Lavender

Fragrant Well-Being

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the herb I reach for when life gets hectic, or my skin needs some extra care. It's a familiar scent, like a deep breath for your nerves to melt away stress and anxiety. The name comes from the Latin lavare ("to wash"), a nod to the Romans tossing it in their baths for that clean, fresh scent. But lavender isn't just a pretty smell—it's a workhorse. Great for cuts, bites, infections, pain, and even headaches. If you have it in your garden or a jar in your home apothecary, you're well set.

Herbalists love it for both its aromatic qualities as well as its medicinal benefits. Lavender is a champ at easing tension, helping you sleep, settling your stomach, and healing minor skin wounds. It is simple, honest goodness for both physical and mental well-being.

Properties of Lavender

Antiseptic/Antimicrobial

Lavender can be used when cleaning out or healing wounds, and it will help prevent an infection.  Lavender's diverse properties make it excellent for wounds, infections, and bug bites.  Its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties promote wound healing, address infected wounds, alleviate pain, dry out damp eczema, reduce acne, and soothe sunburn.

Analgesic

Lavender is effective at alleviating tension headaches and migraines, whether applied directly or used internally.  Additionally, lavender is used to relieve excessive inflammation and ease pain in conditions such as kidney stones, post-surgical discomfort, and uterine cramps, as well as reducing pain perception.  

Vulnerary

Lavender is an effective wound-healing ally. When applied to a wound, lavender helps stimulate scabbing, reduces redness and inflammation, and promotes healing and new cell growth.  Lavender is effective for burn discomfort, providing soothing relief for sunburns and contact burns.  It is a great option in general skincare for normalizing oil production, reducing redness, and calming itchy skin.

Anxiolytic/Sedative

Lavender truly shines when your nerves are frayed or when sleep feels miles away. Herbalists have long since leaned on it to quiet anxiety, ease restlessness, and promote restful sleep. Sip a mug of lavender-chamomile-lemon balm tea before bed, tuck a sachet under your pillow, rub some essential oil—diluted in lotion—on your neck and feet, or diffuse it with bergamot and valerian. These are simple moves that work like a charm, settling the storm in your head and ushering in calm when you need it most.

How to use Lavender

Infused Oil 

Lavender-infused oil boasts a range of benefits; its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties reduce skin itching and redness and calm spasmodic muscles.  Additionally, this oil also provides an aromatic impact on the mind, offering relief from stress and anxiety.  Whether used in the bath for relaxation or as a favored massage oil, lavender oil is a go-to solution for those seeking relaxation.   

Topical Spray

Create a soothing spray by utilizing lavender hydrosol, lavender-infused witch hazel, or lavender-infused aloe.  This lavender spray is effective for minor burns, sunburns, and general wounds.  

• 2 oz spritz bottle

• 45 ml lavender hydrosol

• 15 ml aloe vera

• 12 drops of lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients into the spritz bottle and shake well. Be sure to label it. Shake before each use. Store in the refrigerator and use as a cooling after-sun spray.

Salve

Lavender-infused oil is a great option for making an all-purpose salve that accelerates healing for a range of skin issues.  Ideal for addressing dry, chapped lips, winter skin, eczema, bug bites, burns, wounds, and more.

Tea 

Lavender tea is soothing and relaxing, yet the flavor can be a bit soapy, so many prefer blending lavender with other calming herbs such as chamomile, lemon balm, or hops. Drink it to reduce cramps and improve digestion, or use it topically to reduce inflammation from bites and stings. Use 2 tsp dried herb or 1 Tbsp fresh herb per cup of hot water. Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes.

Tincture 

Lavender tincture is a digestive bitter and carminative that aids in digestive health.  Its analgesic properties effectively ease tension headaches and migraines when taken promptly.  The sedative properties contribute to its use in treating anxiety and low mood.  Lavender tincture can be used topically for small cuts, burns, or minor skin irritations.  Combined with yarrow tincture and used topically, it can be effective at stopping bleeding from minor wounds.

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Aromatherapy

As already alluded to, lavender can be utilized as an herb for its medicinal and culinary applications, but it is also a versatile essential. Its calming aroma enhances baths and massage oils, providing a soothing experience. Lavender sachets, when placed in drawers, offer a gentle, natural floral scent and can promote restful sleep when tucked under a pillow. The essential oil proves valuable in room sprays, fostering an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

In addition to its calming reputation, lavender essential oil showcases diverse properties, addressing stress, anxiety, and insomnia, providing analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory benefits, and antimicrobial qualities. Furthermore, lavender essential oil is effective in treating minor burns when diluted with aloe gel. Possessing antispasmodic properties, it is a suitable addition to blends targeting pain and muscle spasms. Lavender's versatility extends to skincare, functioning as a cell regenerator, preventing scarring and stretch marks, and addressing various skin conditions.

Why Lavender Works

Lavender’s versatility makes it stand out. Two key compounds—linalool and linalyl acetate—drive its effects. Research shows linalool, a primary component, reduces anxiety by calming the nervous system, while also easing pain and inflammation. Linalyl acetate, another major player, complements it by cutting inflammation, relaxing muscles, fighting infections, and promoting rest. Whether used as an herb or essential oil, lavender delivers. That’s why herbalists and aromatherapists often say, “When in doubt, reach for lavender.”

Lavender Recipes

Lavender Sleep Sachet

A simple, relaxing sachet to tuck under your pillow or slip into your pillowcase with a gentle aroma to help calm racing thoughts and ease you into sleep.

• Small muslin bag or fabric sachet (4x6 inches works well)

• 2-3 Tbsp dried lavender buds

• 1 Tbsp dried chamomile, optional for extra relaxation

• 5 drops lavender essential oil, optional

Fill the sachet with dried herbs, drop essential oil onto dried herbs, tie or sew it closed, and place it under your pillow or inside your pillowcase. The scent will naturally fade over time; give it a gentle squeeze to refresh it, or replace the herbs after a few months.

Lavender Bath Salts

After a long day, a lavender bath is one of the simplest ways to unwind. The magnesium in Epsom salt relaxes sore muscles, while lavender calms your mind.

• 1 cup Epsom salt

• 1/2 cup sea salt or Himalayan salt

• 1 Tbsp baking soda, optional, for softer water

• 3 Tbsp dried lavender buds, ground or powdered

• 3 drops lavender essential oil, optional

Mix all ingredients in a glass jar or bowl. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per bath. Let the salts dissolve under running water, then enjoy a long soak.

Lavender Sugar Scrub

This gentle scrub exfoliates dead skin while moisturizing, leaving your skin soft and smooth.

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup carrier oil (sweet almond or jojoba work well)

• 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil or rosemary antioxidant extract, optional

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 15 drops lavender essential oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Store in a glass or PET plastic jar with a tight-fitting lid. Avoid getting water into the scrub. Use within 3-6 months.

Be careful: the oil can make your tub or shower floor slippery.

Lavender Essential Oil Smelling Salts

When stress hits hard, a quick whiff of lavender can ease the tension. These portable smelling salts are perfect for purses, desks, or car consoles.

• Small glass vial or jar with tight-fitting lid (1/4 oz or 1/2 oz)

• Coarse salt, such as sea or pink Himalayan salt work well

• Lavender essential oil

• Bergamot or black spruce essential oil, optional for added calming effects

Fill the vial about 3/4 full with coarse salt. Add essential oils, 5 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of salt. Stir with a toothpick or small stick. Cap tightly and shake well. Let it sit for 24 hours before using so the scent can fully absorb into the salt. When you feel anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed, open the vial and take a few slow, deep breaths. The aroma signals your nervous system to calm down. Refresh with more essential oil as the scent fades.

Safety & Considerations

Lavender is considered generally safe per the FDA, but there are a few caveats. It may affect menstruation, so caution during pregnancy is prudent. Lavender essential oil can lower blood pressure, so use it cautiously if you are on blood pressure medications or are hypotensive. It is best to avoid ingesting the essential oil without proper guidance.

Final Thoughts

Lavender is more than just a pleasant scent; it is a hardworking, delightful herb that is useful in the kitchen, bathroom, garden, and medicine cabinet. From calming a frazzled mind to healing a stubborn cut. Safe, simple, and effective, lavender shows that well-being does not need to be fancy; it just needs to work. To learn more, check out the shop page where you can find ideas for pairing herbs and essential oils, or journals to keep notes on your herbal or aromatherapy recipes.