Lavender Essential Oil Uses

Lavender essential oil is an extract of certain species of lavender plant. It is obtained by distillation of certain parts of the lavender plant. One of the forms is lavender flower oil. It is obtained by distillation of sun dried lavender flowers plucked along with a small stem. This is colourless oil and is a complex mixture of various chemical ingredients present in the plant. Lavender plants are short plants which once were growing as wild growth in the areas having hot climate, but due to excessive demand it is being grown on commercial scale.

Lavender oil has been used for a long time for production of perfumes having pleasant smell which is very relaxing and soothing. This oil is also used in aromatherapy. When rubbed on the skin and the vapours inhaled, the patient immediately gets relief from headache caused due to tension. This oil is an important constituent of vaporizers available in market for providing relief against cold and blocked nose. Cough and respiratory infection is cured by inhaling this essential oil.

This oil has the properties of repelling the mosquitoes. They do not come close to a person who has used this as hair oil or as perfume. A small stack of dried flowers along with the stem can be placed as a bundle in the room to repel mosquitoes. This oil helps to treat lice when use for rinsing of head.

Because of its antiseptic properties it is being extensively put to use as an alternate medicine for treatment of minor burns, to relieve pain and for treatment of insect bites. It is added in bathing areas used by communities because of antiseptic properties and for making the atmosphere pleasant due to its aroma. It also helps treat a number of common ailments like sunburns and sunstroke. When mixed with other oils and used for massage it helps relieve a person suffering from joint and muscle pain. Due to this it is extensively used by therapists at massage centres.

When rubbed on the chest of a patient suffering from asthma or bronchitis the patient gets immediate relief from spasm. A few drops can be put on the pillow to provide relaxation for the whole night to the person sleeping.

Though not conclusive and subject of further research and disputed by certain perfumers, a recent study has found that some chemicals in lavender oil helps suppress male hormones and enhances female hormones. Due to this property it has resulted in abnormal development of breasts in young boys, and discontinuation of use results in rapid reversal of this process. As such care needs to be taken not to excessively indulge in use of this oil.