Lavender's relaxing properties are used on lions and tigers in zoos to keep them calm ...

Lavender has a sweet, floral-herbaceous aroma that is calming, uplifting and refreshing.

Nature: balancing, soothing, purifying

The multitude of qualities lavender possesses makes it an indispensible oil; a must for any essential first aid kit. It is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxifier. If only one essential oil is affordable, choose lavender - it is safe, versatile and gentle.

Ideal in a skin cream or undiluted for burns, scalds, insect bites and wounds.

Principal Actions: Extensive properties for skin care; muscular and rheumatic aches and pains; uplifting and soothing for stress-related conditions.

Practical Uses

Methods of Use: application, aroma lamp, bath, compress, diffusor, inhaler, lightbulb ring, massage, mist spray, steam inhalation, steam room and sauna

Skin Care with Lavender

Lavender balances and restores a healthy complexion, promoting the production of new cells, and helps in the healing of wounds and sores.

For Dry Skin: as a moisturizing facial mix 4 drops lavender, 2 drops rose and 4 drops rosewood into 20ml/4tsp jojoba or evening primrose carrier oil either alone or in combination

For Mature Dry Skin: to moisturize and soften fine lines and wrinkles mix 4 drops lavender, 2 drops jasmine and 4 drops sandalwood into 20ml/4tsp of either borage or avocado carrier oil and massage into the face.

For Normal or Combination Skin: to even out combination skin and to leave your skin feeling soft and supple, mix 4 drops lavender, 2 drops geranium (or ylang ylang) and 4 drops chamomile into 20ml/4tsp of apricot or peach kernel carrier oil and massage into face.

For Sensitive Skin: Mix 4 drops lavender, 4 drops chamomile and 2 drops neroli into 20ml/4tsp of jojoba oil and massage into the skin. If skin is extremely sensitive, increase the amount of carrier oil in the blend.

For Acne: Lavender has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and the essential oil can be applied directly on the blemishes.

• Add 3 drops of lavender to 10ml jojoba or sweet almond oil and apply to affected area 3 times a day.
• To create a powerful antiseptic blend, mix 4 drops of lavender, 4 drops of tea tree and 2 drops of cajeput into 20ml/4tsp grapeseed carrier oil and apply to the affected areas.
• If the skin is inflamed, make a refreshing lavender splash for the face - add 5 drops of lavender to 2 tablespoons spring water. Shake well. Dab over the entire face and leave it.

For Blackheads: Create a facial steam to loosen blackheads. Mix 2 drops of lavender and 1 drop of either tea tree or eucalyptus into 500ml hot water. Cover your head with a towel and lean over the steam for a couple of minutes. Note: Do not use steam treatments on skin that is badly inflamed as it may worsen the condition.

For Broken Capillaries: Mix 4 drops lavender, 2 drops cypress, 2 drops lemon and 2 drops peppermint into 20ml/4tsp of sweet almond carrier oil. Apply to the affected areas.

For Dandruff: Mix 5 drops rosemary, 5 drops lavender and 3 drops tea tree into 7fl oz of distilled water and add two teaspoons of cider vinegar. Pour into a dark bottle and shake well. Gently massage this blend into the scalp every few days.

For Eczema: To heal cracked or damaged skin, or eczema, apply 2 drops benzoin resinoid, 2 drops German chamomile and 6 drops lavender in 20g/4tsp Skin Mousse.

For Scarring: Mix 4 drops lemon, 4 drops frankincense and 2 drops lavender into 20ml/4tsp jojoba carrier oil and massage into the affected area.

For Shaving Rash: Mix 4 drops lavender, 4 drops German chamomile and 2 drops peppermint into 20ml/4tsp of evening primrose carrier oil. Gently apply the mixture to the skin after shaving.

Sunburn: Add 10 drops of lavender or 10 drops of a lavender/chamomile combination to tepid bathwater and soak for approximately 15 minutes. Additionally, mix 5 drops chamomile and 5 drops lavender in 20g/4tsp Skin Mousse. Gently apply to the affected area.

First Aid with Lavender

Abscess (external) or Boil: Apply a hot compress to the area. Add 2 drops lavender, 2 drops tea tree and 2 drops bergamot oil to a bowl of water as hot as you can bear, and soak a piece of absorbent material in the water. Fold the material a couple of times and place it on the abscess. Cover this with a bandage or a piece of plastic wrap to hold the compress in place. Renew when the compress cools to body temperature, and keep it on for at least 30 minutes.

Abrasions, Cuts and Scrapes: Add 5 drops lavender, 2 drops of tea tree to 500 ml warm water and gently bathe the area making sure it is clean. Use 2 or 3 drops of lavender oil on the dressing or apply one neat (undiluted) drop of lavender on the affected area and leave to heal.

Blisters, Insect Bites and Splinters: Apply one drop of lavender or tea tree neat (undiluted) on a blister, insect bite or the site where a splinter has been removed.

Bruises: Apply a cold compress to the area. Add 2 drops lavender, 3 drops rosemary and 1 drop bergamot to a bowl of cold water and soak a piece of absorbent material in the water. Fold the material a couple of times and hold it on the bruised area for about 15 minutes to relieve the pain and reduce swelling.

Wounds: To reduce inflammation, mix 1 drop frankincense, 2 drops lavender and 1 drop geranium in 5ml /1tsp carrier oil and apply to the affected area.

For infected wounds, mix 6 drops bergamot, 3 drops lavender and 3 drops eucalyptus in 20ml/4tsp carrier oil and apply to the affected area.

Circulation, Muscles & Joints

Arthritis and rheumatism: To ease inflammation, mix 2 drops rosemary, 4 drops lavender and 4 drops frankincense in 20 ml/4 tsp evening primrose carrier oil and gently cover the affected area. If the joints are very inflamed or swollen, do not massage over the area.

Respiratory System

Asthma: during an actual asthma attack, sniffing on a tissue with a few drops of: lavender, bergamot, frankincense, or chamomile essential oils may give some relief from the spasm of the airways.

Bronchitis: Mix 10 drops lavender, 10 drops eucalyptus and 10 drops tea tree in 30ml carrier oil. Massage three times a day over the chest and back, concentrating on the back and lung area.

Laryngitis: Create a steam inhalation by adding 3 drops lavender and 1 drop of either ginger, pine or thyme essential oil to 500 ml hot water. Cover your head with a towel and lean over the steam for a couple of minutes.

Digestive System

To help relieve the pain and nausea of a headache brought from gastric upset, blend 2 drops peppermint, 1 drop rosemary and 1 drop lavender. Either inhale 1 drop of this blend on a tissue or use 3 drops in a steam inhalation. The blend can also be added into 5ml/1tsp carrier oil and massaged onto the back of your neck.

Genito-urinary System

Cystitis: An essential oil sitz bath is very effective for treating cystitis. Add 5 drops lavender, 5 drops marjoram and 5 drops coriander to the water. Either run a bath to the level of your hips and sit, or use a bidet or a bowl.

Menopause: To ease the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, headaches, fatigue, mood swings and depression) create a balancing blend to keep handy for “those moments”. To create a multi-purpose master blend, first mix together 10 drops lavender, 10 drops geranium and 5 drops clary sage. From this blend, you can use 10 drops in the bath and/or add 10 drops of the master blend to 20ml/4tsp carrier oil, and use in a massage.

Immune System

Lavender has strong antiviral properties. At the onset of the flu, mix 5 drops tea tree, 2 drops lavender and 2 drops thyme to 5ml/1tsp of carrier oil, or use them in a bath.

To reduce a fever: Mix 2 drops bergamot, 1 drop lavender and 1 drop eucalyptus on to a cold compress and apply to the forehead or pulse points.

As a wide spectrum blend for reducing inflammation, mix 6 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium and 3 drops Roman chamomile into 20ml/4tsp carrier oil and apply to the affected area.

Nervous System

Lavender is calming and sedative, helping to alleviate nervous and stress-related tension. It is excellent in a massage blend for headaches, including migraines.

To ease the symptoms of anxiety and nervous tension, add lavender to aroma lamps, diffusors or a mist spray. Combine lavender with basil, juniper, hyssop, neroli or orange to enhance the calming effects.

Lavender is an anti-depressant, particularly helpful for mood swings resulting from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause. Combine lavender with other uplifting oils such as bergamot, geranium, clary sage, grapefruit, jasmine, melissa (lemon balm) or neroli. Mix 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops lavender and 1 drop geranium and use in a diffusor, bath or as an inhalation.

For headaches brought on by nervous tension: Mix 3 drops lavender and 1 drop chamomile in 5ml/1tsp carrier oil and massage on the temples, base of the skull and along the hairline. This combination can also be placed on a tissue and used as an inhalation, dropped into the bathwater or used in a compress.

To encourage a restful sleep, put a couple drops of lavender on your pillow or add lavender to the bathwater before bed.

To help the body recover from a mental shock: Mix 3 drops lemon, 2 drops geranium and 1 drop of lavender in 10ml/1 dessertspoon of carrier oil and massage on the body before bed.

Lavender is an effective oil to help the body remain in balance under conditions of stress. Three highly powerful oils for helping the body deal with stress are chamomile, lavender and sandalwood, either on their own or in combination.

Lavender in Aromatherapy

Botanical Name: Lavandula augustifolium

Note: Middle – 45

Source: steam distillation of the fresh flowering tops of the shrub native to the Mediterranean region

Description and Odor Effect: a colourless to pale yellow liquid with a sweet, floral-herbaceous aroma. The odor effect is calming, uplifting and refreshing.

Blends well with: most oils, especially well with: bergamot, orange, lemon, geranium, pine, clary sage, eucalyptus. Lavender may be used undiluted or neat.

Applications: bath, body oil, face oil, hot compress (burns) , cold compress(sprains), inhalation, air spray, burner, deodorizer, vaporization, douche, perfume, apply neat (insect stings) hair and scalp (lice)

Therapeutic Properties: analgesic, antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antidepressant (premenstrual syndrome and menopause), antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antistress, antitoxic, antitussive, antivenomous, antiviral, aperitive, calmative, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, cicatrizant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, detoxifier, diuretic, emmenagogue, healing (skin), hypotensor, insect repellent, nervine, parasiticide, regenerator (skin tissue), restorative, reviving, sedative (heart), stimulant (respiratory system), stomachic, sudorific, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary

Safety Data: Non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing; safe for all skin types. Although lavender oil is considered one of the safest essential oils, you should discontinue use if you have any allergic reactions.

Lavender – Quick Reference

Skin Care: abscesses, acne, allergies, athletes foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammation, insect bites and stings, insect repellent, lice, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, sores, spots, all skin types, sunburn, wounds

Circulation, Muscles, Joints: lumbago, muscular aches and pain, rheumatism, sprains

Respiratory: asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, halitosis, laryngitis, throat infections, whooping cough

Digestive: abdominal cramps, colic, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea

Genito-Urinary: cystitis, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea

Immune: influenza

Nervous: depression, headache, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, nervous tension, stress-related conditions, PMT, sciatica, shock, vertigo

Keyword: Immunity

Lavender Magic: Lavender is used in healing mixtures, carried to see ghosts, and worn to protect against the evil eye.

Did you know ... The scent of lavender particularly attracts men, and lavender water or the essential oil was worn by prostitutes several centuries ago both to advertise their profession as well as to attract (through magic) customers.

Lavender Harmony

Add these essential oils to 20 ml / 4 teaspoons carrier oil

To soothe burns or sunburns:

• 6 drops Lavender
• 2 drops Roman Chamomile
• 2 drops Spearmint