Lavender is in full bloom right now. Now is the perfect time to harvest the flowers for teas, face mists, or tonics to refresh the skin. This delightful floral scent is used in a variety of household products.
Lavender is easy to grow. It is virtually drought tolerant, but relishes the rain, too. It can explode in size very quickly. Lavender attracts pollinators to your garden and deters the presence of mosquitos and other pests.
There are 39 varieties of lavender. Capturing the essential oil of one plant in particular is the best way to ensure that you are getting the medicinal benefits. Lavender’s scientific name is lavandula angustifolia. Names for this genus are: “true” lavender, English lavender, garden lavender, common lavender or narrow-leaved lavender.
Historical Uses
For thousands of years, this beautiful plant has been used as a medicine for pregnancy, anxiety, insomnia, skin issues, to calm the digestive tract, and more!
Egyptians used lavender in cosmetics, perfume, and for mummification.
There are also many Biblical references to lavender, referred to as “spikenard”. One mention is that it was used to diffuse in water and to even wash Jesus’ feet.
Preparing your own lavender for use in handmade concoctions is a genuine act of self-care and love. Here is why:
The flowers are tiny and delicate, so handling these can be a bit difficult.
Timing is important because the buds are best used before or as they flower.
Sprinkling the leaves into teas and lemonades can add a flavorful kick, especially if done before or during flowering time. The flavor is a bit stronger and not as delicate as the buds & flowers, but it is delicious nonetheless.
Flowers, buds, and leaves can be steeped before/during flowering to scent oils. You can add these oils to a delicious salad or rub them onto the body for a relaxing moment of self-care.
Flowers, buds, and leaves before/during flowering can be steeped in simple syrup (recipe below), creating a delectable syrup for pancakes, teas, lemonade, and other foods & drinks.
For best effect, do not use buds or leaves after the plant has flowered. The prana (vital energy) has been spent while creating the flower.
Medicinal Uses
Lavender has energetic properties that can aid with cooling, drying (antiseptic), stimulating, and relaxing. These are balanced qualities, and the dynamic range of purposes allows for ease in its application and use.
When using essential oils, be sure to always to do a patch test on your skin 24 hours prior to use so you are aware of potential reactions. This is especially important for senstive individuals. Adding to a carrier oil like jojoba, olive, and cocount oils can be one way to enjoy the luxurious feeling of using scented oils like lavender. If diffusing or using a humidifier to improve the quality of the room you are in, be careful to begin with a small amount of essential oil. Increase over time, for your desired effect.
Lavender is a nervine, which means that it beneficially stimulates the nervous system. Lavender is also a known anti-spasmotic, antimicrobial, and antibacterial. Lavender is known for these recognized benefits in holistic practices:
- Calming effects
- Reduces inflammation in the skin
- Great for settling the stomach, abdominal gas and bloating
- May stimulate hair growth
- Headache
- General Pain
- Hay Fever/Seasonal Allergies
- Bug bites and stings
- Burns
- Menstrual cramps
- Insomnia
- Nasal congestion
- Soothing skin irritation
- Mouth ulcers
- Antimicrobial action for wounds
- Athlete’s foot
- Muscle cramping
- Alzheimers and dementia
- Pregnancy – helpful to treat stress, anxiety, headaches, backaches, labor pain relief and postnatal wound healing, and postpartum depression
- Diaper Rash – lavender hydrolat can be used on babies
Science backed findings to support the medicinal qualities of lavender:
Study about lavender’s effect on stress and pain.
Treating Alzheimer’s Disease with lavender.
Findings about lavender for skin ulcerations.
Study about insomnia and anxiety.
Now that you’ve learned about the benefits of lavender, I want to share a few fun ways you can prepare lavender for your own personal consumption. I get a lot of joy out of making my own skin products and teas, and I invite you to try these recipes to see if you enjoy this kind of activity. This can be especially fun for a wholesome hang-out with friends and family. Kids may get a kick out of tasting and noticing the floral notes from the facial mists.
Lavender Mist
Use this for cool the face face, fragrance your room or pillows, and to spray onto your scalp after washing it.
Ingredients
12 oz of Tap or Distilled Water
1/2 cup of lavender buds, flowers, and leaves
6 oz misting bottle
Preparation
- Gently simmer water and lavender until water has cooked down by half.
- Funnel into misting bottle, allow to cool, and add mister to seal tightly.
- You can steep longer if you like a potent lavender product. I prefer a lighter scent. Experiment and let me know what you think.
For skin care: This mist is perfect to cool down during the summer, especially when spending time outdoors. It is also a wonderful skin toner to use before applying facial oil or serum.
For home care: Spritz onto pillows when you are changing sheets. Perk up the rooms energy with a subtle calming hydration to the room.
Lavender Simple Syrup
I love to use this in coffee, tea, or even as drizzle onto pancakes. It perks me up and calms me down at the same time! Try this recipe and let me know what you think.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
2 Tbs lavender buds, flowers, and leaves
Preparation
- Combine water & sugar into saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the sugar until it dissolves, making sure to wipe down the sides of the pan to ensure all sugar makes it into the pan to dissolve.
- Once dissolved, add lavender buds, flowers, and leaves, simmer until you have a syrup consistency. Dip the back of a spoon inside to test the desired syrupy viscosity.
- When desired syrupy is achieved, remove from heat. Strain syurp and funnel into bottle for use. Allow to cool uncovered. Cover tightly and store at room temperature or in the refridgerator, this should hold for 1 month.
After a month, it may begin to breakdown from evaporation. While edible, the efficacy of the lavender is past its prime. Put it in a butterfly or hummingbird feeder to reconnect it back to nature.
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