Essential oils and aromatherapy are an integral part of Nature’s Energy which makes them an appropriate starting point for our new blog. The majority of our products contain essential oils benefiting from both their medicinal value as well as their scents.
No true introduction to essential oils would be complete without the story of the origins of modern-day aromatherapy: Although essential oils have been used widely throughout the ages, in modern times, essential oils were mainly used to create perfume and it is a French perfumer, Rene-Marice Gattefosse (1881-1950) who is credited with coining the term ‘Aromatherapy’ and is often referred to as the Father of Aromatherapy as he was mainly responsible for initiating the modern-day study into the medicinal benefits of essential oils.
In the early 20th century, Gattefosse was working and burned his arm quite badly. As a reflex action, he put his arm in the closest container of liquid to cool his burn. The container contained lavender essential oil. He noticed that his burn healed quickly and he was left without any scarring. This ignited his interest in the medicinal applications of essential oils which led to the publication of a book, “Aromatherapie” in 1937 which is still read today.
Although lavender essential oil obviously has a significant place in the history of aromatherapy, it is definitely one of the most useful oils to have in the home. Some of its practical uses include:
1. Minor burns and scrapes
To treat minor burns and scrapes, place a few drops of lavender essential oil onto the dressing that will be placed over the wound after it has been cleaned. Also be sure to use any appropriate salve as directed by your doctor or qualified aromatherapist.
2. Insomnia
To reduce insomnia, simply apply one drop of lavender essential oil to the edge of a pillowcase. Take deep breaths, and relax from your toes all the way to your head, focusing on all the major body parts along the way. Usually within a week or two, your body will become "trained" to the effects of the essential oil and you will notice a significantly faster reaction with continued use.
3. Stress
Place 20 drops of lavender in a warm bath and relax. 5-10 drops may also be used in a vaporizer for inhalation. If a bathtub or vaporizer isn't available, simply apply 3 drops to a cotton ball and inhale as needed.
4. Sunburn
Lavender's analgesic properties help to reduce sunburn pain, and lavender is also useful in the sunburn healing process. For large, lightly burned areas, use about 15 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 tbsp of distilled water and dab gently over the entire affected area. For smaller, more severe sunburns, apply lavender essential oil directly to the area but do not use more than a drop or two since essential oil is extremely potent.
5. Household disinfectant
Lavender has superb antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, making it a great household disinfectant. For cleaning sinks, tubs, or toilets, sprinkle baking soda and 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil onto a sponge and scrub away. After you're finished scrubbing, rinse the area well. For washing floors and countertops, simply add 60 drops of essential oil to a bucket of warm water, and wipe or mop as needed.
6. Bruises
Lavender assists in reducing inflammation, regenerating skin tissue, and promoting the healing of bruises. To ease inflammation, place 5 drops of lavender essential oil into a bowl of cold water, wet a washcloth in the lavender solution, and apply as a compress to the affected area. After using the initial compress, apply a drop or two directly upon the bruised area once a day until the area has healed.
7. Colic or tummy aches in infants
Place 1-3 drops of lavender essential oil into 1 tsp of carrier oil (such as jojoba or grapeseed). Rub the oil mixture gently onto your baby's tummy and lower back in a clockwise direction. Repeat this procedure every few hours until the symptoms subside.
8. Fatigue
After a long day, place 10 drops of lavender essential oil into a hot footbath and soak for 30 minutes. Lavender has a well-earned reputation as a restorative - you'll be surprised how much better you'll feel!
9. Insect bites/bee stings
Place one drop of lavender essential oil directly onto insect bites or bee stings. Lavender's anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling, its analgesic properties reduce pain and itch, and its healing properties encourage tissue repair.
As mentioned in our previous blog post, we're still in the process of uploading all our products to our online store but you can purchase our most popular essential oils, carrier oils and blended massage oils to bring aromatherapy into your home.
We would love to hear the ways in which you use lavender, as well as other essential oils, in your home.
