5 Amazing Uses for Lavender Essential Oil January 17, 2016 16:46

I'm sure many of you have already heard of lavender oil, as it is one of the most commonly known essential oils out there! What you may not be aware of is the extent of its benefits to your health, beauty and overall wellness. Lavender essential oil is used to treat insomnia, anxiety, headaches and muscle pain and is also antimicrobial and antioxidant. It does wonders for your skin-- even for irritated skin conditions such as eczema and cold sores-- due to its calming and moisturizing effects. But remember; for most of the following treatments, you will need therapeutic-grade, good quality essential oil. 

1. Relaxation and Stress Relief

Place approx. 6-8 drops of lavender oil in a hot bath, add in some natural epsom salts and stir around the water. Our Bedtime Bath Salt is a wonderful product that includes lavender essential oil. Excellent for stress relief at the end of a difficult day or to ease muscle pain. Another way to experience the calming effects of lavender oil is to put a few drops in an essential oil diffuser in your home to create a relaxing atmosphere and to ease anxiety. You could also put a few drops between your palms, rub them together and inhale the aroma (or directly inhale from the bottle). 

2. Antimicrobial

Lavender oil has been proven to be an antimicrobial substance, meaning that it kills/ inhibits the growth of microorganisms (such as bacteria or fungus) that could be harming us and our bodies. That is why it's excellent to apply to cuts, scrapes and burns on the skin. For burns, run the skin under cold water for around 8 minutes, then apply a few drops of pure lavender oil (or lavender diluted with coconut oil) to the affected area using a cloth or cotton ball. For cuts, lavender oil can help stop bleeding and speed up the healing process, and is used to clean cuts so that they don't get infected. It is also effective when used in conjunction with tea tree essential oil. 

3. Skin Treatment

In face oil blends, lavender is an important element for maintaining healthy and beautiful skin. From acne-prone skin to mature, dry skin, lavender essential oil is beneficial for keeping your natural oils in balance and your skin hydrated. Add a few drops to carrier oils such as jojoba, coconut or sweet almond. For skin problems such as eczema, dilute with carrier oil and apply to the affected area. Also beneficial for soothing sunburn when mixed with aloe vera. 

4. A Good Night's Sleep

Lavender oil promotes a better, deeper sleep that leaves you feeling more alert and well-rested the following day. It has been proven to help people with insomnia induce sleep and have less restless nights. This can be achieved by rubbing a 3-4 drops of lavender oil on your pillow at night, or diffusing it in an essential oil diffuser in your bedroom. You can also apply a small amount directly to your chest, neck and temples to help you relax. 

5. Treatment of Cold Sores

Cold sores are a result of the herpes viruses (simplex virus type 1 and 2), and can be very painful. One way to treat this common infection is using lavender oil, which not only soothes the pain and burning sensations but also works towards treating and preventing the virus- because it is an antifungal and antiviral. When combined with tea tree, myrhh and peppermint essential oils and diluted with jojoba oil, it can be very effective in treating the cold sores and alleviating the painful symptoms (more on the recipe and application here).