THE QUEEN OF ESSENTIAL OILS

Frankincense is considered "the King of Essential Oils" in the realm of essential oils,  because of its versatility. That would imply that Lavender must be "the Queen of Essential Oils" because Lavender is certainly one of the most versatile essential oils. So, if you are ever in doubt about which essential oil to use in a specific situation, Lavender, the Queen of Essential Oils, is a great choice!

       If I only had access to one essential oil I would want it to be Lavender, because it positively affects the Nervous System, the Cardiovascular System, the Integumentary System (hair, skin, nails), and the Limbic System (emotions). Lavender essential oil is a powerful balancing essential oil that blends well with almost every other essential oil, in particular, with citrus oils, geranium, chamomile, and clary sage.

WELL KNOWN EFFECTS OF LAVENDER

      Lavender is well known to be a very calming, relaxing, and grounding essential oil. Lavender is gentle enough that it can be used undiluted without drying or burning sensitive skin, however, that isn't recommended or necessary because a little bit of it goes a long way. More isn't necessarily better when using essential oils, it's best to use any essential oil at the recommended dilutions.

        Because Lavender is so gentle it is a wonderful essential oil to use on fur babies. It can calm and soothe them and help them sleep all night, let's be honest if our fur babies are relaxed it helps us stay relaxed too!

Studies have also shown that running an essential oil diffuser with lavender in it, 30 minutes or so before taking pets on a long trip, or to see the vet, helps them stay calm, relaxed, and quiet, and no one wants an anxious pet in the car.

25 COMMON USES OF LAVENDER

• Insomnia
• Acne
• Diaper Rash
• Allergies
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Dandrift
• Burns
• Muscle Cramps
• Nausea
• Scarring
• Stretch Marks
• Cold Sores
• Eczema
• Earaches
• Insect Bites and Stings
• Hair Loss
• Sunburn
• Headaches
• Concentration
• Hives

     Lavender has been used in cooking, for centuries, to prepare both sweet and savory dishes; it can be found in the herb and spice blends "ras el hanout" and "herbes de Provence", and is mixed with sugar for the preparation of ice creams, cakes and icings. Pure, unadulterated lavender essential oil can be used as a great substitute for the dried flowers in your culinary masterpieces too. Yes, lavender essential oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption by the FDA, but remember, not all essential oils are created equal, so it's important to always use essential oils that are 100% pure and free from any contaminants or toxic chemical additives.

A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT LAVENDER

     The English word “lavender” comes from the Anglo-Norman French “lavendre”, from its Late Latin name "lavandārius", originating from the verb “lavāre”, meaning "to wash”. There’s no doubt that lavender acquired its name because lavender flowers were added to the bathwater of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

     Lavandula Angustifolia, an attractive aromatic plant from the mint family, as well as all other varieties of lavender, is said to be native to the Mediterranean regions, but today, lavender is grown in flower gardens throughout the world; however, essential oil production is the primary reason that lavender flowers are cultivated commercially worldwide.

 RECIPES FOR LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

The following recipe may help alleviate symptoms of Angina, Anxiety, Arrhythmia, Blood Pressure (Regulate HBP/LBP), Bradycardia, Insomnia, Nervous Tension, Tachycardia.**

LAVENDER MAGNESIUM STRESS AWAY SPRAY

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 Tablespoons Zechstein Magnesium Chloride flakes pulverized, in a coffee grinder or blender, into a fine powder.
• 1/8 Teaspoon glycerin
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil
• 3 drops Marjoram essential oil
• 2 drops Tangerine essential oil
• 2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 1 drops Spearmint essential oil
• One 2 oz. spray bottle

Directions: add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake until mixed well.

Spray onto chest over heart, and onto soles of feet, rub in until absorbed. Cup hands over your nose and inhale the oils on your hands while doing deep breathing for 5 minutes.

Below is a recipe that may help speed up cell regeneration and relieve the pain of sunburns, or 1st and 2nd-degree heat or chemical burns.**

LAVENDER ALOE VERA BURN SPRAY

• 1 oz. of pure Aloe Vera gel
• 1 oz. of distilled or purified water
• 20 drops Lavender essential oil
• 8 drops Frankincense essential oil
• 7 drops of Geranium essential oil
• 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
• One 4 ounce glass spray bottle

Directions: add all ingredients to the spray bottle and shake until mixed well. Spray over the entire burned area every 15 minutes until pain subsides, then repeat every 30 minutes to 2 hours, as long as necessary.

Using lavender essential oil may initially cause the burn to feel hotter for the first few minutes, but the heat subsides after a little while, and the pain of the burn should begin to lessen, discontinue use if it doesn’t.

The following recipe may help speed up cell regeneration in wound healing and relieve the pain of sunburns, or 1st and 2nd-degree heat burns, or chemical burns.**

LAVENDER BENTONITE CLAY SALVE

• 2oz Great Plains Liquid Bentonite Clay
• 40 drops Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Frankincense essential oil
• 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 4 oz glass jar with plastic lid for mixing.
• One 8oz spray bottle of water

Directions: add the essential oils and liquid Bentonite Clay to the glass jar, cover with the lid, and shake well for a minute, until the oils are mixed in well. As the bentonite clay settles it becomes congealed and thickens, simply shake the jar before each use until the mixture becomes liquefied again.

Use a spoon to scoop the bentonite mixture from the jar, and gently drizzle it over the entire burned area, or spread over an appropriate-sized piece of soft, white, cotton flannel and cover the affected area. When the heat from the burn begins to dry the clay or flannel cloth out, use a light mist of water from the spray bottle to moisten it again. Repeat as often as necessary, when the clay mixture appears to be absorbed into the skin, reapply as often as desired. 

NOTE: Make sure to completely soak the flannel cloth with water prior to removing it, this will help prevent any skin from sticking to it as it is removed.

DISCLAIMER

Neither the author nor Shades of Nature, directly or indirectly dispense medical advice. If you choose to use the information presented on this website without the prior recommendation of your healthcare practitioner, you are prescribing for and treating yourself, which may be within your inalienable rights to do so, however, we hereby provide notice that we accept no responsibility for any such use.

The remedies, approaches, and techniques described here are intended for informational purposes only, the opinions presented here are meant to be a supplement and not a substitute for any professional medical advice or treatment. They should never be used in an attempt to remedy any serious injury or ailment without the prior consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.