Lavender Essential Oil Profile
Properties, Characteristics and Uses of Lavender EO in Aromatherapy
Lavender essential oil is one of the most commonly used oils for aromatherapy, home health and natural medicine. A universal essential oil, lavender has many benefits.
Essential Oil Botanicals: Lavender essential oil is made by steam distillation using only the flowers of the lavender plant. Lavandula officinalis makes a more complex and desired essential oil, but is more expensive because of the difficulty in creating it. Lavandula angustifolia is easier to grow, but the essential oil derived from that variety is slightly more limited in its uses.
Lavender oil is often sold as "lavandin" which is a poor quality, cheap oil that should not be used for health care at all.
Scent: Lavender essential oil has a sweet, floral scent.
Color and Body Grade: A clear essential oil, Lavender is generally considered a middle note oil, but can be used as either a base or top note depending on what other essential oils you combine it with.
Essential Oil Chemical Content: Linalyl acetate (30-60%), linaloal, geranial, caryophyllene, lavandulylacetate, cineol, nerol, cumarin, and fat aldehydes.
Lavender Oil Properties: Lavender essential oil has soothing, calming, and restorative properties. The essential oil is antiseptic, cooling and mild. Considered the universal oil, lavender is readily used neat, or undiluted, and combines well with almost all other oils for a wide variety of benefits. Many aromatherapists say lavender is the first essential oil to get.
Lavender Essential Oil Physical Benefits and Effects:
- Skin care – especially dry or acne prone skin
- Headaches – rub a drop or two on the temples for tension migraine relief.
- Burns – The cooling, soothing and skin restorative effects are good for anti-inflammatory sunburn care. Documented use as an emergency care for heatstroke until medical personnel can arrive.
- Insect Repellent/Bites and Stings – Repel bugs and takes the sting away from bites.
- Blood Pressure and Heart – Soothes heart palpitations and lowers blood pressure because of anti-stress properties
- Congestion/Asthma – Anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects make lavender good for respiratory support. Suitable for use with children as well.
- Dandruff – Stimulating and moisturizing effects help with hair shine and dry scalp.
Lavender Mental/Psyche Effects:
- Anti-Stress – Calming and soothing effects help counteract stress hormones
- Antidepressant – Lavender is a well-documented antidepressant essential oil.
- Refreshing and Uplifting – Can help balance mood swings and PMS symptoms
- Insomnia – A mild sedative effect for restless or anxious nights
Precautions for Using Lavender: There are very few precautions with the use of lavender essential oils, and the greatest concern would be to make sure a high-quality essential oil is procured. It is one of the most commonly corrupted oils, so if lavender essential oil is available at a very cheap price, chances are it is tainted and not suitable for home health use!
Therapeutic Essential Oil Combinations: Lavender oil combines well with almost any other oil and can stimulate, strengthen and complement the effects of other oils because of its highly complex nature.
- For PMS or mood swings try combining lavender with ylang ylang or clary sage essential oils.
- For respiratory support combine with eucalyptus or rosemary essential oils.
- For depression symptoms use lavender with orange, bergamot or sandalwood essential oils.
- For insomnia use chamomile (Roman) with lavender for a soothing essential oil blend.
- For Insect bites and stings try mixing lavender with tea tree or geranium essential oil.
A word about essential oils: All essential oils are highly concentrated, but very few are suitable for undiluted (neat) use on the skin. Dilute essential oils in carrier oils such; put a few drops in a cup of Epsom salts and dissolve in a bath tub of water or use drops in a diffuser, vaporizer or humidifier. Only the highest quality essential oils should be used. Please consult your health care professional with any questions or concerns about your natural health care program.
Sources:
- Tappan's Handbook of Healing Massage Techniques by Tappan and Benjamin. 4th Edition.
- Aromatherapy Massage by Clare Maxwell-Hudson
- Aromatherapy: Scent and Psyche by Peter and Kate Damian
- Aromatherapy for Health Professionals by Len Price and Shirley Price
