The many healing properties of lavender oil make it an all-purpose medicine for your home’s first-aid kit. Lavender is not only a gentle sedative but it is also an effective antibacterial agent. For this reason it can be used to treat a variety of ills like aches, burns, infections, colic, and stress.
Here are a few common ways to put your lavender oil to work for your family’s health.
Muscle ache
Dilute 10 drops lavender oil with 2 tablespoons water and gently rub it into the affected area.
Sunburn relief
Mix 10 drops lavender oil into 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the sunburn and let dry.
Insomnia
Mix 10 drops of lavender oil to 4 ounces of water into a spray bottle, lightly spray your pillow and let dry. Or fill a muslin bag with lavender flowers and sew shut. Place sachet in your pillowcase.
Minor skin irritations
Mix 3 drops of lavender oil with 1 quart of distilled water and dab on affected area daily.
Minor ear infections
Saturate a cotton ball with olive oil and add 5 drops of lavender oil to it. Place cotton ball in your outer part of your ear.
Stomachaches, cramps, and colic
Mix 30 drops of lavender oil, 10 drops of chamomile oil and 3 1/2 ounces of olive oil into a bottle. Shake Well. Massage mixture gently onto the stomach and abdomen for 10-15 minutes in a circular motion. When done wait 15 minutes and apply a hot washcloth, or low-heat heating pad to belly for about half an hour.
Relieve menstrual cramps
Run a warm bath and add 2 drops of German chamomile oil and 2 drops of lavender oil. Relax in the bath for about a half an hour.
Dry hair and/or dandruff
Mix 4-5 drops of Clary sage oil with 5 drops of lavender oil and add to 2 tablespoons of shampoo. Massage into your scalp and let it soak in for a short time. Rinse out. Do this twice a week.
Tone and tighten your skin
Add 2 – 3 drops of lavender oil to 5 tablespoons of olive oil, massage daily into skin. Olive oil contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will protect and nourish your skin. while lavender oil will soothe, soften, and tighten the skin. Be sure to only use extra virgin olive oil or virgin olive oil, anything else will likely contain refined oil that has been chemically treated. Only make this in small batches that you will use within a day or two as olive oil does spoil (turns rancid) quite quickly.
Relieve tension headaches and stress:
If you own a fireplace you can light a small fire and toss a handful of dried lavender flowers into the fire. Your home will fill with the aromatic scent; relaxing and calming your mind. You can also burn a drop or two of lavender oil in an oil burner to achieve the same effect.
If you do not have a fireplace or an oil burner, just open the bottle of lavender oil and take a few sniffs or put a drop of oil on your shirt collar or neck. Just remember oil can stain clothing, use your own discretion when applying directly to clothing.
You may also put a drop of lavender oil on each temple and massage in. Lavender oil is one of the few oils considered safe to directly apply to the skin, however, use caution and discretion if you have skin conditions or sensitive skin. You may dilute the oil by mixing two tablespoons of water with 2 drops of lavender oil and massaging into the temples to relieve tension.
* As always, please exercise caution if trying these tips. These tips may not work for everybody and no results are guaranteed to work. Those with allergies should be extremely careful. Always consult a health care professional before trying any home remedy, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.
