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The Wonderful World of Lavender Essential Oil: Unveiling Its Many Benefits
The lavender essential oil has a long history of use in aromatherapy and other healing practices. Lavender is a queen of essential oils, and for a good reason. It has many properties that make it helpful in reducing anxiety, insomnia, stress, and more.
Where does the Lavender oil come from?
Lavender oil is produced by distilling the flowers of the lavender plant. Lavender oil has a light, floral scent that is calming and refreshing. It is one of the most popular essential oils due to its versatility and wide range of benefits. Due to its chemical composition and high content of monoterpenes, such as linalool, linalyl acetate, lavandulol and many other natural ingredients, lavender oil has a wide range of benefits.
The top benefits of lavender essential oil
Skin conditions
Lavender oil can be used diluted with a carrier oil and applied topically. Studies show that lavender oil has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It can be used to treat fungal infections, allergies, depression, and eczema and may prevent and heal acne. It can be added to face or body cream, body oil, or shower gel. However, people with sensitive skin need to be cautious when using essential oils, as they can irritate. Lavender oil should not be used by pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before using this oil. [1, 2, 3 ]
Headaches
Lavender oil can be diffused into the air to create a relaxing and refreshing atmosphere. It can also help ease a headache. One study showed that the experimental group who suffered from regular migraines reported significantly less severity of migraine attacks for the next two hours after regular 15-minute lavender-smelling sessions. [4]
Insomnia
When used in aromatherapy, lavender oil is thought to help promote relaxation, calm the mind and help with insomnia. A study showed that Lavender oil improved sleep quality and helped people fall asleep faster, and increased the percentage of deep sleep time. Lavender oil can be diffused into the air before bed or added to a bathtub before bedtime. [5, 6, 7]
Anxiety
Lavender oil is also a natural antidepressant. One study found that lavender oil performed the same as a prescription medication in reducing anxiety. Both groups of participants reported an almost identical decrease: one group of participants took the anxiety-reducing medication while another group took an oral dosage of lavender oil, and the results were 45% and 46%, respectively. While lavender may help soothe mild anxiety, it should not be used to replace professional medication prescribed by a doctor. If you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms (constant worrying, fatigue, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat), make sure to consult with a health professional. [8, 9]
What should You look for to get all the benefits?
If you are looking for an essential oil that offers a wide range of benefits, lavender oil is a go-to. It is easily accessible and can be used in various ways to support your health and well-being. However, carefully read the label when purchasing oil or products from Lavender. The product label should state that it contains Lavender oil/essential oil (most of the time, it will have a Latin name as well) and not fragrance oils, as fragrance oils do not offer the same therapeutic benefits. Like any other essential oil, Lavender oil should come in a dark brown or blue bottle or otherwise protected from direct sunlight. This way, oil stays potent for longer.
For easier applications, you can use lavender essential oil in the form of home scents.
