The use of lavender can be traced back over 2500 years, from cooking, home decorations, medicinal purposes to aromatherapy. Today, lavender is widely popular among homeowners and professionals.
Health benefits include:
| Promoting hair health — According to a study published in Archives of Dermatology, lavender oil, along with a mixture of other essential oils, may help treat alopecia areata (hair loss), and that it was able to show improvement in 43 percent of the total test participants. In another study that used mice as test subjects, lavender oil exhibited hair growth-promoting effects. |
| Eliminating microbes — Research shows that lavender oil possesses antibacterial properties that are effective against 65 different strains, such as E. coli and S. aureus. In addition, it may also help fight fungi. |
| Improving blood circulation — Lavender may help boost proper blood circulation throughout your body. |
| Relieving respiratory disorders — If diffused via an inhaler or a vaporizer, lavender essential oil can help treat inflammatory respiratory conditions like asthma. |
| Providing pain relief — Applying lavender essential oil to your muscles may help relieve soreness, joint pain and rheumatism. |
| Boosting skin healing — A 2016 study notes that topical application of lavender oil can help promote acceleration of collagen synthesis and differentiation of fibroblasts, thereby promoting wound healing. |
Other uses for lavender include:
- Cooking — Dried lavender buds or petals can help enhance the aroma of dishes, most notably desserts and salads. Make sure to grind them finely first before cooking so that when you eat the finished product, you don’t have leaves or petals stuck in your mouth. Use them sparingly as well, as they have a powerful flavor and aroma that can overpower the other ingredients in your dish.
- Keeping air fresh and clothes fragrant — Lavender sachets can enrich the atmosphere in your house, making you feel like you live right beside a lavender field in rural France. To liven up your home, you can leave lavender sachets inside your drawer to make your clothes fragrant. They’re also a safe insect repellent that may help preserve your prized clothing.
- Home decorating — Lavender flowers are very pleasing to the eye, making them popular choices for home decorations. You can plant them in patterns to create natural borders in your garden, construct a path or grow a hedge. The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating with lavender, and there are many home decoration tips you can find online to help you.
