ABOUT LAVENDER

Lavender: Gentle Support for Body, Mind & Spirit

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of those herbs that most people recognise straight away, by its colour, its scent, or its calming presence. It’s been used for centuries in homes and herbal traditions across the world, and even today it continues to be one of the most loved and versatile plants.

For me, lavender feels like a reminder to pause, to breathe, and to soften. But beyond its beauty and fragrance, lavender has a wide range of benefits worth understanding.

---

A Bit of History

Lavender has a long history in both medicine and daily life. The name comes from the Latin lavare, meaning “to wash,” as it was often added to baths and laundry in ancient Rome. Medieval herbalists used lavender for headaches, sleep troubles, and melancholy, while in folk medicine it was kept around the home as a protective and purifying herb.

---

Key Benefits of Lavender

🌿 Nervous System Support
Lavender is most famous for its calming effect on the mind and body. It has been traditionally used to ease anxiety, nervous tension, and restlessness. Drinking lavender tea or simply inhaling its aroma can help bring a sense of calm.

🌿 Sleep & Relaxation
Placed under a pillow, infused in oil, or used in a bath, lavender has been a bedtime ally for generations. Its gentle sedative qualities help encourage deeper, more restful sleep.

🌿 Skin & First Aid
Applied topically (through infused oils, salves, or diluted sprays), lavender is soothing for irritated or inflamed skin. It’s often used for minor burns, bites, rashes, and cuts due to its antimicrobial and healing properties.

🌿 Digestive Support
Taken as a tea, lavender can also be helpful for digestion. It may ease bloating, nausea, or indigestion that comes with stress.

---

Energetics of Lavender

In herbal energetics, lavender is considered cooling and drying. This means it’s helpful where there is heat or excess tension, whether that’s an overactive mind, inflamed skin, or a hot, restless body. It clears heat, calms agitation, and brings balance.

---

How to Use Lavender

✨ Tea – Brew 1 tsp dried flowers per cup of hot water, steep for 5–10 minutes. Gentle, calming, and supportive for digestion.
✨ Infused Oil/Salve – Soothes burns, bites, rashes, and dry skin.
✨ Baths – Add a handful of dried lavender (or a muslin bag of flowers) to your bath for relaxation.
✨ Aromatherapy – Keep dried flowers or a sachet under your pillow, or simply enjoy the scent for stress relief and sleep support.
✨ Syrups & Honey – Lavender can be infused into honey or syrups for both culinary and medicinal use.

---

A Gentle Reminder

Lavender is safe for most people and can be used in many forms, but it’s always wise to start slowly and notice how your body responds. If you’re breastfeeding or pregnant, use lavender in moderation and pay attention to how you and your baby feel.

---

Closing Thoughts

Lavender isn’t just a pretty flower. It’s a deeply supportive herb for the nervous system, skin, and spirit. Whether you grow it in your garden, brew it into tea, or use it in your remedies, lavender has a way of bringing calm into the busiest of days.

It’s a reminder that healing doesn’t have to be complicated, sometimes it’s as simple as pausing, breathing, and letting a plant remind us of gentleness. 💜