BENEFITS OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

The benefits of lavender essential oil are some of the safest and most versatile natural remedies in the world. Lavender is perhaps the most widely sold and most widely used essential oil in the world. For the same reason, it is frequently adulterated. Lavender has been used for thousands of years by different cultures for medicinal, cosmetic and religious purposes. There is evidence that the Egyptians used lavender in their mummification technique along with incense and other oils. Later, the Greeks and Romans popularized its use as a fragrance frequently used in the baths of the time and it was also incorporated into culinary practices. Lavender essential oil is known for its calming and balancing properties among many others. Lavender is today cultivated in various parts of the world, with lavender cultivated in France and Bulgaria being of special interest. The word lavender is derived from the Latin “ lavera ” which means “to wash” because the Romans popularized its use in the baths of the time. Although lavender has been used for hundreds of years based on popular knowledge and tradition, in recent decades modern science has clarified its mechanisms of action and beneficial effects on health, with more than 600 publications on its benefits to date, of which more than 200 are clinical studies in humans. For the practical purposes of this article we will only mention some of the benefits of lavender with reference to the studies that support them for those who wish to conduct a more in-depth analysis.

Beginning with Egyptian mummification, it moved into Roman baths, fragrances, and cooking. In modern times, lavender essential oil has been credited as the healing solution with which Gattefosse instinctively covered his burned arm in an accident in his laboratory, sparking renewed interest in essential oils and inspiring the term aromatherapy. Lavender has stood the test of time, inspiring interest across cultures and generations, over its immense benefits. Here are just a few of them.

MENTAL HEALTH

Lavender essential oil has long been used to improve nervous system conditions such as stress, headaches, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Multiple research studies and clinical trials in the areas of neurology and psychiatry now support its benefits on mental health. Thus, multiple studies suggest that oral administration of a product containing lavender essential oil called Silexan (CalmAid) significantly reduces anxiety states including generalized anxiety disorder (similar or better than conventional medications such as paroxetine and Lorazepam), improves symptoms of depression, improves symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and improves overall mental health. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Lavender essential oil can be used to improve sleep quality and decrease sleep disorders such as insomnia. 9,10 A study conducted by Johannessen B, 11 in 2013 showed that nighttime diffusion of lavender essential oil reduced insomnia and anxiety in residents with dementia and sleep disorders in four different nursing homes.

SKIN CARE 

Lavender essential oil has been used for many years in skin care. In 1910, chemist and perfumer Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, considered the father of modern aromatherapy, described in his writings that after suffering a burn on his arm in his laboratory, he treated it with lavender essential oil and his burn improved without infection. Inspired by Gattefosse's results, Dr. Jean Valnet used essential oils in the treatment of wounds and infections in soldiers during World War II. Today there is extensive evidence of the skin healing properties of essential oils. Lavender essential oil is effective against sunburn, dry skin, scrapes, minor cuts and mouth ulcers. Topical application of lavender essential oil to animals with induced ulcers and humans with recurrent aphthous ulcerations showed a significant reduction in the level of inflammation, ulcer size, healing time, 2 to 4 days, and pain relief mainly from the first dose, compared to baseline and placebo, with no side effects. 12 Studies in animal models indicate that lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reactions by inhibiting mast cell degranulation in vivo and in vitro. 13  Another study by Hay IC, et al  14 in 1998, showed that a daily massage application to the scalp of a mixture of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood essential oils with jojoba and grape seed carrier oil improved alopecia areata (patches of hair loss). 

WOMEN CARE

Lavender essential oil has multiple applications in the symptoms that accompany the physiological processes of women such as the menstrual cycle, childbirth and the postpartum period: a daily abdominal massage with a combination of rose, cinnamon, clove and lavender essential oils diluted in an almond carrier oil for seven days before menstruation significantly decreases menstrual cramps and excessive bleeding in women suffering from dysmenorrhea. 15 Similarly, an abdominal massage with a mixture of lavender with rose and sage can decrease the severity of menstrual cramps. 16 Aromatherapy can be provided as a non-pharmacological pain relief measure and as part of the nursing care provided to girls suffering from dysmenorrhea or excessive menstrual bleeding. Massage with lavender essential oil after childbirth can decrease episodes of postpartum depression and anxiety while improving the interaction of the mother with the newborn. 17 Other studies suggest that sitz baths in water with lavender essential oil may be more effective in the postpartum care of episiotomies than conventional treatments with Betadine or providone-oidine . 18,19

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTION

For many years, lavender has been used for antimicrobial purposes in the treatment of wounds and infections. Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa found that 75.6% of forty-five mixtures they tried produced favorable results. Of the mixtures used for this in vitro trial, the lavender-cinnamon and lavender-orange mixtures were the most potent against Candida albicans and Staph aureus. 20 Lavender alone or in combination with other oils has not only been shown to be effective in killing various fungi and bacteria, but has also demonstrated a synergistic effect that potentiates the antimicrobial effect of antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, nystatin, and fusidic acid. 21

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL HAS NO ESTROGENIC EFFECT

One of the frequently asked questions that arises when using lavender essential oil is the warning on some websites about caution in using it in young men due to the supposed risk of developing prepubertal gynecomastia (abnormal breast growth in young men before puberty). The caution was prompted by a 2007 article by  Henley in Derek V et al. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled “Prepubertal Gynecomastia Linked to Lavender and Tea Tree Oils.” This study reported on three boys (5, 7, and 10 years old each) who developed idiopathic cases of prepubertal gynecomastia. All three patients were found to be using a shampoo, lotion, soap, or balm that included lavender oil and Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil as ingredients. The researchers extrapolated that these essential oils were “estrogenic” based on a preliminary in vitro evaluation. This study has been widely criticized for multiple reasons, including the lack of any real scientific support to demonstrate a causal relationship between the use of the oils and the development of symptoms. The researchers did not analyze the products to determine if they actually contained the oils mentioned on the label and the quality of the oils. The hormonal analyses of the three young men did not show an abnormal increase in their estrogen levels, which would be the ultimate cause of the alleged gynecomastia. All this without taking into account that the amount of essential oil absorbed by the application methods described is minimal and unlikely to alter the endocrine system of young men. Robert Tisserand, 23 , considered one of the world's leading experts on the safety of essential oils, states that “lavender oil does not mimic estrogen and does not increase the body's own estrogen levels. Therefore, it is not a hormone disruptor, it cannot cause breast growth in young children (or girls of any age) and it is safe for anyone at risk of estrogen-dependent cancer.” Additionally, a study in rats conducted by Politano V et al. 24 and published in 2013 in the International Journal of Toxicology confirms that lavender is not estrogenic. And even though this is an animal model, there are no clinical studies in humans to date that demonstrate the contrary.

USES OF LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

In general terms, lavender essential oil is safe and can be used in different ways: Aromatically, topically, and even in many countries around the world it is approved for internal use. In some states, the FDA classifies it as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). However, it is always important to follow the recommendations for use: 

Diffusion: Put 4-5 drops in a NayviEssentials aroma diffuser.

Topical: Apply 1-2 drops to desired area. Dilute with carrier oils to minimize skin sensitivity.

Cooking: It can be added to cooking recipes to give a characteristic flavor.

Spray: Combine Lavender, Citronella and Peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and use to eliminate unpleasant odors in your home or as an air freshener to purify the air.

Other uses: Pour a few drops of lavender essential oil into your potpourri for aromatherapy. You can also add this oil to your homemade soap, body wash, and air fresheners.

DO IT YOURSELF!

Lavender Bath Bombs

Bringing the spa experience into your home with revitalizing and rejuvenating essential oil products and treatments is easy. With the soft, sweet, herbal aroma of lavender bath bombs, you can make your bath a uniquely relaxing and calming experience, allowing you to melt away your worries after a hectic day. 

Bath bombs are great gifts for both adults and children. When making for kids, try adding a little color to the mix to catch their attention.

Note: If you don't have a bathtub, these bath bombs can still be effective in the shower. The water will help dissolve the bath bomb and release the scent of the essential oils.

Ingredients (20 Bombs)

Baking soda 14 oz (400g)

Citric Acid 7 oz (200g)

NayviEssentials® Fractionated Coconut Oil 0.3 oz (10ml)

Cocoa butter 3g

Dried rose petals 2g

15-20 drops of lavender oil or other essential oil of your choice

Recommended oils: For relaxation, you can use lavender, lemon balm, ylang ylang or NayviEssentials® Serenity. For mood enhancement, you can use orange, mandarin or mint.

*You can also use another type of carrier oil such as jojoba or almond in the preparation 

Instructions

1. Measure the citric acid and baking soda and put them in a container
2. In a separate, smaller container, mix the 15-20 drops of NayviEssentials® lavender essential oil with the fractionated coconut oil and add this mixture to the other ingredients.
3. Mix well with a spoon until a soft dough forms. If the mixture is too wet, add a little more baking soda until the consistency is right, if it is too dry add more fractionated coconut oil. At this point, you can add the rose petals, food coloring if you want a special color or other dried herbs.
4. Pour the mixture into silicone molds. Let it rest for 24 hours before unmolding.

To use

Add one of the fragrant bombs to your bath with warm water and let it dissolve while you sit back and relax.

Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 3-4 months.