Lavender Facts and History

Lavender is a plant rich in history and myth. With its roots in the ancient herbalists, lavender's properties as a disinfectant and antiseptic grew through the centuries, even gaining the reputation of warding off the plague. Lavender's popularity with the English royalty gave it a berth in the ranks of a cosmetic herb, and it was with Queen Victoria that lavender was recognized as a tonic for nerves.

With its history of healing properties, glorious colors and enchanting perfume, lavender has remained the Swiss Army Knife of herbs. Lavender has stepped out of its attachment to old fashioned uses and has found a modern status in aromatherapy. With scientific research verifying its ancient uses, lavender is an essential component of any household first aid box. The essential oil is used on insect bites, burns, and blemishes.

The following history comes from our friend and aromotologist, Eva Marie Lind. Read on to discover some of Eva's favorite aromatherapy uses of lavender oil. The name 'lavender' is a derivative of the Latin word 'lavare', meaning 'to wash', and was a bathing ritual herb in Roman times. It was said to avert the 'eye of evil' and was a flower and essence dedicated to the Goddess of Witches and Sorcerers, Hecate. Folklore is riffled with the ability of this tartly camphoraceous, yet spicy and warm, sensual flower. It is purported to invoke ecstasy and constancy in love.

A Few Facts

Lavender is cultivated all over the world: Bulgaria, England, United States and France are historically known for producing the essential oil. Harvesting the lavender for oil must be done at the peak of the day's heat. Essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the fresh flowering tops.

A Little History

Lavender is considered the premier of all perfume. 'Perfume' derives its name from the Greek meaning 'through smoke,' and in ancient times the perfumes were used as fumigatory agents. Lavendula angustifolia/officinalis grows at altitudes reaching the height of 5,000 feet. The officinalis, known as 'vera', affords a much smaller plant and the harvesting is more laborious. In a field ripe for harvest the plants resemble fattened velveteen porcupines with hues ranging from brilliant whites to shadings of violet and purple.

Personality Traits

Lavender's aroma imprint is camphoric sweet and rich ~ with an herbaceous, floral heart and a soft balsamic-wood undertone. Its odor at evaporation is generally a low, middle note. Its effect is calming, refreshing, uplifting, expansive, soothing, purifying.

A Few Important Properties of Lavender

It is antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, antiviral, anticoagulant, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, deodorant, decongestant, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue,hypotensive, insecticidal, nervine, parasiticidal, rubefacient, restorative, sedative, sudorfic, tonic, vermifugal, and vulnerary.

Common Uses

Ideal for physical and emotional support. Lavender as a whole is an 'adaptagenic' essence with a relationship to all Body Systems. It is nicknamed the ultimate 'first aid in a bottle' oil. Lavender produces an Anti-Allergic Essential oil, with an inherent antibiotic action. It is also an astringent as well as moisturizing to skin. It alleviates aches, pains, and swelling from arthritis to injury to headache. Lavender also alleviates motion sickness.

Emotionally, lavender helps support a calm composure and self-expression. It reduces irritability, insomnia, nightmares, apprehension, panic attacks combined with uncontrollable shaking, stress, nervous tension, hysteria and is generally balancing to the psyche, as well as the body.

Internal Possibilities

Research is proving that lavender is beneficial with regard to support for hyperglycemia, hypertension, indigestion, arteriosclerosis, digestive complaints, kidney stones, fragile capillaries, anemia, and heartburn. It is non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing.

Contraindications and Safety

Some say due to an emmenagogue action, lavender should be avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy. It should not to be used with preparations containing iron and/or iodine.