Lavender essential oil is without doubt, my favourite essential oil to have in the home. It is one of the most popular and most versatile essential oils. Lavender; Lavandula angustifolia, beautiful, divine smelling flower, who calms our nerves, aids stress relief, soothes us to sleep and heals our skin, just to name a few of its healing qualities. The spiritual meaning of Lavender is "one of purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace and calmness and the flower brings about it the knowledge that you are on the right path."

ORIGINS & HISTORY

Let’s just touch the surface on the origins of this mighty oil… Lavender is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India. First recordings were shown by the Ancient Egyptians 2500 years ago, the oil was used in the mummification process, with traces of it found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Greek and Roman armies used Lavender essential oil as an anti-septic to clean wounds which continued even with western military doctors during WWI. Lavender was thought to have come to England around 812AD during the Roman Empire.

In fact the very basis of modern aromatherapy is attributed to Rene-Maurice Gattefosse. He was a French chemist and perfumer. In 1910, there was an explosion at the family business factory, Gattefosse was badly burned and experimented by using Lavender essential oil to heal his wounds. The results both surprised and astounded him and he then dedicated his future to research and unearthing the healing and therapeutic properties of essential oils.

It takes about 120 to 130 lbs (54 to 58 kilos) of lavender flowers, either dried or fresh, which need to be steam distilled to yield just 1 lb (450g) of the essential oil!

Read on for my top 10 uses for Lavender Essential Oil in the home:

1. Calming nerves

If my anxiety levels are high, then I will dab a drop of lavender oil on my temples, rubbing it in whilst taking slow deep breaths and find the effects immediately calming - soothing my nerves, it really is an excellent oil for rebalancing the central nervous system.

2. Soothe to sleep

Lavender is renowned for its relaxing smell, dropping a couple of drops on a pillow before bedtime can really increase good sleep quality. If we are away from home, I can often struggle to obtain a good night's sleep on the first night anywhere new so I make a small spray (60ml water and x10 drops lavender) to spray over us, the bed and the room to create a calm, winding down atmosphere for the family before bed.

3. Heals wounds/stings/burns/insect bites

Absolute must for the first aid kit. Lavender essential oil has anti-microbial, anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties. I have used Lavender essential oil countless times on minor burns, wasp or bee stings and grazes. In fact, the other day, my daughter experienced her first wasp sting and I put a drop of Lavender essential oil directly on the swelling - instantly. I reapplied once more 10 minutes later. The swelling was completely gone a few hours later and the sting no longer bothered her. In fact, there was no sign of the sting except a small dot.

I have applied to many burns experienced in the kitchen which has stopped blistering on multiple occasions - the trick is to have it to hand so you can apply it to the affected area immediately!

4. Room spray or diffuser

I have lavender everywhere. I use it in diffusers throughout the house, not only for the calming smell and to eliminate doggy or musty odours but because it’s also an excellent deterrent for bugs - moths, mosquitos, fleas etc. Just a couple of drops of Lavender essential oil to water in a diffuser. I often combine with another essential oil - today's flavour is Lavender and Rosemary essential oils, for relaxation, focus and concentration! I have found electric diffusers to be the best option, they tend to be cleaner and you can select how long you want the mist to last for. I also keep a spray mist of Lavender by the front door which I use before guests arrive.

So whilst keeping the members of the household calm with its comforting floral scent, it also keeps out unwanted insects.

5. Bath time to calm and heal

I always add a few drops of Lavender to mine or my child’s warm bath, not only once again for the soothing scent of Lavender and it’s peaceful properties but also as a gentle healer to help the body all over and soothe any skin irritation - anything from grazes for it’s antiseptic properties to it’s hydrating, anti-inflammatory, anti- ageing properties. I also add in either a scoopful of dead sea salts or epsom salts.

If you’re interested in how good bathing frequently is for the skin, read here.

6. Bed bug repellant

This is a great one to take with you if you are travelling abroad, although we have never experienced a problem with bed bugs at home, I still use it at home nearly daily. I combine Lavender with Eucalyptus oil (15 drops of each in 100ml water) in a spray bottle. I spray this over the bedsheets and bed throw daily. Also, I spray the mattress when I change the sheets.

7. Pain relief - rubbed on back with carrier

Just when you think Lavender essential oil can’t give any more, it dishes out anti-inflammatory properties which are just excellent for sore muscles and joint pain. Often used by the Ancient Greeks in massage oils, there have been numerous times have I rubbed this oil combined with a carrier oil into a swollen knee joint or a sore lower back. That combined with obvious rest has been a fab little healer helper. As an added bonus, it can help with menstrual cramps, just gently massaging with a carrier oil around the lower abdomen can help relieve pains.

In the above photo, I made a massage oil to relieve my back pain. Essential oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, German Chamomile combined with Carrier oils, Evening Primrose and Sunflower Oils.

9. Moth deterrent

As I am sure many of you already do so, dried Lavender in a bag is excellent for deterring moths on your clothes.. I have little bags of dried lavender all over our wardrobe and every now and then I spruce them up a bit with a few added drops of Lavender essential oil, this is a great quick alternative to harvesting and preserving dried Lavender. As mentioned earlier, Lavender is generally a good oil to add to an insect repellent formula.

8. Face oil as a cleanser

Absolutely wonderful oil for calming the skin. Lavender has some high skin healing qualities, such as:

Moisturising - great for dry skin and it can balance the skin’s moisture levels without making it greasy. It’s a very revitalising oil.

Anti-inflammatory - helps soothes irritated skin or skin conditions such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and sunburn.

Anti-aging - full of anti-oxidants that can help prevent wrinkling and also lighten age spots whilst reducing the appearance of bags under the eyes.

Anti-septic and anti-bacterial - helping speed up the healing process for wounds, infections, acne whilst promoting skin tissue regrowth and also helping reduce the appearance of scars.

I’m in my mid 40s and my skin is hormonal. I use Lavender essential oil in a face oil cleanser every morning and night. At the moment, in the above photo, I combine it with Galbanum essential oil, diluting it with Rosehip Carrier Oil and a dash of Jojoba Oil.

10. Cold and flu treatment

Lavender is one of the most calming essential oils, so it can be such a comforting smell when you are feeling bogged down with a heavy cold. So it's a real wonder oil for facial steams. I just add a couple of drops of Lavender combined with Eucalyptus essential oil to a steaming bowl of hot water and throw a tea towel over my head and inhale the goodness.

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So there we are, these are just 10 daily uses of Lavender essential oil, there are many, many more which I could write tirelessly about but I didn’t wish to overwhelm or bore you! One extra little tip though, it’s a great help with headaches, even if you don’t rub it on your temples, studies have shown just inhaling the oil can instantly ease tension!

Lavender essential oil is truly a must have for any household, it really is the Queen of Essential Oils for me, it has countless healing properties, whether it's for the relief of emotional stress, physical discomfort or itchy skin, Lavender essential oil can help alleviate all of these symptoms, whilst delivering comfort, restoration and a relaxing aroma in your home.

10 uses of Lavender Essential Oil in the home