
10. Minimize Wrinkles and Aging
Purple oil is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which not only bring back the brightness of your skin but also prevent wrinkles and lighten the dark spot. Antioxidants fight off the free radicals which can damage your skin gradually and speed up the aging process. You only have to add a few drops of essential oil to your regular skin care products for better results.
11. Healing Function
Occasionally, we all endure minor burns or small cuts. As an anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory oil, initially, the oil can ease pain and irritation. In the long run, applying oil can help your wound to heal faster and naturally. However, you must not rely on this treatment and go for professional help for serious burns or severe wounds.
12. Headache and Migraine
Lavender oil is a natural sedative and has some tranquilizing effect on our brain when used moderately. During a migraine attack or headache, you can inhale the oil vapor to ease the pain and feel better. Soon after using the oil, it will work quite fast and relieve your tension, relax the body, and calm your mind, which will solve your headaches and migraines.
13. It Can Control Diabetes
Recent research has revealed that oil can balance high blood sugar. It can also reduce oxidative stress. Both of them help diabetes patients to control their diabetes levels organically.
14. Decrease Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
If you want to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, you can either inhale their oil with vapor or massage your feet with oil. Both work equally well and help your body and mind relax, indirectly reducing blood pressure and heart rate.
15. Ease Respiratory Constraints
Lavender oil is a reliable anti-inflammatory agent that can reduce the airways’ inflammation for bronchial asthma patients. Moreover, it is helpful for other respiratory conditions like cough, dry cough, flu, cold, etc. According to a study, cineole is very helpful in treating bronchitis, and essential oils like Lavender retain some amount of it.
16. Anti-Inflammatory
The presence of an adequate amount of cineole in Lavender makes it anti-inflammatory, which has a numbing and pain-relieving effect on our body. Anti-inflammatory effects have a diverse use in different skin and respiratory organ-related problems. This property of Lavender is a blessing to skin or respiratory organ irritation problems.
17. Decrease Menopausal and Premenstrual syndrome
Massaging oil on the abdomen or 20 minutes of aromatherapy can decrease menopause-related headaches and hot flashes by restoring the hormonal balance because oil has some proven effects on female hormones. Aromatherapy twice a day is also helpful in alleviating Premenstrual syndromes like cramps and mood swings.
18. Kills Head Lice
Purple oil is good for repelling insects and lice. For lice eradication, you can not solely rely on oil. You must dilute Lavender and tea oil into a career oil like olive or coconut oil and massage the oil on your scalp for three weeks. Hopefully, it will kill the lice entirely and prevent them from returning to your scalp.
19. Alleviate Digestive Problems
Lilac oil can help to alleviate digestive problems such as bloating, gas, and indigestion by relaxing the muscles in the digestive tract. Its antispasmodic properties help to relieve cramps and discomfort, making it a useful natural remedy for digestive problems. This oil can be used aromatically, topically, or internally, although it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it, especially if you have a health condition. When used properly, theoil is considered safe and effective for relieving digestive problems.
20. Improve Oral Health
Purple oil has antiseptic properties that make it useful for improving oral health. It can help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, the oil can help to soothe oral tissues, reducing the pain and discomfort associated with oral problems such as canker sores and gum inflammation.
To use this oil for oral health, it can be added to a glass of water and used as a mouthwash or applied topically to the gums or teeth. However, it is essential to dilute the oil before use and consult with a healthcare professional before using it, especially if you have a health condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to Use Lavender oil
Before use, you must ensure that the oil is 100% pure, USDA-certified, and non-GMO. Otherwise, you can not get the benefits from the products. After collecting the appropriate product, you can try the following processes for the best results related to your problems.
Massage it
The most common way to apply oil is to massage it on your skin. You can pour 3-4 drops of oil on your palm and massage it where necessary. In some cases, you must apply raw oil for a better result, but in most cases, you must mix it with the thinning agent carrier oil, making the massaging procedure smoother and more manageable.
Inhale it
The oil from the bottle contains a strong smell that works adequately on the problem when you sniff it. However, for a better result and more effective outcome, you must mix the oil in hot water and inhale the water vapor. It will work way better and solve your problem slightly faster.
Take a bath with it
Since The Roman time, Lavender has been a popular choice for bathing herbals. It is still in practice. Mix a few drops of oil in your bathtub for a perfect oil bath, and have a long relaxing bath. The oil will work better in mildly hot water. You can sink your feet in the hot oil-infused water for soothing feelings.
Mixing with other Products
It is common practice to mix oil with different skincare and hair products. It will give you a similar effect without much effort. To amplify the result, you can mix oil with other essential oils like tea, rosemary, etc. There are a lot of recipes for particular problems, and you can follow any one of them.
Take it Orally
You can find medicinal products prepared with oil and can consume them directly. There is some culinary use of oil as a flavoring agent. You can find food-grade oil in your local stores and enjoy savory dishes.
Lavender oil Features
| Serial | Features | Description |
| 01 | Botanical Name | Lavandula Angustifolia |
| 02 | Plant Family | Lamiaceae Family or Mint Family |
| 03 | Common Method of Extraction | Steam Distillation |
| 04 | Plant Part Typically Used | Mostly fresh flowers and the stem are used for distillation. |
| 05 | Color | The plant’s color is silvery green; after bloom, the flower can be ranged from purple to violet. |
| 06 | Consistency | Lavender has different chemical intensities based on the plant variant. However, Lavender 40/42 is one of the market’s most consistent and stable products. |
| 07 | Perfumery Note | In perfumery notes, Lavender belongs to the Top/Middle segment. It has a fresh floral smell with a mild fruity vibe. |
| 08 | Strength of Initial Aroma | The strength of the aroma is between the middle to top based on the variant of the plant. |
| 09 | Aromatic Description | Lilac Oil smells moderately floral, sweet, fresh, and herbaceous. Slightly fruity smells are familiar in some variants. |
| 10 | Major Constituents | Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, α-terpineol
Terpinen-4-OL. |
Precautions and Side Effects
Purple oil has a versatile function for our health and benefit; however, you should not use it indiscriminately for all situations. There are particular conditions for which oil can be severely harmful. Hence, before using oil, you must know enough about the side effects of the oil. For your information, we will discuss briefly the preventive measures and side effects of oil below.
Not For Children: During childhood, multiple hormones are active in developing the underdeveloped body of the children. Using oil can disrupt their hormonal balance and create problems beyond repair. For safety reasons, we should entirely avoid using oil for children.
Surgery Safety: Lavender oil can slow down our nervous system, and the use of anesthesia before surgery can dangerously enhance the seductive impact on the patient. Doctors recommended not using oil or anything with anesthetic properties two weeks before surgery.
Medication: If you are on medication for anti-anxiety or sleeping trouble, you should not use lilac oil alongside the medication or mix them while using.
Do not Consume Raw Oil: You can not consume oils unless they belong to the edible version. The pure essential oil can cause blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Allergy Problem: The oil can cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you face something similar to this, get professional help as soon as possible.
Some interesting facts about Lavender oil
- Lavender is one of the oldest herbs associated with human civilization and culture.
- Along with its aromatic characteristics, it has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
- It is well known for its use in perfume, skincare, and hair care products.
- It can soothe and reduce pain and irritation due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lavender bath is an ancient costume since antiquity, and there is a rumor that Queen Cleopatra seduces her lover with the help of Lavender.
- The oil has natural healing power and can repel unwanted insects and bugs from your house.
- It is a well-established ingredient for some western anti-anxiety medicine.
- It can help you with diseases like dementia, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.
- You can find food-grade of it for culinary uses and add unique flavors to your foods.
Final Thoughts
Humans have habituated to Lavender for a long time. It is a crucial ingredient in the perfume industry. Lavender has a deep connection with millennia-old civilization. After a couple of thousand years, it is still coveted, like the advent of civilization. With many health benefits, it has become an integral part of our daily life. We must embrace the blessing of nature, as lavender oil can make our life even better.
