The Boons of Lavender Oil
Crowned as one of the most popular and versatile essential oils used in aromatherapy, lavender essential oil represents tranquility. Distilled from the aesthetically pleasing, purple plant scientifically known as Lavandula angustifolia, this oil is an agent of relaxation and believed to treat anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, depression, insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps. Although it's now grown globally, lavender is native to the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and Russia. This special oil can be used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, as well as antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifying, hypotensive, and sedative effects.
Health Benefits
Reduces Anxiety Symptoms
While there aren't sufficient large-scale clinical trials studying the effects of lavender on people with anxiety, a number of studies show that the oil can regulate anxiety.
Scientists believe that inhaling this herbaceous oil activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation. Breathe in the oil to reduce anxiety symptoms and calm you down.
Speeds Up Wound healing
A published study in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine compared the effects of several treatments for wound healing — saline solution, povidone-iodine, and lavender oil. The researchers compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on laboratory rats. The author of the study revealed that wounds healed faster in the TENS and lavender oil groups than the control groups, which suggest that lavender accelerates the healing process.
Treats Hair Loss
Lavender oil is packed with antimicrobial properties that keeps the hair shafts and follicles clear of bacteria and soothe the scalp. Alopecia areata is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body and lavender oil is said to alleviate it. Findings from a recent study revealed that applying lavender oil to the backs of mice promote its hair growth over the course of 4 weeks.
Reduces Painkillers in Post-tonsillectomy pain in children
Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils at the back of the throat and needless to say, children who go through the procedure suffer from pain. In that regard, lavender oil has been shown to reduce the number of painkillers required. A team of researchers at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, carried out a study to legitimately determine whether aromatherapy with Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) essential oil reduces symptoms of pain in children after the removal of their tonsils. The study involved 48 children spanning the age of six to 12 years, and they were randomly separated into two groups of 24 participants. One group took painkillers alongside lavender, and the other took only painkillers. The frequency of each child’s painkiller use and awakening at night due to pain was monitored for three days post-surgery along with the pain intensity. The study concluded with results showing the group using lavender oil was shown to use painkillers less frequently. However, there was no significant difference in how often they woke up at night or their perceptions of pain intensity. More research needs to be conducted to fully confirm lavender oil as an effective painkiller.
Alleviates PMS Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome or PMS symptoms can vary in severity among women. It can be quite the challenge to deal with, from menstrual cramps to moodiness. Just as how lavender oil can be relaxing on your mind, researchers believe it might help to alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms. While there isn’t a single treatment universally recognised as effective, many women turn to alternative therapies, like aromatherapy. This is backed by a crossover study involving 17 women with mild-to-moderate premenstrual symptoms. The participants spent one menstrual cycle with no lavender aromatherapy treatment and another undergoing lavender aromatherapy. Documented results proved that lavender aromatherapy could alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms.
Beauty Benefits
Heals Acne
Lavender oil has the ability to kill bacteria, which as a result, reduces and heals acne breakouts. It opens up the pores, unclogs it and reduces inflammation upon application. To use lavender oil to treat acne, dilute it in coconut oil or another carrier oil, mix it well and apply on a clean face.
Soothes eczema
It’s no secret what lavender oil can do for the body and mind. The benefits of this oil even extend to eczema can show up anywhere on your body. For the uninitiated, eczema or dermatitis is when your skin gets dry, itchy, and scaly. Since lavender is an acclaimed antiseptic, it can reduce inflammation and treat flare-ups. This soothing oil can also be used to treat psoriasis, cleanse the skin and lessen redness and irritation. To use this essential oil for eczema, mix two drops with an equal amount of tea tree oil and two teaspoons of coconut oil. You can use it everyday.
Lightens Skin
As aforementioned, this herbaceous oil reduces inflammation and thus lightens the skin. It helps in treating discolouration, including dark spots, blotchiness and redness. Lavender oil works great to treat hyperpigmentation on your skin too.
Treats Wrinkles
As we age, our skin does too in tandem and free radicals (damaging molecules from light, pollution, cigarette smoke and more) speeds up the ageing process by presenting fine lines and wrinkles on the face. As lavender oil is laden with antioxidants, it effectively protects the skin against damaging free radicals. To use lavender oil for wrinkles, mix a few drops of lavender oil with coconut oil for a daily moisturising concoction.