History and Uses of Lavender Essential Oils

How Using Lavender Can Change Your Mood and Health

Lavender essential oils have a rich history in terms of both a therapy and scent – known to have been used by ancient cultures for both of these reasons. The Greeks originally called the flowering plant “nardus”, using it for various religious and cultural purposes.

They discovered that when lavender was crushed and handled properly, it delivered a relaxing and intoxicating aroma. Consequently, it was then sold for what was, at the time, an extraordinarily high price, often totaling a month’s wages for many of its citizens. Because of this, it quickly became a flower that was reserved for the wealthier portion of the population.

Fast forward to today and you’ll find that the price of lavender has dipped significantly, enabling people from all walks of life to experience its beneficial properties. But what exactly does it do and how can it be used therapeutically? We’ve narrowed down a few of the important features of using the essential oil in our products for those who have yet to experience this historically useful scent.

• Sleep and Nervous System: The calming properties of lavender are well-known as a provider of the release of nerve and anxiety issues. This also translates into treating common sleep issues such as insomnia. Studies have shown that it has even helped patients find relief from various mood and stress-related disorders as well.

• Acne: Lavender essential oils is a natural anti-bacterial supplement, and when added to other natural products, it can treat acne until it’s healed completely. It has also been shown to lessen scarring that is commonly attributed to these blemishes.

• Pain Relief: Before reaching for other medications, use lavender on the affected area. Using it on a variety of ailments, including sprains, backache, sore or tense muscles, and on the temples for headaches, is a great way of giving your body some much-needed natural support.

• Immunity: Aside from its uses as an antibacterial and antiviral agent, lavender has been shown to reduce the release of cortisol, a known stress hormone. Beyond that, the essential oil also stimulates the immune system, giving your body a boost to its own healing mechanisms.

• Skin Care: Using lavender on your skin as an astringent can have a positive effect on everything from bug bites and acne (as stated above), to different types of swelling on the skin. It’s been known to treat all kinds of minor conditions with its natural approach to skin therapy.

While the science of using this essential oil is still being investigated, the topical uses of lavender have been used for centuries for healing both body and mind. This is why Natural Sweetums has made an effort to include it in many of our products, knowing that it can present tremendous gains in the overall health of an individual.