Lavender (Lavendula officinalis / angustifolia -True Lavendar)

There are many varieties and hybrid species of Lavender grown commercially today but Lavendula angustifolia is the original ‘true’ or French Lavender that most people know well. The grey-green foliage and purple-blue flower spike of Lavender is readily identifiable in a herb garden and the aroma of the essential oil is readily released when the flowers or leaves are touched.

Lavender is a member of the Labiatae Family and is a native of the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. However, Lavender plantations are now widely found around the world as species hybridisation has enabled Lavender to be grown commercially outside its natural climatic range.

The fresh, clean scent of lavender needs no description, neither does the palnt. The oil is clear and has a fairly mild, bitter tasts. Lavender blends well with a great number of essential oils, adding a light, floral softness to almost any mixture.

The clear essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the flowers and has a clean and fresh aroma.

Uses in Natural Skin Care Products:
Lavender is well known for its wound healing, cleansing and toning properties and removes redness and heat from the skin, making Lavender oil a suitable addition to any skin care preparation and for any skin type. Lavender has been shown to be very useful in the relief of burns in which case it can be applied neat to the area.

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Lavendar has a sedative and tonic action on the heart and lowers high bloodpressure. It is a mild local analgesic, and calms cerebro-spinal excitability. It is renowned for its nervine-sedative properties, and has proved valuable in a varitey of nervous and psychological disorders, including: depression, insomnia, migraine, hysteria, nervous tension and paralysis.

Although it is not really anti-inflammatory, lavender is often useful where there is inflammation, hence its use in burns, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, boils, rheumatism, wounds, ulcers, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, cystitis, diarrhoea, laryngitis, etc.

Lavender oil has been included in the following Wildcrafted natural skin care products: Rejuvenating Night Crème, and
Ginseng Hydrator For Men (Normal Skin Blend).