Lavender is a beautiful, fragrant plant from the Lamiacae family, with flowers in the shades of blue and violet. It is native to the Mediterranean area, nowadays spread across the world, mainly in the Euro-Asian and African continent. The name comes from the Latin “lavare” = to wash, a reference to its former use for washing clothes.
It includes more than 30 species; however, the various lavenders share similar ethnobotanical properties and major chemical constituents.
Lavender is well known for its pleasant scent, and its fragrant essential oils are used in perfumes and cosmetics. The buds are also used as spices for culinary purposes, while the lavender honey is also highly valued. Moreover, it is recognised as an important component in herbalism and natural medicine.
Lavender contains linalool, tannins, camphor, terpenes, coumarin and other chemical substances, which contribute to its diverse curative properties.
Lavender is mostly known as an antioxidant, anti-spasmodic, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound-healing, anxiolytic and relaxing agent.
Numerous medical studies investigate the above-mentioned effects and recommend the use of this plant as complementary medicine with minimal side effects.
Lavender essential oil might occasionally cause undesired side effects as e.g., skin irritation or an allergic reaction. Also, constipation and headache have been reported.
Lavender is a beautiful, undemanding plant, rich in health beneficial properties, thus affecting positively psychological and physical well-being, used either as an essential oil in aromatherapy (several drops in a vaporiser), or in preparation of ointments, massage oils, and other local applications (1-5% dilution in a carrying oil). It is always recommended to test the skin reaction before application.
Lavender buds can be employed as a condiment for desserts as well in salty dishes, or as a pure herbal infusion (one entire spike per litter of boiling water).
Author: Kristina Höschlová
January 7, 2023
For more information about Lavender and its use in the complementary medicine including scientific references, please go to the “Applied techniques” section => Herbal Medicine.
During the Mehana Programs 2023 you will be welcome to test or purchase some of the pure Mehana herbal products based upon the precious Lavender essential oils.
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