Essential Oils - Lavender

by Ehren Shelton

Lavender is by far one of the most versatile essential oils and has enjoyed a long tradition of being used as a holistic remedy.

There are a variety of lavender types:

  • lavandula angustifolia – true lavender
  • lavandula latifolia – spike lavender
  • lavandin – a hybrid of true and spike lavender

Further differences can be attributed to where the lavender is cultivated. For example, French spike oil is considered more delicate and aromatic than Spanish spike oil. These different types of lavender are, however, each typically used in the same way.

Lavender oil is extracted by steam distillation from the flowering tops of the plant. After distillation, 100 different compounds still remain in the oil, the most abundant being linalyl acetate and linalool—both responsible for many of lavender’s incredible benefits.

Lavender oil can be used for treatment of:

  • burns
  • inflammation
  • insect bites & stings
  • poison ivy
  • lice
  • sunburn
  • muscle/joint aches & pains
  • rheumatism
  • sprains

Other uses:

  • sleep aid
  • stress reliever

SAFETY DATA – Non-toxic, non-irritant; can cause dermatitis in some people; should not be used during pregnancy.

 

Sourced from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils : The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism

Julia Lawless

Back to Blog