For the Love of Lavender: Therapeutic & Practical Uses
Written by Jennifer Champion, Yoga Teacher, Herb and Aromatherapy Enthusiast
The fragrant fuzzy buds of lavender are beginning to spring from the silvery mounds of foliage in our gardens.
Soon our lavender flowers will be in full bloom displaying the rich shades of purple spikes that I admire, savor and use for edibles, bath and body products and therapy. This is the perfect time to share, enjoy and use this wonderful plant.
I have been passionately exploring growing and using lavender for about twenty years. I use the Lavender leaves, flowers, stems and the essential oil for many practical and therapeutic things including cleaning supplies, body products, edibles and treating headaches and promoting relaxation.
The use of lavender has been documented for about 2500 years. Lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians.
The Greeks and the Romans bathed in lavender scented water. Queen Elizabeth I of England valued lavender as a perfume. It has been said that she commanded that the royal table should never be without conserve of lavender and she had fresh lavender flowers available year round in the garden. She also drank Lavender tea to help ease her migraines and used it as a body perfume.
Lavender has assorted therapeutic properties and freshens everything it touches. Lavandula, derives from the Latin word lavare, which means “to wash.”
To create a wash, take about 16 ounces of water, add a few drops of an unscented liquid soap like Shaklee’s Basic H or Dr. Bonners and about ten drops of lavender essential oil. Shake well before using and try it everywhere. Wash hands and body, dishes, counter tops, bathrooms and floors.
Lavender is soothing and especially helpful for relieving headaches and stress. It brings balance to our emotions. The oil can be rubbed on different parts of the body to slow down the nervous system and encourage relaxation in the body. Make a spritzer with witch hazel, distilled water and lavender essential oil to refresh skin and senses. Put fresh or dried lavender in bath water to ease muscle and mental tensions. A cup of iced or hot tea may help relieve minor anxiety and stomach discomforts and will definitely delight the senses.
Lavender is an antiseptic and calmative. During the First World War, nurses bathed soldiers’ wounds with lavender washes. Eczema, acne, and fungal infections have been successfully treated with lavender. It is one of the few essential oils you can apply directly to your skin. I suggest using it for minor burns and cuts like you would aloe vera. In fact those two combined make an excellent treatment for burns from heat and flame and sunburned skin.
Traditionally Lavender is grown in the Mediterranean. Provence France hosts lavender fields that are beautifully blended into the landscapes, covering thousands of acres in a purple haze. Lavender is also grown in the United States form Washington to Pennsylvania, including in our own backyards.
There are over 200 varieties of Lavender and 28 different species. In our gardens, the English varieties, Lavandula angustifolia, do well including Hidcote, Munstead and Lady. They enjoy at least eight hours of sunlight daily and the well drained, sandy soil. Severe weather like heavy snow does cause the loss of parts of plants and sometimes tender young ones. My oldest plant is eight years old.
Try growing some lavender. You can grow them in pots and move them indoors for the winter or grow them in your yard.
Add a ring of compost around the plant to aid in the essential oil concentration. You may have to trim out some woody stems at times, but it is good to prune the plants to promote new growth and plentiful blooms. You can grow from seed or purchase plants locally.
Lavender usually begins to bloom in June and will re-bloom in early September. To harvest the flowers for drying, cut them just before all the buds fully open. Hang in small bunches upside down in a warm, dark spot with good air circulation. Make a sachet of dried leaves and flowers and place between your pillow and pillow case to enhance a good night’s sleep. Dried and fresh Lavender flowers are edible. When cooking with lavender, use 1/3 the quantity of dried flowers to fresh. Use the flowers in salads, added to soups and stews, used as a seasoning, baked into cookies and brewed into teas. Lavender is a member of the mint family and is close to rosemary, sage, and thyme. It is best used with fennel, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory.
The therapeutic qualities of Lavender can be enjoyed year round. Use it in your garden and home. Soothe your emotions, freshen your skin and attitude and savor this sweet, fragrant herb.
Join us Dancing Earth Herb Farm near Cornpropst Mills for the First Annual Lavender Gathering on Saturday, June 17 from noon until 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association, a nonprofit group. Guests include Keppy Arnoldesen with Green Thumb Services and Earthen Art, Ann Wishard of Sweet Annie Herbs, Chrystal Benson, A Simple Escape Massage Therapy and Jennifer Champion, Dancing Earth Yoga and Gifts of Nature. Enjoy edible lavender samples, discussions about landscaping and medicinal and culinary uses, massages and lavender products.
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.