Lavender, a symbol of Provence, is an aromatic plant that has always been used for its innumerable properties.
In fact, lavender is used in numerous disorders related to the digestive and respiratory systems, calms headaches and muscle pains, has a relaxing effect, purifies the skin and soothes irritations.
Let's see in detail all the uses of lavender .
Lavender for health
Lavender has numerous health properties, which can be exploited by preparing infusions and oleolites with dried lavender flowers or using essential oil or lavender hydrolat.
The lavender herbal tea is soothing and relaxing and helps to combine sleep in adults and children, if taken just before going to sleep. Instead, a cup of lavender infusion after meals helps to facilitate digestion and naturally combat intestinal problems such as fluteness and colitis. According to popular medicine, the lavender herbal tea is also useful for fighting headaches and headaches.
Thanks to the anti-inflammatory, healing and antiseptic action of lavender, the infusion can also be used externally on small cuts, insect bites, skin irritations and burns.
The decoction, the oleolite and the essence of lavender are also used to perform effective massages against muscle and joint pains such as back pain, stiff neck, sciatica, strains and dislocations.
Lavender essential oil is a balsamic essential oil which, used for inhalation or diffused in the environment, relieves laryngitis, bronchitis and colds.
How to prepare the lavender herbal tea
To prepare the lavender herbal tea, get yourself some dried herbal lavender flowers, a saucepan and a colander.
Ingredients
> a teaspoon of dried lavender flowers
> a cup of water
Method
Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and, when the water boils, turn off the heat and add the dried lavender flowers. Leave to infuse for ten minutes with the lid, then strain through the strainer and drink the still hot herbal tea.
Natural cosmetics with lavender
Lavender has long been used in cosmetics: the astringent and purifying properties of lavender are for example very useful for treating skins and greasy hair . Those who have oily and impure skin can replace the tonic for facial cleansing with decoction or lavender hydrolate, to be used morning and evening. The decoction of lavender is also used to make compresses or hair rinses, especially if you have oily hair.
Shampoos containing lavender extracts are also used to treat dandruff and hair loss, as well as oily scalp.
The decoction, the hydrolate, but also the oleolite and the essential oil of lavender, are very useful to calm skin irritations due to sun exposure, waxing or dermatitis: after sun exposure, hair removal or in case of skin irritations, apply a small amount of Aloe vera gel to the affected area to which you have added a drop of lavender essential oil.
How to make lavender oil
To prepare the lavender oil at home you will need dried lavender flowers, sunflower oil, a colander and a large glass jar, with an airtight seal.
Ingredients
> 200 grams of dried lavender flowers
> 700 ml of sunflower oil
Method
Place the lavender flowers in a glass jar and cover with sunflower oil. Close the jar, shake it lightly and cover it with aluminum foil. Leave to soak all in the dark, in a warm place for a month, shaking the jar once a day. After thirty days, filter the oleolite with a sieve, better if coated with a gauze or a cotton or linen cloth.
If you want to make lavender oil in just a few minutes, add 50 drops of lavender essential oil to 50 milliliters of sweet almond oil.
Use lavender for the home
Placing some lavender plants on the balcony, on the terrace or in the garden, will help keep mosquitoes away during the summer months. For the same purpose, you can diffuse the essential oil of lavender in the environment, using a diffuser for the essences: you will thus perfume your home by creating a relaxing environment for you but unwelcome to mosquitoes.
To perfume clothes and keep moths away, placed in the wardrobe of lavender flower bags or scented chalks with lavender essential oil.
Finally, to clean and perfume the washable surfaces of the house, prepare a solution with water and white wine vinegar and add a dozen drops of lavender essential oil: in this way you will perfume and disinfect the rooms.
