Lavender oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils with numerous benefits ranging from anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial to soothing and healing properties. Therefore, it can be a veritably valuable addition to your self-care routine.
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How Lavender Oil Was Discovered?
Did you know that lavender oil was first discovered in 1910 by a French chemist? After receiving 3rd-degree burns to his hand and forearm, he was looking for something to soothe the skin. He placed his hand and arm into a vat of lavender oil, and the burning sensation slowly calmed down. When he had removed his arm, it had also reduced the appearance of the burn. That was how the healing and soothing properties of lavender oil first emerged.
Nowadays, essential oils are widely used in organic skincare and alternative therapies. However, we cannot use them directly, but rather a little amount mixed with carrier oils.
Top Uses And Benefits Of Lavender Oil
Lavender oil has calming, regenerating and healing properties; also, it is an analgesic, insecticide, and disinfectant. Lavender oil can aid several issues such as:
- Sunburns, burns, and scars: apply on the injury to soothe and promote skin healing
- Sleep issues: apply to the bottoms of the feet or place into a diffuser to induce sleep
- Stress and anxiety: rub oil over the heart and on the back of the neck, or inhale from the palms of the hand
- Allergies and fever: apply to palms of hands with peppermint and inhale deeply
- Pains and strains: massage into the area of discomfort
- Cuts, wounds, and blisters: apply on an injury to comfort, cleanse and heal
- High blood pressure: use topically on pulse points and over the heart
- Migraines and headache: Inhale or apply to the temples and the back of the neck
- Emotional balance: Diffuse or apply to feel expressed and relieved
Also, we can blend lavender oil with other essential oils to provide even more benefits. For example, it blends well with orange and sage essential oils. It is also absolutely safe to use, but remember that any essential oil must be diluted into a carrier oil, as carrier oils don’t evaporate quickly, unlike essential oils. Carrier oil is any oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil etc. You can add as little as 10 drops (approx. 1ml) of essential oils to 15ml of carrier oil and use this proportion accordingly for any amount.
Another good way of application is to dilute several drops of lavender oil into your bath. Like this, it could soothe your skin and at the same time relax your strained muscles, work on your emotional balance, migraines or headache, or allergies. This way, you can be certain about getting the maximum benefits of lavender oil. Likewise, it can be dispersed in shampoos, body soaps and shower gels, adding some organic touch and boosting your skin’s vitality.
Conclusion
We have seen that lavender oil has a multitude of great features which can have a positive impact not only on your skin but also your muscles, different types of aches and your mental health. It veritably boosts your self-care with its simultaneous benefits and enhances your mood. And most of all, it does not require any hard work to incorporate it into your routine, nor is it costly; just using a few drops daily will do the job.
