Botanical
Lavendula officinalisFamily
LamiaceaeKnown as
Lavendel, Lavandula angustifolia,Old Use
medicinal; culinaryCollection Times
June to AugustParts Used
flowers, herbMedicinal
acne, asthma, bruises, burns, cellulite, circulation, colds, coughs, cramps stomach, dermatitis, exhaustion, headache, high blood preasure, insect bites, insect repellend, insomnia, migraine, neuralgia, nervousness, pain relief, rheumatism, sunburn, woundsHeart & Circulation
circulation, high blood pressureMuscle & Joints
rheumatismMind & Nerves
anxiety, depression, fatigue (exhaustion), headache, insomnia, irritability, neuralgia, nervousness, pain relief, stress reliefRespiratory System
asthma, coughSkin & Hair
abscess, acne, boils, bruises, burns, dry skin, eczema, insect bites, insect repellent, skin rashes, woundsProperties
antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diureticNote
topExtraction
steam distillation
Photo Source
© mercomas inc.Image Source
Köhler's Medizinal Plants (1883-1914) - Vol.1Description
The genus includes annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial plants, and suffrutescent perennials, subshrubs or small shrubs.
Leaf shape is diverse across the genus. They are simple in some commonly cultivated species; in others they are pinnately toothed, or pinnate, sometimes multiple pinnate and dissected. In most species the leaves are covered in fine hairs or indumentum, which normally contain the essential oils.
Flowers are borne in whorls, held on spikes rising above the foliage, the spikes being branched in some species. Some species produce coloured bracts at the apices.
The flowers may be blue, violet or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish. The calyx is tubular. The corolla is also tubular, usually with five lobes (the upper lip often cleft, and the lower lip has two clefts)
Properties & Uses
Lavender is used extensively with herbs and aromatherapy. Infusions are believed to soothe insect bites, burns, and headaches. Bunches of lavender repel insects. In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and relaxation. An infusion of flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water is used to soothe and relax at bedtime[citation needed]. Lavender oil (or extract of Lavender) is used to treat acne when diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and inflammatory conditions.
It also has an anxiolytic effects and influence on sleep quality. Lavender oil with a high percentage of linalool and linalyl acetate, in the form of capsules, was generally well tolerated. It shows meaningful efficacy in alleviating anxiety and related sleep disturbances.
Lavender oil is approved for use as an anxiolytic in Germany under the name Lasea.
Lavender may be very effective with wounds; however, Lavender Honey (created from bees feeding on lavender plants), instead of lavender essential oil has the best effects of uninfected wounds
Cautions
allergic reactions
Distribution
It is native to the Old World and is found from Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia to southeast India.
Constituents
essential oil, tannin, glycoside, saponin
