LAVENDER - essential oil
Lavender is actually a member of the mint family
Lavender (Lavandula), is a flowering plant in the mint family. The ancient Greeks called lavender 'nardus' and it was also commonly called nard. Lavandula angustifolia (True Lavender or English lavender), is not actually native to England and is also called garden, common, or narrow-leaved lavender. Lavender is native to Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. Lavender is cultivated extensively in temperate climates and was one of the holy herbs used in the biblical Temple to prepare the holy essence.
Health benefits
• Insect repellent: mosquitoes, midges, moths
• Insomnia
• Anxiety, depression, nervous tension, emotional stress, nervous exhaustion, restlessness
• Increases mental activity / cognitive function
• Regulates heart-rate variability
• Anti-inflammatory: insect bites, cystitis (urinary tract infections), bladder
• Anti-bacterial: acne, respiratory tract infections, Tuberculosis (TB), diphtheria, typhoid
• Skin: scars
• Analgesia: sore and tense muscles, muscular aches, rheumatism, sprains, backache, lumbago, joint pain, migraines, headaches, post-operative pain
• Diuretic
• Hormonal balance: oestrogenic
• Respiratory: decongestant, throat infections, flu, cough, cold, asthma, sinus congestion, bronchitis, whooping cough, laryngitis, tonsillitis
• Improves blood circulation: heart, hypertension, skin, muscles
• Digestion: increases peristalsis (the mobility of food in the intestine), stimulates production of gastric juices and bile (therefore aids indigestion, stomach pain, colic, gas, vomiting and diarrhoea)
• Cancer: breast