Lavender Herbal Information
NAME
Lavender.
LATIN NAME
Lavandula officinalis.
ALSO KNOWN AS
Lavendel.
ORIGIN
France.
PARTS USED
Flowers.
TRADITIONAL HERBAL USES AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Lavender is known for its peaceful, soothing and calming qualities. It helps with sleeplessness, headaches, and irritability as it is calming to the mind.
It is uplifting and aids with clearing low energy, as it is invigorating to a tired brain. It is also known as an anti-depressant.
Lavender is so gentle and soothing for the nervous system, it calms and balances excessive nervousness and states of anxiety.
Lavender is also an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal agent and is the premier plant for healing burns, wounds, sores and stings.
Hot Lavender tea causes sweating and reduces fevers. It helps in this way to detoxify the body, by increasing elimination of toxins via the skin. Also Lavender has a mild diuretic action, and flushes out toxins through the urine.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORY
Lavender is probably the most well known medicinal herb. Originally from France and the western Mediterranean, lavender is now cultivated world wide.
The Romans were responsible for the spread of Lavender throughout Europe and used Lavender in the famous Roman bathouses. They most certainly used Lavender in the fumigation of a sick room, or in preparation for childbirth.
Traditionally the fragrance of lavender was thought to bring good luck and lift sorrow. Bundles of lavender were placed in a pregnant woman's arms to bring courage and strength. It has long been known as an aphrodisiac when mixed with rose buds and placed in a marital bed.
Energetically the lavender plant is thought to bring peace and protection.
CONSTITUENTS
Borneol, cineol (mainly in English Lavender, only a trace in French), geraniol, linalool, limonene, linalyl acetate, linalyl butrate, pinene, tannin
TYPICAL PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE
Lavender flowers can be used in many ways, they can be sewed into a sachet to perfume a space, or used as a pot pourri.
When made into a tea infusion use: 1 heaped teaspoon of dried Lavender flowers to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 15 - 20 minutes. Drink this tea 3 times per day for medicinal effects.
PRECAUTIONS
None known.
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