Health Benefits

The Power of Lavender

The use of lavender is found to have many relaxing, healing and therapeutic properties.  
Lavender Fresh Farm investigates many resources to bring information and knowledge to the public regarding the benefits of lavender.  These resources include, but are not limited to, the following:  National Library of Medicine, Science Direct, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, Cochrane Library, and other reputable sources near and far. In all cases the information and knowledge comes from Universities and Medical Research Centers from New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, and even the Middle and Far East.  These are published research papers that have been produced using the standard scientific methods.  


Uses & Health Benefits:

 

ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – Lavender essential oil is a significant help with children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.  In aroma/massage therapy lavender essential oil helps calm children and adults allowing them to focus.  


Allergies

Lavender can help give you some allergy relief.  Don’t let allergies get you down – Lavender is known to reduce inflammation, strengthen your body against allergens, and reduce painful symptoms from allergies, like swelling or pressure. Lavender contains linalool, which can have anti-inflammatory actions that may help relieve tissue congestion.
Unpleasant season allergy symptoms can attack your immune system at any time. Thankfully, using Lavender alone or in a blend is a great way to support your body’s immune system.


Alzheimer's / Dementia

Recently, the importance of non-pharmacological therapies for dementia has come to the fore.  It has been found that aroma/massage lavender essential oil therapy has been found to have positive results for improving cognitive function in many Alzheimer/Demntia patients.   A Lavender aromatherapy hand massage program is effective on emotions and aggressive behavior of elderly with dementia of the Alzheimer's type.


Bug Repellent

Lavender essential oil is potent for many types of bugs like mosquitoes, midges, and moths. Apply some of the lavender oil on the exposed skin when outside to prevent these irritating bites. Furthermore, if you do happen to be bitten by one of those bugs, the lavender essential oil has anti-inflammatory qualities that will reduce the irritation and the pain associated with bug bites.


COVID-19 / SARS

Lavender essential oils (EOs) have long been known to have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, bronchodilatory, and antiviral properties and are being proposed to have activity against SARC-CoV-2 virus. Owing to their lipophilic nature, EOs are advocated to penetrate viral membranes easily leading to membrane disruption. Moreover, EOs contain multiple active phytochemicals that can act synergistically on multiple stages of viral replication and also induce positive effects on host respiratory system including bronchodilation and mucus lysis.  The Food and Drug Administration has not approved essential oils for treatment of COVID/SARS


Food Enhancer

Culinary lavender can be used to add a delicious touch to honey, teas, salads, sauces, soups, meats and fish, chocolate, biscuits and ice cream. When experimenting with culinary lavender it is important to add the lavender gradually to suit your taste.


General Skin Care

Lavender helps promote healthy skin. Lavender is such a soothing and gentle essential oil, it’s no wonder that it’s a skincare favorite. Additionally, a study conducted by the Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, found that this oil was one of the few potent essential oils that can inhibit the growth of skin bacteria. The health benefits of lavender oil for the skin are due to its antiseptic and antifungal properties. It is used to treat various skin disorders such as acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. It is commonly used to speed up the healing process of wounds, cuts, burns, and sunburns because it improves the formation of scar tissues.  Basically, keep Lavender in your arsenal of skin care products. For an amazing Lavender Body Scrub, simply add 1 cup (0.24 liters) of white sugar, 1/2 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil, 4 tbsp of Grapeseed Oil, and 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil. Stir it up and apply to damp skin using circular motions, then wash off with warm water and follow with a moisturizer


Hair Care

It’s even great for hair health. Healthy hair isn’t easy for a lot of us to maintain. Using Lavender Essential Oil may not be the miracle hair growth serum you’re dreaming about, but it sure does have properties that promote healthy hair – plus it smells fantastic! For healthy hair, a healthy scalp is necessary; diluting this oil to 1% in your favorite carrier oil and massaging it onto your scalp can increase circulation, allowing your body to deliver more of all those wonderful vitamins and nutrients that fuel healthy hair growth.  Lavender essential oil has been shown to be very effective in reducing dandruff. Furthermore, lavender essential oil has also been shown to be very helpful in the treatment of hair loss, particularly for patients who suffer from alopecia, an auto-immune disease where the body rejects its own hair follicles.  If your scalp is itchy or irritated from minor scratches or acne, use Lavender to help support your scalp’s healing process. A healthy scalp helps grow and support strong hair follicles, helping you achieve that luscious, healthy hair you’ve been craving!


Headaches

It’s great for headache relief - Headaches are a great way to ruin, well, everything. No matter what you’re up to, a throbbing head makes every task a little more unpleasant. Thankfully, with its calming and sedative effects, Lavender can provide wonderful relief if you are experiencing head and neck tension.   One placebo-controlled clinical trial found that a majority of participants responded positively to inhaling Lavender when in the midst of a headache, and it was also found to help soothe and lessen the more severe migraine headache symptoms. The refreshing aroma removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness while also increasing mental activity.


Insomnia

In need of some quality sleep? Lavender has a well-known reputation to promote a good night of sleep. Its relaxing properties are perfect for helping to reduce feelings of stress after a long day and help you drift into dreamland.  Research shows the scent lowers heart rate and blood pressure, putting you in a relaxed state. It has such a relaxing impact on people that it can often replace modern medicine for sleep issues. 
Diffusing Lavender in your bedroom for about 30 minutes is a great way to incorporate Lavender into your nighttime routine. Or, simply add a few drops to a cotton ball and place near your pillow. Either way, arming your bedside table with Lavender is a great idea for a good night’s sleep!


Itching

It helps stop the itch.  Got a bug bite driving you nuts? Calm your itchy skin! Lavender’s many healing properties make it perfect to help reduce the pain, swelling, and redness associated with bug bites and other itchy skin issues.  With poison ivy season either right around the corner or in full swing (depending where you live), it’s never too early to prepare for the worst! Keep this oil in your home first aid kit so it’s always ready to use when that irritating itch comes up.


Minor Burns

Lavender can help soothe minor burns.  Burns are a bummer; whether you accidently touched that hot pan on the stove, stayed out in the sun a little too long, or got a little overzealous with your crafting and didn’t handle that hot glue gun carefully enough, burns happen.  To decrease the pain, swelling, redness, and other minor burn symptoms, Lavender is the perfect oil to reach for. Its cooling relief will be immediate and will help support the healing process. Dilute it, or reach for your Lavender Organic Hydrosol, and apply topically to the burn for relief.


Pain

It can even help alleviate pain.  Close your eyes, take a breath, and think: is something causing you pain right now? If you have a human body, then your answer is likely a resounding “yes!” Whether it’s a scrape that stings, sore muscles or joints that have been overworked, a fresh bruise, or an unsightly zit trying to make its home on your sensitive skin, chances are there is something causing you discomfort.
While we can’t all live pain-free all the time, we can use Lavender to help lessen our perception of the pain and, as a result, feel more comfortable. Lavender’s pain-relieving properties have been widely studied, and results from these studies tell us that topically applying Lavender is an amazing way to soothe the pain – just don’t forget to dilute to 2-5%!

 

Respiratory Disorders

Due to its anti-bacterial qualities, lavender oil is widely used for various respiratory problems including throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. The oil is either used in the form of vapor or is applied on the skin of the neck, chest and back.


Stress Reduction

Lavender supports mental well being.  Troubling thoughts and feelings can plague us all one time or another, and Lavender is a wonderful choice when we need to calm our mind down. It is known to have an immediate calming effect when inhaled or applied topically [1]; dilute to 2-5% with your favorite carrier oil and massage onto your feet, temples, wrists, or hands to help settle a nervous or overactive mind that is causing you distress.  Negative feelings that stem from anxiety or depression can take a serious toll on your day to day well being, so let Lavender help support your mental health.  Lavenders calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and anxiety issues.