Lavender Essential Oil – A cure for your anxiety

The fragrance of Lavender has made a name for itself, and the aroma is one of the most popular ones in the field of Perfumery. It is one of the most sought-after fragrance raw materials when one wants to design a feminine perfume. With its green, floral and herbal notes, the essential oil from Lavender is one of the oldest one’s that have been studied over for centuries. The popularity of this oil is not just because of its smell but also the wide variety of added benefits that it encompasses. 

 

Lavender Essential Oil: Historical Importance

While the use of plants and herbs for medicinal usage was present during the Indus Valley Civilization and even Egyptians and Romans made use of the same, but it wasn’t until the industrial revolution that it got commercialized. French chemist Gattefossé was the one who accidentally discovered the burn healing properties of Lavender when he dipped his hand in a container of lavender essential oil, thinking it was water. He noticed that the burn developed no blisters, which wasn’t the case when a burn is treated with only water. It was then that he studied not just Lavender but other plants and their essential oils and became one of the forefathers of what is now called ‘Aromatherapy’. 

 

Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil

Because the essential oil is rich in many bioactive components, this essential oil has multiple therapeutic properties. A few which should be mentioned are – 

• It is antiseptic and prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria
• It has antimicrobial properties, and thus it helps control the microbial quality on your skin
• Reduces inflammation and its subsequent side effects such as fever
• It is carminative in nature, i.e. it aids in digestion
• As this oil contains many antioxidants, it aids in healing burns and wounds
• It calms the mind and helps your body relax
• This oil is also a muscle relaxant thus can be used to ease menstrual pains

 

Anti-anxiety properties of Lavender Essential Oil

This essential oil is best known for its potency in treating anxiety. Depression, insomnia and panic attacks have become common in this fast-paced world, and most of you probably get only a little time for yourself. But you can utilize a small fraction of this time to get relieved from all these problems. The fragrance of Lavender essential oil is so potent in targeting your limbic system that a whiff of it is all you need to experience the first wave of calm. 

This oil impacts the limbic system or the part of your brain that controls your emotions. This allows the aroma compounds to stimulate the nerves, relieving any stress or pain. There are enough studies that have demonstrated the usefulness of this essential oil in curing anxiety. 

 

Skincare using Lavender Essential Oil

Apart from its ability to act as a never stimulant, this essential oil has also found its gift in treating various skin conditions.

• This oil is known to improve hair quality by retaining moisture on the scalp and preventing fungal growth.
• It also promotes skin tightening, thus reducing visible signs of ageing.
• This oil has components which treat and controls acne.
• Its anti-inflammatory properties are excellent for soothing eczema while moisturizing the skin.
• It also helps treat hyperpigmentation by inducing the growth of new skin cells.
• It also is suitable for rescinding scars and thus helps clear out your skin.

 

Home routines using Lavender Essential Oil

• For anxiety – You can add a few drops of this essential oil and mix it with coconut oil and apply the same on your forehead or at the nape of your neck. Alternatively, you can pour a few drops on hot water and inhale vapours of it to get relief from anxiety
• For skin irritation– This essential oil is safe to be applied on skin only when diluted. The oil should never be directly applied as it is highly concentrated. Mixing it in coconut oil or almond oil can prove beneficial in treating multiple skin-related conditions. 
• For wound healing – Pouring a few drops of this oil in water and then taking a bath with it can aid in curing skin injuries. This mixture will not only have healing properties, but it will also soothe and moisturize the skin.
• For reducing acne – This oil has the ability to control facial bacteria that cause acne. Thus, applying a mixture of lavender oil and coconut oil (1:3) on the face can help reduce it. Contrary to the belief that coconut oil increases acne, this oil actually moisturizes your skin and helps control your native sebum production.

 

While this oil is generally safe for topical application, you should perform a patch test before proceeding with applying it on a larger skin surface. Also, never use essential oils neat. Another important thing that you should note is that you do not ingest this oil until a medical practitioner advises you to do so. Topical application is enough to get relief from anxiety and skin-related conditions.