Anti-Aging Choices and Healthy Lifestyles

Oil of the month - Lavender Therapeutic Essential Oil

 As pleasant as it is versatile, Lavender could well be called the world's favorite essential oil. 

For thousands of years, people have relied upon this versatile plant for everything from allergies to acne, and from colic to vertigo. Lavender has been used since Roman times to perfume homes, linens, and baths, and to repel insects and soothe the discomfort caused by headaches as it fills the room with its pleasant aroma. Well liked by nearly everyone, Lavender has found a permanent place in our high-stress society thanks to its ability to soothe stress-related conditions and promote general well-being throughout the body.

Among the safest of all essential oils, lavender is also one of the most antiseptic. This antiviral and antifungal oil treats lung, sinus, vaginal, and skin infections and reduces inflammation and relieves muscle pain and headaches. It is suitable for all complexion types and hastens the healing of skin cells, so it's used on burns, sun-damaged skin, wounds, and rashes. It also relieves the pain of injuries by numbing nerve endings. 

Lavender can be used to treat oily skin and acne and prevents scarring and stretch marks and reputedly slows the development of wrinkles. A lavender massage oil or bath improves digestion and boosts immunity.

Of several fragrances tested by aromatherapy researchers, lavender was most effective at relaxing brain waves and reducing stress.  It also eliminated almost one-quarter of computer errors made by office workers.  Lavender acts as a
sedative and an anti-depressant and can reduce the stress that causes asthma flare-ups.

Bath: For an aromatic lavender bath, use a natural emulsifier to help the oil blend well with the bathwater. Mix 5 drops of lavender oil with bath/shower gel or 1 cup of heavy cream or 1 teaspoon of honey and add it to the tub. Yahoo! Watch out ladies! Does wonders for the skin.   In a hot bath Lavender relieves anxiety, while in a cool bath it will refresh and energize.

Inhale Lavender to clear the head and lift the spirits. Put a couple of drops on a tissue or inhale from the bottle. You can also put a drop in the palm of your hand and inhale.

Insomnia: Lavender has a calming effect and can be used to induce sleep when you're feeling stressed or anxious. Put a few drops of lavender oil in a diffuser or on an aromatherapy stone and place it in your bedroom. It's soothing effects will help you sleep soundly through the night.  You can also blend with a lotion and massage bottom of feet or put a few drops on your night clothing and you will be inhaling it all night – you will sleep like a baby.  It’s wonderful.   It is good for children also – helps them relax.  Use Lavender in massage for tense muscles or mental fatigue. 

For headache, massage a few drops of lavender diluted with Tangible Massage Lotion into the temples and neck.  You can also get rid of many headaches by drinking a quart of pure water.  Most of us don’t get enough water and walk around dehydrated.  The brain can only assimilate water, so when you take juices, your brain doesn’t receive the hydration it needs.

For colic, abdominal cramps, and nausea, apply a small amount to the abdomen and massage gently in a clockwise direction.

Is acne a problem?  Use lavender and/or tea tree essential oil directly on blemishes. You’ll be amazed at the disappearing act they will do.

Feel anxious and nervous?  Put two drops of lavender essential oil directly into the palm of your hand.  Cup you hands over your nose and inhale deeply five times.  When you are finished, allow the lavender to penetrate into your palm.  This can be used safely with children over the age of 6 years of age.

Bumps and bruises – put a drop of lavender on the area as soon as possible – lavender will reduce swelling and there will be minimal bruising.

Burns:  Keep a small bottle in your kitchen cabinet to treat first-degree burns. One to two drops directly on he burn will relieve pain and reduce the risk of blisters.

Sunburn: Make yourself a spray bottle of 10 drops of lavender to 4 ounces of water to spritz on sunburns. Shake well before using.

Take a bottle when you travel, use it in baths and to purify the room.  Mix Lavender with lemon and orange oils in a small spray bottle filled with water.  Spray around the vents, throughout the bathroom including toilet seats, in the corners, around the phone – everywhere there could be germs.  This makes the hotel room smell like home.

 Lavender and tea tree is a wonderful treatment for yeast infection.  Make into a standard dilution (20-40 drops in 1 ounce of carrier) and massage over lower abdomen and lower back.  You can also make a warm compress to apply directly to the vaginal area or you can add lavender to a douche.

PMS.  Use in a sitz bath or as a warm compress, covered with a warm hot water bottle. 

Lavender is incredible for skin care.  Use in a standard salve for a night treatment for dry skin, skin irritations, and acne. 

Use Lavender for sore throats; use standard dilution as a throat massage. Use Lavender to relieve coughs of all kinds.  Excellent for using in asthma treatments, because it relaxes a person as well as helping with the cough spasms. 

Gently massage the node centers clavicles, armpits and groin to help drain the lymph. Promote a healthy breast by mixing with massage lotion and put on breasts 1-2 times a week.

Skin Irritations: (3 drops, 1 quart of distilled water) Lavender water promotes good circulation in the skin and prevents infections of the sebaceous glands. For a facial lotion, dab lavender water daily. 

Middle Ear Infection: Saturate a cotton ball in olive oil, drip 5 drops of lavender oil onto it and place it on the outer part of the affected ear. The lavender oil will help relieve the pain and inhibit the inflammation that often accompanies ear infections. 

Stomach aches cramping and colic (adults - children over 12): Use externally 30 drops of lavender oil, 10 drops of chamomile oil and 3 1/2 oz. of cold-pressed olive oil in a bottle and shake vigorously. Massage this mixture gently onto the abdomen for 10 minutes using broad circular movements. Then, just rest a while for a brief period, and then apply a hot water bottle to the affected area for 30 minutes. Infants and Toddlers use 1-2 drops of oil and 3-11 year olds use 3-4 drops of oils

Carpal Tunnel - Mix 6 drops of Helichrysum, 7drops of Lavender, 5 drops Marjoram, 4 drops Rosemary with 1 ounce of your favorite mixing oil) If you don’t have Helichrysum use 15 drops of Lavender.

Nerve Pain: Lavender oil helps to relieve pain and inflammation due to neuralgia. Mix 10 drops of lavender with 2 mixing oil and gently rub it into the affected areas for pain relief. 

Purify the Air (indoors): 4 drops of lavender oil, 2 drops of bergamot oil and 2 drops of lemon oil. Place this mixture in a simmer pot to help freshen the air. What a powerful cleansing action! The fresh scent also exerts an uplifting effect on the mind, body and spirit! 

Washer and Dryer: Add several drops of lavender to the washer's final rinse cycle, or scent a cloth with a few drops of lavender oil and throw it in the dryer to freshen a load of newly laundered clothes.

Get rid of fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and moths with Lavender.