If you look for top 10 essential oils, probably you would find Lavender essential oil at top of the list. It is top favorites of many people. Lavender has a very pleasant, impactful and nostalgic fragrance. Lavender essential oil plays wonders in calming nerves, treating sleeplessness, relax mind and body. Lavender oil is present in kitty of any aromatherapist.

Even the sight of lavender farms is soothing. If you have never seen a lavender farm, look for some lavender images, even lavender images are soothing to eyes. May be it is something to do with Lavender color, which is very distinct.  Lavender and lavender color are pleasant and calming.

Lavender essential oil properties can be attributed to various chemicals present in lavender oil like a-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, cis-ocimene, trans-ocimene, 3-octanone, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate, caryophyllene, terpinen-4-ol and lavendulyl acetate.  Other benefits which Lavender essential oil offers include disinfecting scalp and skin, stimulate blood circulation, treat respiratory problems including throat infections, cough, cold, sinus congestion and others, hair care.

Fragrance of lavender flowers is one the best gift to humans by nature. Even dried lavender seeds can be kept and offer fragrance. Naturally dried lavender flowers and dried lavender flower powder are good way to enjoy the fragrance for long. Lavender oil is an essential oil with all properties and fragrance of lavender flowers. Lavender oil is extracted by steam distilling flowers of lavender. Traditionally lavender perfumes and lavender perfume oils are available. Aroma of lavender also makes lavender oil used in cosmetics products; you would definitely find lavender soap, lavender car refreshers, lavender room refreshers, lavender bath products like lavender shower gel, lavender scrub, lavender body lotions, lavender hand sanitizers, lavender shampoos, and the list of lavender products goes on and on. You can convert any item of daily use using a refreshing lavender oil. This is the best way of enjoying aromatherapy benefits of lavender oil.

Aromatherapy is a modern term of enjoying benefits of pure, rejuvenating fragrance of essential oils including lavender essential oil to sooth ailments and get good health.

Tickle your nervous system with Lavender oil aromatherapy

The calmness we find on fragrance Lavender essential oil, is because lavender aroma sort of tickles your nerves. However stressed they may be, the little ticking or stimulation relaxes them. Stress on nerves could be because of several reasons – lack of sleep, migraine, headache, depression, emotional stress. Refreshing aroma of lavender essential oil would reduce nervous stress. In contract with sedatives which relieve nerves but decrease mental activity, aromatherapy using lavender oil would not only relieve nerves but also enhance mental activity. The scent of lavender acts as excellent tonic for nerves.

A study showed how lavender oil aromatherapy and lavender oil massage helped reduce disruptive behavior in people with dementia.

Having Sleeplessness, try lavender oil

The calming effect of lavender aroma would help treat insomnia or sleeplessness. In normal case, it shall help you get a sound sleep. So next time you have a tough exam or assignment next day, use lavender oil head massage. Not only you would get sound sleep but also you would feel refreshed and mentally active for your assignment.

Studies have shown that insomnia in especially elderly person or people with medications can be treated by lavender essential oil as simple as applying lavender essential oil to your blanquet or pillow.

Scent your bedroom with lavender diffuser or lavender hydrosol or lavender pillows. You can also add lavender oil to your bed clothes or quilts.

Reduce anxiety through lavender essential oil therapy

Anxiety makes you restless and hyper on feelings and mental activity. The calming effect of lavender helps you relax and fight anxiety. Just try using lavender room freshener in your meeting room, and find reduction in levels of disagreements! The fragrance inspires feeling of energy and mental clarity. You can carry the lavender scent with you on small handkerchief or tissue, and smell whenever you feel stressed or anxious, it would help.

Enhance Sexual pleasure using lavender oil aromatherapy

Use lavender aroma in your bedroom to arouse your mind. You may find sexually exciting pleasure through lavender fragrance. You won’t mind even trying a lavender condom! Applying lavender oil to your skin or body hyper activates your sexual hormones. It is not worth talking much, why not try yourselves and add wings to your fantasies.

Pain relief using lavender oil aromatherapy

Lavender oil is frequently used for relieving headaches. Often they are caused by stress. Lavender oil reduces anxiety and relaxes muscles of head, neck and shoulder. You can apply few drops of lavender oil to a cloth and place it on your temple and just try to enjoy the smell. You would notice diminishing headache. In case you are having joint or muscle pain, rub some lavender oil diluted with coconut oil to the joint. You shall get a pain relief.

Aromatherapy mixtures are appropriate for use by nurses in pregnancy labor and delivery settings. Research has shown how lavender essential oil can be useful for women’s health setting and labor and delivery. Another study showed that lavender oil aromatherapy can relieve premenstrual symptoms, and ultimately, support the mind and body health of women.  Lavender essential oils and massage are used in  intrapartum and post partum care by midwifes and nurses. Lavender oil massage is useful in reliving colic pains in infants.

Treat your respiratory problems with lavender fragrance

Lavender oil is widely used for various respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. Adding lavender oil to water and inhaling steam is best way to treat such respiratory problems. Nasal congestion and phlegm can be well treated with lavender oil. It helps speeding recovery process in respiratory problems. Lavender oil also has antibacterial and antiviral properties which are useful.

Stimulate your blood circulation using lavender oil massage

Tired of hectic activity and stress of office? Just drop in to a spa and ask for Lavender massage. You shall be charged up for the next week.

Lavender essential oil improves blood circulation along with reducing hypertension and blood pressure. Increased blood circulation shall help increase oxygen levels in body, promote muscle strength and stamina. You would notice a bright skin as it gets flushed with more blood supply. Lavender oil also has anti-inflammatory effect which is useful in case of arthritis.

There are several other uses of lavender oil. To summarize other benefits of lavender oil, it is useful in treating Acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete’s foot, bruises, burns, chicken pox, colic, cuts, cystitis, depression, dermatitis, dysmenorrhea, earache, flatulence, headache, hypertension, insect bites, insect repellent, itching,  labor pains, migraine, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, scars, sores, strains, stress, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough. Julia Lawless,

Applications of lavender oil aromatherapy

The benefit of lavender essential oil can be applied through baths, massage, compresses, vaporisers, atomizers, inhalations and many other ways. Some of the applications of lavender oil are discussed here.

Lavender Bath

Charge up your body and mind for daily activity through lavender bath! Add some lavender oil in your bathing water. You can use lavender bathing gel or lavender shower gel. Lavender soaps are very common.

You may also add some drops of lavender oil to your wet hair, rinse and take a shower. Lavender oil vapours would keep you fresh.

Lavender Vaporisation

Add lavender oil to steaming water and inhale the steam. This is good to treat respiratory disorders.

Lavender Massage

Next time you visit a spa, ask for lavender massage and you shall experience blood rushing in your body. Dilute lavender oil with other massage oil like coconut oil or herbal oil. Massaging babies with oil help them with happy stomach and keep them energetic.

Lavender Tissues/Handkerchief

Add few drop of lavender oil to your hanky or tissue and carry the fragrance with you. If you have blocked nostrils, inhaling lavender oil would provide instant relief. You may keep a cotton ball with lavender oil as well.

Lavender Manicure and Pedicure

Add some lavender oil to warm water and soak your feet and hands. Keep for half hour for wonderful results. You may apply lavender lotion after drying your feet for long lasting feel.

Lavender Compress

This is used in relieving from muscular pain. Add some drops of lavender essential oil to warm water, soak tissue or towel, squeeze excess water out and compress against your body or paining body part. Repeat this for some time. Cold water can be used if you have some ligament damage or sprain.

Lavender lotion or tinture

Lavender oil is helpful in case of small burn or some injury. Clean burn with cold water and apply some lavender lotion or lavender tincture. It helps speeding up healing process.

Lavender aerosols

Use a lavender room freshener or car freshener for soothing and pleasant mood in your room or car.

Lavender hydrosols

Lavender hydrosols are good alternative as skin lotion or skin hydrator. While toning skin it also offers anti-inflammatory effect. Use lavender hydrosol in place of your aftershave.

Lavender hair oil

Scent your hair with lavender oil. It not only keeps lices way, keeps scalp healthy but also offers long lasting aroma and its soothing benefits.

Precautions to be taken while use of lavender oil

Test on small patch of your skin if you are allergetic to lavender oil before using it. Hyper sensitive skin, skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, headache are some reactions of lavender oil allergies.

Study shows that in small children or children yet to reach puberty, it stimulates sex hormones and can result in premature puberty. A study showed use of lavender soap or shampoo by small children resulted in gynecomastia, breast development in a male, in boys

Oral consumption of lavender oil should be strictly avoided.

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