Lavender is the star of the herbal world and is highly prized for its extraordinary medicinal, therapeutic, and cosmetic properties. Lavender is the most versatile of all essential oils and is known for its calming effects on the body, as well as the many benefits it possesses for the hair and skin. Lavender is fragrant in nature, and is regarded for its amazing health benefits and soothing and relaxing effect on the body and mind.
Here are 13 reasons to love lavender essential oil:
1) Insect Repellent
The smell of lavender essential oil is potent for many types of insects. Apply some lavender essential oil on exposed skin when outside to prevent bug bites. In addition, you can use lavender essential oil to reduce irritation from bug bites due to its anti-inflammatory qualities.
2) Acne
Lavender essential oil is one of the most beneficial oils for acne treatment. It inhibits the bacteria that cause infection, helps to regulate some of the over-excretion of sebum, and can help reduce signs of scarring. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to skin creams or ointments can greatly increase its potential for relief and healing.
3) Hair Care
Keep your hair glossy and follicles strong through regular head massages with lavender oil. Lavender is found in numerous hair care products, and for good reason – it’s known to balance scalp oils and rejuvenate the hair from root to tip. It has also been shown to be very effective on lice and hair loss.
4) Digestion
Lavender oil helps stimulate the mobility of your intestine and stimulates the production of bile and gastric juices, which may help treat stomach pain, indigestion, flatulence, colic, vomiting and diarrhea.
5) Insomnia
One of the most well-known uses for Lavender essential oil is its sleep-inducing properties. Some effective ways to use lavender essential oil include; bath salts, candles, sachets, sleep masks, pillow spray, or simply rub some onto your wrists, temples, or the bottoms of you feet.
6) Respiratory Disorders
Lavender eases muscle spasms, fights infection, dulls pain, and can help ease other common breathing problems. It is extensively used for a number of respiratory problems including coughing, throat infections, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, and laryngitis. Apply a few drops of lavender oil on the back, neck, or chest for relief.
7) Immune-boosting
Regular use of lavender oil has been shown to boost resistance to disease by lowering the flow of the stress hormone Cortisol. Cortisol lowers your immunity, which makes you more susceptible to colds and influenza during stressful times.
8) Headaches and Pain
A gentle massage with lavender oil can melt away tension and is an effective way to relieve pain from headache, sore muscles, aching joints, rheumatism and sprains.
9) Stress
Lavender has a calming and relaxing effect. It’s considered a nervous system restorative and helps with sleep, restlessness, irritability, panic attacks, nervous stomach and general nervous tension in the body.
10) Soothe Cuts and Scrapes
Lavender essential oil can be used to disinfect wounds, cuts, and scrapes because of its antimicrobial properties. It is also very soothing and calms the stinging pain as a result of cuts and scrapes.
11) Sunburns
Lavender oil is safe to apply directly to the skin. Apart from the immediate cooling relief it provides, lavender oil promotes new skin growth, improving the healing process, including sunburns.
12) Laundry Freshener
Many essential oils work quite well in the laundry — not just for their aromas, but for cleaning benefits as well. Lavender adds a subtle, flowery aroma to your laundry without it being too overpowering.
13) Seasonal Depression
Lavender can help promote your body’s natural response to seasonal changes thanks to its calming effect on the body and mind. To improve your mood and sleep (which is affected by depression) diffuse oils in a diffuser or rub topically behind your ears for the same benefits.
What’s your favourite way to use Lavender essential oil?
I love lavender!
I just can´t wait to get home and have a bath with lavender oil and relax …so deserved…..
Lavender is my all-time favorite essential oil. Besides those you mentioned, I’ve also used it on bug bites to stop the itching and lesson the swelling. I have a neighbor who adds a few drops (along with honey) to her cheesecakes. It’s pretty incredible! x
I’ve yet to add it into food, but I’m thinking of adding into muffins!
It never fails to amaze me just how amazing lavender oil is!! There’s SO many great uses – I’ve been using it for sunburn all summer so far and it’s like magic in a bottle! I have to save this for future use!
“Magic in a bottle!’ Yes! You’ve described it perfectly!
I personally use it in my bath after a long stressful day. Something about the oils in the water and fragrance really calms me down. I had no idea it had all these other qualities!
It is so unbelievably calming!
I have been using Lavender oil for my sleeping, and headaches. I had no idea about all the other ways it can help you, especially your hair!
I love the smell of lavender. I keep hearing about essential oils but have yet to try them. I will have to check this out given all the benefits of using lavender essential oils. I am pretty sure it will relieve my daily stress of life.
Lavender is such a great scent. Obviously, I knew it was used in laundry and dish washing detergents, but I had no idea it could do so many other things. I’m going to have to add it to the few essential oils in my cabinet. Can’t wait to grab some the next time I’m at the health food store!
There are even more benefits that I haven’t added to this list! Do some research and you’ll see 😉
I have only just begun dabbling and essential oils. I am amazed at all of the things that they can help with. I definitely like that Lavender is immune-boosting. I need all the help with that that I can get.
Love lavender. I use it in my pillow spray, salt scrub and “monster spray” I make for my kids. I didnt know all of these things about lavender. Thank you for sharing.
I just love the idea of ‘monster spray!’ Luckily, I never had to make any for my kids, lol!
I never realized how lavender could help with acne! Lavender essential oil smells so incredible! I love using it for relaxing.
I’ve only started using it for acne recently, and I wish I had used it ages ago! It has such a soothing effect on the skin!
I LOVE lavender essential oil. I have a diffuser in my office when I work and it really helps to relax me and relieve stress. I had no idea it had some many other benefits though. I am going to have to try it for my next breakout.
I have been using Lavender oil for years to help fight off my headaches. After looking at a computer screen all day, sometimes I just need some quiet and a few drops of oil on a defuser or in my bath. It really helps me relax.