Benefits Of Lavender

Botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia, Lavender is one of the moist important members of the family Labitae. Other members of the family include mints and the native plants of France and England. Flowers of this plant have traditionally been used for treating digestive problems, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. Lavender was also used for curing and disinfecting wounds during World War I. English farmers placed lavender flowers below their hats for preventing sunstroke and headache and women placed sachet of lavender flowers in their wardrobes for fragrance. Apart from providing fragrance, lavender is extremely beneficial for human beings. A few benefits of lavender oil are:

1. Calms anxiety and depression.
Lavender oil is calming, anti-convulsive and sedative in nature. Scents of lavender enhance brain waves that are associated with relaxation. Thus, lavender is used for treating restlessness and provides relaxation to the body.

2. Aids in treating respiratory disorders.
Essential lavender oil is widely used for curing respiratory problems such as throat infections, cold, cough, flu, asthma, bronchitis, sinus congestion, whooping cough, tonsillitis and laryngitis. Lavender oil is either used as vapor or applied on the chest, neck, and back. Many inhalers and vaporizers used for treating cold and cough contain this oil and are quite effective in treating respiratory health problems.

3. Tonic of the nervous system.

This oil is quite soothing and calming and is thus used as a stimulant for the nervous system. This oil helps in curing headaches, migraines, depression, anxiety, emotional stress and nervous tension.

4. Helps in treating insomnia.
Lavender essential oil helps in treating insomnia as its use induces sleep in persons suffering from this disorder.

5. Improves urine flow.
Lavender oil stimulates the production of urine in the body, thus, it is used for treating urinary disorders. Lavender oil is effective in restoring the hormonal balance of the body and also reduces cystitis and inflammation of the urinary bladder.

6. Takes care of the skin.
The antiseptic and antifungal properties of this essential oil make it useful for taking care of the skin. This oil is therefore used for treating various skin problems like wrinkles, psoriasis, acne, and other inflammations. When applied on skin this oil helps in healing wounds, burns, cuts, eczema and sunburns.

7. Benefits the digestive system.
Lavender oil improves the functioning of the intestines and is thus beneficial for the digestive system. The oil stimulates the secretion of gastric juices from the stomach and bile juice from the liver. It thus helps in treating stomach pain, indigestion, colic, vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea.

8. Improves immunity.
Lavender essential oil improves the strength of body’s immune system and helps in keeping away diseases.

9. Used in hospitals.
Lavender is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic for sterilizing surfaces and equipment in hospitals.

Although lavender oil is extremely beneficial for humans, pregnant and lactating women and diabetics should avoid the application of this oil. Sometimes, the oil might cause certain allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin and its use must be stopped immediately. People experiencing vomiting, nausea, and headaches after using lavender oil should immediately restrict its use.

Benefits Of Lavender