Walking through a fragrant herb garden at the start of spring births an overwhelming calm in the soul and body. Though lavender is aromatic in the garden and holds purpose in maintaining certain helpful insect life, it is infamous in bath and body products throughout history with specific skin enhancing properties.
Lavender is a native flowering plant initially propagated in the Mediterranean region. The flowers contain a natural chemical byproduct called linalool, which when extracted, enables specific interactions and processes to take place with the skin.
Antiseptic Benefits
Lavender deploys antiseptic effects on infections, numbing them and relieving pain. Applications can be made with a small compress and lavender oil on mild scrapes, wounds, abscesses, and boils.
The pain of a burn from heat or friction can be reduced greatly from the application of lavender oil. Lavender oil is essential in relieving pain and itching, as well as reducing swelling caused by pesky insect bites, wasp and bee stings. Simply dabbing a drop of the oil to the area of the sting can greatly reduce those stinging sensations, according to Clare Maxwell Hudson, author of the bestselling, "Complete Book of Massage and Aromatherapy Massage."
Anti-inflammatory Benefits
Massage therapist's traditionally use lavender massage oils on clients to reduce the chances of spreading infections found on the skin, as well as soothing the client through aromatherapy, according to Licensed Colorado Massage Therapist Carri Reichert. She also states that lavender is one of the safest essential oils available with very rare allergic reactions.
Conditions often benefiting from lavender's anti-inflammatory properties include acne, eczema, psoriasis, as well as dandruff.
Anti-fungal Benefits
Providing anti-fungal properties makes lavender oil a versatile remedy for numerous skin conditions, including athlete's foot and other external issues. On occasion, lavender has been used in the alleviation of vaginal yeast infections when added to 1 tbsp. of yogurt and applied to the area, according to author Clare Maxwell Hudson.
Lavender has not been recorded as being influential in the healing processes internally, and typically contraindicated for treating internal conditions in the United States.
Calming & Soothing Benefits
Interestingly enough, the fragrant effects on the olfactory glands in the nose can enable the skin and muscles in a woman's womb to contract encouraging labor, and therefore should be avoided for the first six months of pregnancy. Always check with a health care professional before using lavender during pregnancy.
References
- Carri Reichert, LMT; Massage & Stress Specialist; Longmont, CO
- Aromatherapy Massage Book by Clare Maxwell Hudson
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