If you’ve been to a spa recently, you’re sure to be familiar with the fresh, distinctive smell of lavender, the aromatic herb used for centuries to treat an array of health conditions. Floral, sweet and herbaceous, with a balsamic, woodsy undertone, the aroma of lavender is purifying, calming and uplifting. Over the past decade or two, why has it been lavender that has become the most popular and well-known of essential oils? Journalists, retailers and health professionals alike all sing the praises of lavender, and nowadays it is a rare person who does not know a little about lavender oil and its beneficial effects for many conditions ranging from stress and sleep issues to relief from pain and anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at the plant that is quickly outgrowing its ‘folk remedy’ reputation and starting to shine as a scientifically studied natural health superstar.
There are about 40 – 50 plants that make up the lavender genus, or family, known by the Latin name ‘Lavandula.’ Lavender is mentioned in the Bible, where it is named as spikenard or simply nard, from the Greek name for lavender (‘naardus,’) after the Syrian city of Naarda. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphics showing lavender being used in cosmetics and embalming can be found on temple walls, and costly unguents were made with lavender infused into oils and waxes. The Gospel of John states “then took Mary Magdalene a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” There are records of lavender being used as a helpful home use herb through the Renaissance and up to the present day, where it first became recognized for its burn healing and wound repairing abilities during the First World War. Lavender plants have been used in natural healing traditions around the world for over 2,500 years, and the popularity of lavender has never been higher.
Lavender essential oil is distilled from the tops of the flowering plants, yielding a volatile, fragrant essential oil and a mild-scented lavender water, or hydrosol. Both the essential oil and the hydrosol are used in classical aromatherapy. Lavender is now grown throughout the world, most notably in France, Bulgaria, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Canada and the USA. In recent years the United States has developed a burgeoning lavender industry, with farms in Washington, Oregon and California. Many believe that the best lavender grows at high altitudes, where inhospitable climate conditions force the lavender to struggle to survive, resulting in a powerfully fragrant and highly bioactive oil. Within the species Lavendula, there are many varieties. Mostly widely grown are Lavandula angustifolia (also known as Lavandula vera,) known as ‘true’ lavender, and Lavandula x intermedia, a hybrid known as ‘lavandin.’ The yield of the lavandin plant is much higher than that of true or English lavender, as the demand for lavandin for commercial products is much greater than for the more expensive true lavender, which is used in luxury bath and body care products and fine perfumery.
The differences between the two major lavender types can easily be experienced by smelling them both. While all lavenders contain over 120 individual components in their chemical makeup, lavandin contains 6 – 8% camphor, unlike true lavender, which contains less than 1%. Lavandula angustifolia has a rich, sweet, honey-like aroma due to its high ester content, making this variety the lavender of choice to treat stress, anxiety, depression and emotional issues. Lavandula x intermedia, by comparison, has a sharper and more penetrating aroma. Like other varieties of lavender that grow at low elevations or in coastal locations, such as Lavandula latifolia or Lavandula spica, Lavandula x intermedia contains higher levels of 1,8 cineole and camphor, naturally occurring chemicals that are particularly useful in the treatment of respiratory conditions, joint pain and arthritis. Because lavender is one of the most adulterated and mislabeled essential oils in the commercial market, it is important to seek out a reputable supplier or consult a trained practitioner to determine the best lavender for each condition.
People new to aromatherapy often ask how to use essential oils. There are basically two ways: through inhalation (using an ultrasonic diffuser or vaporizer, or inhaling the essential oil directly from the bottle or a tissue) and application (diluting the essential oil in a “carrier” or unfragranced base such a lotion or cold-pressed seed or nut oil. For topical application in a massage or body treatment, the general rule of thumb is to blend twelve to fifteen drops of essential oil in one ounce of carrier oil. A few drops of lavender oil can be gently swirled directly into a lukewarm bath or added to Epsom salts or unfragranced liquid soap base for a luxurious bath soak. Lavender oil can also be added to unfragranced shampoo and conditioner for healthy hair or blended with a heavier ointment base for nail and cuticle care. A few drops added to a glass spray bottle filled with bottled or spring water provides a refreshing spritz that can be used to calm and revitalize aggravated skin and stressed-out nerves.
Lavender oil is an adaptogenic, broad spectrum oil, meaning that it positively affects all body systems. It is often referred to by aromatherapists as ‘a first aid kit in a bottle’ due to its usefulness in a wide variety of health and wellness applications. It is the go-to oil for nervous system disorders and all problems of an emotional nature. It is very successful in treating a range of skin conditions and is cytophilactic, meaning that it quickly heals and regenerates skin cells. It is very useful to apply to headaches and painful joints and muscles, eases digestive discomfort, and is the oil of choice for treating stress, insomnia and sleep disorders.
Lavender’s popularity has led to the publication of numerous scientific studies that underscore the empirical knowledge of the aromatherapist. Fortunately, these studies are increasing in number, leading to greater awareness and acceptance of lavender oil for the treatment of many conditions. A study conducted at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Otago in New Zealand confirms lavender’s calming effect on the central nervous system, indicating clinical benefits in the treatment of agitation, hyperactive states and attention deficit disorder. A University of Miami study found that mothers and infants who took evening baths containing a few drops of lavender oil experienced significant stress reduction, lowered cortisol levels and deep sleep. A Thames Valley University (UK) study showed that combinations of various lavender oils dramatically inhibited methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA.) A similar study at the College of Biological and Environmental Engineering in Hangzhou, China, concluded that lavender essential oil demonstrated ‘remarkable’ antimicrobial activity against four strains of bacteria and four strains of fungi in vitro. Lavender is emerging as a potent ingredient in a new generation of anti-bacterial household and personal care products.
On the medical front, lavender is providing some surprising discoveries. Mental stress is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular events and impaired coronary circulation. The Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Chiba in Japan studied a group of male subjects and discovered that inhalation of lavender oil (four drops in 2/3 ounce of hot water) reduced serum cholesterol and increased coronary flow velocity reserve, providing immediate improvement in circulation. In the area of cancer prevention and therapy, monoterpenes --- naturally-occurring compounds in lavender --- have now been shown to prevent cancer cells from multiplying by causing apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Monoterpenes are immunomodulatory and exhibit strong anti-tumor activity. They are chemo preventive against liver, lung, mammary and UV-induced skin cancers, and chemo therapeutic against mammary and pancreatic cancers. Continued scientific research is confirming lavender’s efficacy in the treatment of chronic pain, migraines and headaches, and it is the subject of research experiments at labs that are tackling the increasing challenges of depression, insomnia and sleep disorders. From its humble beginnings as a folk remedy, lavender is destined to play a significant part in the medicine of the future.
To learn more about lavender firsthand, you don’t have to travel to France. A little-known treasure just a couple of hours outside of Los Angeles is the 20-acre, organic lavender farm, 123 Farm, at the Highland Springs Resort in Beaumont, CA. During its lavender festival (May/June/July each year) you can stroll through the fragrant fields, learn about distillation and sample their lavender-infused foods and products. Bring your friends and family and fall in love with lavender! www.123farm.com
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