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Why do I Need Lavender in My Life?
As most of you now, lavender is a short season in mid-Michigan so we have only a little time to appreciate it and harvest it for so many purposes. If you are only accustomed to enjoying its beauty in your garden you are missing out on so many of lavender's other benefits.
Lavenders Uses
We have nine different varieties on the farm, each chosen for a different purpose.
- Cooking
- Gardening/Landscaping
- Bath & Body Products
- Crafting
- Aromatherapy
Today I want to share a bit about aromatherapy because for many people it is the one use they are less familiar.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants to enhance health and well-being. People either inhale or apply to the skin (diluted) essential oils to achieve some desired state (e.g., calm, energy, healing). When inhaled, aromatherapy stimulates your nervous system and starts a chain reaction of signals to your brain. How do you get the essential oils out of the plant material? Through steam distillation. We use a copper still like the one pictured above.
Lavender aromatherapy uses the essential oil from the buds to support calm and relaxation. It reduces stress, tension and aids in sleep. The primary component in lavender essential oil is natural compounds such as linalool and linalyl acetate. These chemical compounds contribute to this calming property. The lavender fragrance is often associated with creating a tranquil environment which is why some people use it in a diffuser or spray on a pillow at night to help them sleep.
Aromatherapy is considered holistic medicine in the U.S. because it is alternative to mainstream science. In some parts of the world, it is much more common. In France, my lavender farming friends sell their essential oil to pharmacies as physicians routinely prescribe oils for various ailments/illnesses.
Lavender compounds are also antibacterial and anti-septic. Thus it is useful as a cleaning agent. It is also believed to be helpful as an anti-inflammatory and reducing acne. In my house we keep it in the kitchen because it is excellent to ease the pain of burns which I often do when 'attempting' to cook!
Even though lavender is considered one of the milder essential oils, some oils can be strong and one must be careful to keep away from children and pets. It is best to dilute any new oil with a carrier oil (jojoba, almond, olive) to be sure you are not going to have a reaction to an oil. Skin irritation can be a problem for some people.
In short, lavender aromatherapy holds a great deal of uses for the average consumer. We all could use more calm in our lives.
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