Ahh, The Joys of Lavender!
Who doesn't love the divinely floral scent of lavender oil? The fragrant flowers of lavender have been used for making potpourris for hundreds of years. But there's more to lavender than just it's light, fresh, floral-herbaceous fragrance.
Used by the ancient Romans for its healing and antiseptic properties, lavender has been increasingly recognized for it's soothing benefits, it's ability to enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems and enhance just about any oil it is used with. It has also make its way into expensive department store creams and grocery store baby lotions.
But did you know that those expensive creams and lotions aren't always what they claim to be?
We'll talk more about that in a moment, but first, lets talk about some of the physical benefits of lavender oil.
The Benefits Of Lavender Oil
Lavender is very versatile with benefits that range from physical to mental. In general, the scent has a calming effect which may aid in relaxation and the reduction of anxiety. Let's look at some of the better known benefits of lavender oil:
- Skin care - lavender is very nourishing to the skin and is used for acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammation conditions of the skin. Its cell regeneration properties help heal wounds and cuts. It's suitable for all skin types.
- Burns - Lavender oil assists in the healing of burns and has been a burn remedy for centuries.
- Sleep and Insomnia - lavender induces sleep and relaxation - sleep is an important part of health and feeling well. A drop or two of lavender on your pillow helps quite the mind and body to let you drift off into sweet slumber.
- Muscular Pain - lavender soothes sore, tense or aching muscles. Its great after a workout or a strenuous day. Massages with lavender oil are supremely relaxing.
- Stress Relief - lavender oil is known to reduce stress and irritability
- Hair care - lavender oil moisturizes dry scalp and hair and can restore luster
- Headaches - while lavender oil won't replace a visit to your doctor when necessary, it's relaxing effects have been known to ease headaches and migraines
- Mental ability - lavender improves concentration and focus
- It's balancing, calming and soothing properties
- It's WONDERFUL scent!
Lavender oil is steam-distilled from the flowers of the lavender plant. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourris since years.
Because of it's wonderful scent, lavender oil has been used in the production of perfume for centuries as well as in aromatherapy. But it's uses go beyond fragrance. According to Wikipedia: "It may also help to relieve pain from tension headache when breathed in as vapor or diluted and rubbed on the skin. When added to a vaporizer, lavender oil may aid in the treatment of cough and respiratory infection.
Lavender oil may also be used as a mosquito repellent when worn as perfume or when added to lotions or hair products…. lavender oil can be used as first aid and to treat a variety of common ailments."
Are All Lavender Oils The Same?
What should you know before picking up that store-bought lavender scented product?
There is a big difference in quality between lavender oils and lavender scented products. The biggest difference is that most store lavender products are synthetically altered, diluted and contain chemicals. You get very little actual essential oil, and a lot of chemicals and artificial fragrances, which are harmful to your body. That's because whatever you put on your skin gets absorbed quickly into your bloodstream.
Skin Absorbency
Most people don't realize that what they put on their skin gets absorbed into the body, but it is a fact. Science and medicine have recently discovered that skin absorption is a powerful delivery mechanism of the body. In fact, science is using our skin as a highly reliable vehicle for transporting chemicals into the bloodstream with nicotine and hormone patches.
When chemicals are absorbed by the skin, they increase free radical oxidation of our cells and wear the cells down over time, causing premature aging, as well as increase the toxic load on the kidneys and liver.
If you are concerned about harsh and toxic chemicals, dyes and additives getting into your bloodstream, it makes sense to use the purest, highest-grade lavender oil available. The highest grade is therapeutic-grade.
Therapeutic-grade essential oils are carefully made every step of the process. Everything from the soil the plants are grown in to the plant species, through the distillation process is very natural and healthful. There are no chemicals added, and nothing is diluted. Therapeutic-grade oils are extremely pure and potent.
Get the highest quality therapeutic-grade lavender oil here on this site.