Sunday, March 13, 2011

The power of Lavender





I met this girl named Jacks at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia that is studying herbs. She was working at a shop called Herbiary and began to educate me about, yes, you guessed it, herbs. I really didn't know what I was in for but I ended up leaving with 2 oils, one called "Chill Out" & another for Hudson's stomach issues as well as dried lavender, chamomile & 2 all natural teas made for women going through postpartum or monthly PMS symptoms. And some white sage to burn in the house.



 
We immediately burned the white sage after praying together as a family. White Sage is an ancient practice in several religions and civilizations used to remove negativity from one's environment. I started drinking my tea and adding drops of oil to water. All these things seem to be adding a sense of calm & peace to our house. That & the TV is hardly ever on. As a family we have been sleeping better, laughing more & talking to one another more. I needed to find out more about all these herbs. It all seems very logical. Why would God make thousands of species of plants if not for some reason? I decided to start somewhere and picked lavender to begin studying up on. I was amazed at all the things this super herb can do. I began using it in the bath, placed it around the house in little containers, made sachets & put it in all our pillows. I borrowed this list from Herbal Med's Online. It contains the various things that lavender helps with. 
  •  Place lavender in pillows and bedding to assist restless people to fall asleep.  
  • Scientific studies have now proven that aromatherapy with lavender slows down the activity of the nervous system, thereby promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality. 
  • Massage with lavender essential oil increases mental capacity and creates a more stable mood in people suffering from anxiety.  
  • Adding lavender oil to a pre-bedtime bath can soothe your nerves and help you to relax.

  • In certain European countries, lavender has been approved as a tea to relieve restlessness, insomnia and stomach irritations.

  • Lavender essential oil is used in inhalation therapy to relieve headaches and exhaustion, and when added to bathwater, it has been proven to relieve muscle aches and pain.


  • Gels containing lavender extract are commercially available and bring relief to people suffering from the pain of rheumatic conditions.
  • Drinking lavender tea helps alleviate gas and bloating and calms an upset stomach quickly.  Pregnant women often drink lavender tea to relieve morning sickness.

  • Linalool, which is a volatile oil in lavender, relaxes the bronchial passages, thereby reducing allergic reactions and inflammation. 
  •  Lavender is often included in herbal remedies to treat asthma, coughs and other respiratory illnesses.  Linalool is also considered an expectorant and an antiseptic.

  • Topical uses for lavender include soothing burn wounds and relieving the itching associated with allergic skin conditions. 
  •  People who suffer from eczema also find relief when applying lavender creams to their skin.  Insect bites and stings are soothed by applying lavender creams.

  • Outer ear infections are soothed by rubbing lavender oil gently into the outer ear area.
  • Adding a few drops of lavender oil to your bathwater will soothe mild sunburn.

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