Lavender oil is steam distilled from the bluish-purple flowers of the lavender plant. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region and is now cultivated throughout the world. It has a distinctive floral aroma used to scent personal care and home fragrance products. Lavender essential oil is generally more reasonably priced than other essential oils, and it has a wide variety of uses.
Bath Oil
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lavender oil has mildly sedative properties, and helps with relaxation and bringing on sleep. In herbal medicine and aromatherapy, it is believed that lavender soothes sore muscles and reduces pain from inflammation. It's also an appropriate aromatherapy oil to use on children. Add a few drops of lavender oil to a bath right before bed to calm yourself or a child and prepare for sleep. Lavender essential oil doesn't mix with water, so mix the oil with a little milk or a carrier oil such as olive or sweet almond oil before adding it to the bath.
Pain Relief
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports a small study in which lavender oil was used to help with post-operative pain control. Patients who received oxygen with lavender oil added to it had less pain than the control group. Lavender's sedative and anxiety-reducing properties may help with pain management, either by inhaling it or rubbing it on the skin.
Massage Oil
Lavender's soothing aroma makes it an excellent choice for a relaxing massage oil. Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil before rubbing it on sore muscles.
Skin Cleansing
Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be used undiluted on the skin. Used with tea tree oil, it may help speed healing of minor wounds. It can also soothe sunburn. In herbal medicine, lavender is believed to have antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, and is used in natural remedies for acne, yeast infections, athlete's foot and eczema.
Scenting Personal Care Products
According to the Environmental Working Group, artificial fragrances in personal care products may contain chemicals that are harmful for your family's health. Add lavender oil to unscented lotion, shampoo or face cream to give the product a safe and natural scent.
Dryer Sheet
Place a few drops of lavender oil on a clean, damp cloth and add it to the clothes dryer for the last 10 minutes of drying. The aroma will lightly scent the clothes. A lavender oil dryer sheet added to a load of sheets will leave lavender's soothing scent in the bed, which might help you fall asleep.
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