Having lavender oil around sure makes life easier. Lavender oil is a first aid kit in itself. Hundreds of uses. I like to have lavender oil available for burns. Works wonders. I also like lavender oil in a bath. Soothing, relaxing. Lavender oil also combines really well with Ravensara oil for pain in the spine. Lavender oil is also known for helping with stress related conditions. Seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Here’s why:
Stress-Related Conditions
Perhaps of the greatest value, and what makes lavender unique in comparison to other oils such as tea tree, is its pronounced regulating effect on the nervous system. Within both the physical and psychological realm lavender is a ‘reconciler of opposites’, having an essentially balancing and harmonizing nature. In an age of extremes, it is this quality above all which may account for the strength of the popularity of lavender today! It is also this area of application which is receiving the closest examination in research studies and trials.
Of all essential oils, lavender seems to represent ‘the middle way’ ———being neither ‘yin or yang’ in the extreme. This ‘neutral’ quality may also account for why lavender blends so readily with other essential oils———it also tends to increase the overall effectiveness of a remedy when used in combination with it. In this respect, lavender is a supreme ‘adaptogen’, i.e. it can have a restorative effect in cases of listlessness or weakness, yet has a calming effect on those prone to hyperactivity or agitation. This is why it is recommended for what appears to be such a diverse variety of symptoms including shortness of breath, depression and nervous exhaustion as well as palpitations, hysteria and hypertension.
This regulating action can be seen most clearly with regard to the action of lavender oil on the nervous system as a whole. It is well known that lavender can have either a tonic or/and a sedative effect pm the central nervous system depending on the state of the individual concerned. This makes it one of the most valuable oils for all types of stress-related conditions, where the nervous system can often be both depleted and over stimulated simultaneously. Stress also depletes the immune system, and can be the cause or the precipitating agent for all types of secondary conditions such as digestive or circulatory problems——— a fact which is being increasingly recognized by the orthodox medical establishment today. Lavender is consequently particularly valuable in psycho-somatic conditions of this type, where a physical condition is closely related to an underlying psychological state.
Lavender essential oil has also been shown to inhibit both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system functioning, depending on which system is dysfunctional. Sympathetic hyper-functioning is triggered more by physical stress, while parasympathetic overactivity is caused more by emotional stress———although both reactions can produce similar symptoms such as muscular cramp, indigestion, spasms or restlessness. By selectively inhibiting either the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous excess, lavender can assist the body’s response to unproductive stress of any kind. Yet lavender will not interfere with the body’s response to a productive type of stress, which is a normal and even desirable part of life.
In a similar fashion, lavender can exert either a cooling or warming effect on the entire system, depending on the temperament and condition of the individual in question. For a person with a hot, acute condition such as a fever or an inflammation, a small amount of lavender will have a cooling, effect. On the other hand, for someone suffering from a cold condition such as a chill, muscular cramp or nervous debility, a more generous application of lavender will generate warmth and activity, both local and systemic. Thus, by creating an equilibrium within the body, lavender can effect both physical and the psychological changes, thereby enhancing an individual’s overall health.
Source: lavender oil, the new guide to nature’s most versatile remedy, Julia Lawless
There are 3 types of lavender oil that I find exceptional.
- Organic from France
- Organic from Bulgaria
- Wild from France
I have used all three for many years. All are exceptional although the fragrance of each is uniquely different. My favorite is the Wild. Nothing like it!
All are available from edenbotanicals.com
Have some around and remember this: when you have tried everything you know and nothing has worked, try lavender oil!