Lavender Oil

What is Lavender oil? As the name implies, Lavender oil is part of the essential oil group and it is harvested via distillation from the flowers of specific species of the lavender plant. Lavender oil uses are many. Some popular uses include lavender oil for Aromatherapy, Shampoos, Perfume, Conditioners, Creams, Soaps and Moisturizers. There two main types of lavender oil on the market. The first is lavender flower oil while the second is lavender spike oil.

Lavender flower oil is colorless and both types have different densities. Oils coming from different species will differ somewhat. This is particularly true when looking at lavender plants from different regions of the world, such as Kashmir lavender essential oil which is collected from the Himalayas. The lavender plant is actually a shrub that produces clumps of highly fragrant purple flowers. It is a well known flower with many pictures and paintings on the topic on the internet. As far as commercial products are concerned, it is mostly used in two three areas.

Fragrances, cosmetics and aromatherapy. Lavender oil properties found in the liquid form of the flower are many. In aromatherapy, the scent is primarily used for reducing anxiety and increasing relaxation. As such, it is a great stress reliever after a long day of work. It is also known to help with headaches as well as respiratory infections. The delivery is usually via breathing or by rubbing a diluted version directly on the skin.

Strangely enough, it is also considered a mosquito repellent, particularly when used as a fragrance, skin cream or hair conditioner/shampoo. Lavender oil is widely used by those that are proponents of alternative medicine. It is not only used as a pain reliever but also for insect bites as well as slight skin burns. As such, it is a popular massage oil where it is believed to help with joint and muscle pains. When applied directly on to the chest, it is believed to help with asthmatic problems. It is even effective against lice when used as a shampoo, conditioner or when massaged into the hair.

However, when used in vitro, it is found to be cytotoxic to our skin cells at certain concentrations (0.25%). Cytotoxicity is the measure of how toxic a certain substance is to cells in general. However, these occurrences are generally rare. As such, it has been deemed perfectly safe for dermatological products. There is also some evidence to suggest that lavender oil may be linked to gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is the growth of breasts in boys.

Essentially, a study found that lavender as well as tea tree oil is a suppressant to male hormones. Additionally, it also mimics female hormones. Young boys and girls lack a robust level of sex hormones. As such, they are susceptible to compounds that are androgenic and estrogenic. There have been cases of early breast development in young girls when lavender based shampoos or creams are used. Overall however, many feel that there is still insufficient evidence to point to these facts being absolutely true. Lavender oil manufacturers have long entered the market due to the benefits associated with it. In fact, knowledge on the healing properties of the oil have been reported from as far back as the 1700's. A good example of this is a book describing herbs that was written in the 1700's Nicholas Culpeper. His describes it as being good when treating headaches and cramps.

A lot has been written about its healing properties. It has been found to have some antiseptic and antibacterial properties, but considered mild. When applied to an area, it increases healing due to increased blood circulation around the area. For those interested in organic products, we are happy to tell you that organic lavender oil is easy to find on the market. Organic lavender oil has color, unlike refined versions. It is a pale yellow color that is harvested via organic farming methods. Organic farming is the practice of producing crops without destroying the environment. The keyword with organic farming is sustainability.

Sustainability of the soil as well as the environment. As such, most of their pesticides and herbicides are all natural. While great for mother earth, they do cost a bit more than regular off the shelf varieties. But it is a small price to pay when looking at the bigger picture. Lavender oil pregnancy worries are floating around the internet. While it is advised to avoid using lavender oil particularly during the first trimester, it is generally safe to use during pregnancies. As it is a pain reliever, it can be added to bathing water to relieve stress as well as the common aches and pains associated with pregnancies. If your chest is congested but cannot use medicines (for whatever reason), you can use lavender for some relief as well. However, keep in mind that it has to be properly diluted for before usage. When massaged around the feet and legs, it provides relief to fluid retention.

It is even used during labor due to is pain relieving properties. Contractions will also strengthen. The lavender oil manufacturers on the market are many. Some popular ones include Tisserand, Essential Oils Direct, The Aromatherapy Shop, Calmer Solutions, Naissance, Shirley Price Aromatherapy and Aura Essential Oils. Generally considered to be a decently priced essential oil, expect to pay no more than three pounds for a small 10ML bottle.