Lavender ~ Healing Benefits and Uses
Welcome to my little deep dive into some of the benefits and uses for growing and using common herbs such as lavender. I intend to make a little series out of this so stay tuned if you would like to take a deep dive with me into different herbs and their healing benefits.
When you think of sleep problems and natural remedies, you are most likely going to think or lavender. It is one of the more commonly referred to herbs when you hear about essential oils and sleep. In fact, there is a huge misconception that lavender is only good for sleep and calming. The truth is, there are several healing benefits of lavender that most people may not even know about. Here are a few of those healing benefits, what to know about attaining these benefits, and tips that you may need to know.
Lavender is a wonderful herb that is often used for mental health, skin problems, and even fungal infections. You might find it in plant form or have used lavender essential oil.
Lavender is very easy to find in its various forms, including dried, essential oils, and tea leaves. It has a light, flowery scent, and its immense number of benefits are what make it one of the most popular herbs and essential oils that you can get your hands on.
Health Benefits of Lavender
Relieve pain –
This is probably one of the most common reasons people use lavender. It is great at reducing mild pain, from headaches to gastrointestinal distress.
Improve your sleep –
Whether you have insomnia or stress-related sleep issues, lavender is calming and can help you get a good nights’ sleep.
Help manage blood pressure –
Lavender has been shown in many studies to help balance out blood pressure levels, often from reducing stress.
Reduce anxiety and stress –
Naturally, lavender is wonderful for mental health conditions, including chronic stress and anxiety.
3 Ways to Use Lavender to Help Relieve Pain
Minor Burns
Lavender can be infused in an oil and used on minor burns to help ease the pain, inflammation, and the burn itself. This is one of the leading benefits outside of the normal calming benefits the herb is known for.
Making the ointment is fairly simple. You should use an oil that can harden or be whipped into a lotion, such as coconut oil. Add Vitamin E or sweet almond oil to help give it more skin restorative properties and help sooth the skin around the burned area. You can pre-make the ointment or lotion and store in an airtight jar.
Bug Bites
Bug bites usually mean reaching for a form of itch relief cream. The same lavender ointment or lotion that you use for burns can be used on bug bites as well. The added bonus to the anti-inflammatory properties of the lavender is that it also works as an antiseptic. It can help clean the area, draw out any infection or poisons from the bug bite, and soothe the area all in one easy to apply ointment.
If you have a pure lavender essential oil, you can also apply it directly if you are out and about and the oil is easier to take with you.
Skin Irritations
Skin irritations caused by sunburn, dry skin issues, or rashes can be soothed by lavender as well. The healing benefits help calm the rashes or dryness causing the irritation and help keep it from spreading. They also help soothe the area so the skin can restore itself. In addition to these benefits, the lavender can also help keep the skin hydrated and smooth during the healing process.
If you decide to buy lavender from a local store, make sure you are buying pure lavender. In some cases, you may be purchasing a dried form of lavender that has been enhanced in some way to add to the scent. These extra perfumes and sprays can detract from the healing properties of lavender and may actually cause allergic reactions.
Of course, if you want to ensure you are getting a pure lavender experience look for organic or grow it yourself.
Related Posts:
- 4 Easy-to-Grow Culinary Herbs Ideal for Small Spaces
- What are Essential Oils and how can I use them around the homestead?
- Do Essential Oils Really Work and What are some of their Health Risks
- How To Grow Lavender – West Coast Seeds
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