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Botanical Guides, Herbs & Botanicals, Lavender
The Calming and Healing Power of Lavender: Why We Love it in Our Botanical Skincare Products
16
Nov
Nov
To make a perfume, take some rose water and wash your hands in it, then take a lavender flower and rub it with your palms, and you will achieve the desired effect ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Each time I send a parcel to someone I love, I tuck a sprig of lavender inside the box. Lately, I have been sending lavender sachets filled with lavender lovingly grown, harvested by hand and sewn together in a pretty pillow. This token of lavender is my way of sending a warm embrace across the miles. Lavender represents devotion, virtue, serenity, and calmness.
Each time I send a parcel to someone I love, I tuck a sprig of lavender inside the box.
Lately, I have been sending lavender sachets filled with lavender lovingly grown, harvested by hand and sewn together in a pretty pillow. This token of lavender is my way of sending a warm embrace across the miles. Lavender represents devotion, virtue, serenity, and calmness.
Unbeknownst to me, this tradition is ancient in its origins. Lavender takes its name from the Latin lavar “to wash,” because the ancients used it as a perfume.
Our use of lavender seems to be imprinted upon us, profoundly familiar and knowing no boundaries. Just like the ancient Egyptians, we continue to use lavender to scent, anoint, heal, and flavor food.
In medieval times, lavender was a component in the four-thieves vinegar blend used to ward off illness. Lavender is also said to have been used to summon faeries, brownies, and elves during Midsummer eve. A symbol of love, it is also listed as an ingredient in various spells and charms to attract love. In Tudor times, newlyweds would put bunches of lavender under their mattress to ensure everlasting marital passion.
Lavender herb is often introduced for scenting newly washed linen when it is put by; from which custom has arisen the expression, “To be laid up in Lavender.” During the twelfth century a washerwoman was called “Lavender,” in the North of England. (from Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure – 1897)
In my own experience, you can’t go wrong when including lavender buds in your herbal vinegar digestive bitters, extracts & concoctions. You might as well hang a spring of lavender over your bed and in every drawer and cupboard. Lavender is deeply rooted in aromatherapy and is commonly used to provide emotional support. Its effect is calming, uplifting, refreshing, soothing, and purifying. Lavender can be used to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, headache, and pain. It is balancing to the body as well as the psyche.
An infusion of lavender flowers added to a cup of boiling water makes a soothing and relaxing bedtime drink.
But the benefits of lavender go beyond just its calming scent.
Studies have shown that lavender has a range of skincare benefits as well. For example, a study published in the Journal of the German Society of Dermatology found that lavender oil can help to improve the appearance of acne-prone skin (Bikowski, 2009).
Another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that lavender oil has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to reduce redness and irritation (Lis-Balchin, 2002).
In addition to these benefits, lavender has also been found to have antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties (Kobaisy, 2003). This makes it a great ingredient for helping to protect the skin from environmental stressors and prevent signs of aging.
At Blooming Wild Botanicals, we love using lavender in our skincare products because of its versatility and effectiveness.
Here are six benefits of lavender in skincare:
- Anti-inflammatory: Lavender has anti-inflammatory properties, making it helpful for reducing redness and swelling in the skin.
- Antimicrobial: Lavender has antimicrobial properties, which can help to prevent the growth of bacteria on the skin and reduce the risk of infection.
- Antioxidant: Lavender is rich in antioxidants, which can help to protect the skin from environmental stressors and prevent signs of aging
- Calming and soothing: Lavender has a calming effect on the skin, making it ideal for sensitive or irritated skin.
- Healing: Lavender has the ability to speed up the healing process of the skin, making it helpful for wounds, cuts, and burns.
- Moisturizing: Lavender is a natural moisturizer and can help to hydrate and nourish the skin.
Lavender is a versatile and effective ingredient that can be beneficial for a variety of skincare concerns. We are devoted to lavender and have included it in many of our products. We believe in the power of botanicals to nourish and protect the skin and are committed to using natural, sustainable ingredients in all of our products.
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Additional Resources:
My favorite book and resource for lavender is The Lavender Lover’s Handbook. It is quite comprehensive and packed full of photographs, recipes, craft ideas, varieties, history, growing guides and more.
https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/four-thieves-vinegar
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen 1897
https://examine.com/supplements/lavender/
Bikowski, J. (2009). A review of the use of topical and oral drugs in the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the German Society of Dermatology, 7(3), 189-200.
Kobaisy, M., Tellez, M. R., Day, R. A., & Duke, S. O. (2003). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oils. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51(17), 5222-5226.
Lis-Balchin, M. (2002). The biological activity of lavender essential oil. Phytotherapy Research, 16(2), 116-121.