Lavender for your health

Lavender boasts an array of medicinal uses – from relieving stress to promoting sleep. Here are a few ways your backyard lavender plant could help your health.

Powerful Lavender Oil

This can be used to soothe dry skin, repel mosquitoes when out and about or to give a relaxing massage.

Treat Stress and Anxiety

When stress strikes, open your bottle of oil or head out to the garden and breathe in the aroma of your beautiful lavender plants.

Researchers have discovered that lavender produces calming, soothing and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled. In fact, the scent of lavender can actually change brain wave patterns which is why it can work for a variety of neurological issues.

Improve Cognitive Function

Not only does lavender oil boost mood, but other studies have shown that its scent helps people perform math faster and more accurately than those who don’t inhale the aroma before taking tests.

Relieve Headaches

Known for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to dilate blood vessels, it’s easy to understand how lavender kills the pain associated with headaches.

If simply sitting in the garden isn’t enough to quell the pounding in your skull, add some lavender oil to your diffuser or take a relaxing bath with fresh lavender buds and a few drops of the oil.

Sleep Like a Baby

Although several plants promote a restful night’s sleep, lavender is probably the most well-known of all of these.

In one study, the smell of lavender reduced crying in babies and sent them into a deeper sleep, while simultaneously reducing stress in both mother and child. This may be because the aroma is known to slow down heart rate and lower blood pressure and stress levels.

Although there are a host of lavender scented products on the market to – from scented sleep masks to lavender mattresses – the most natural option is to cut fresh lavender flowers for your nightstand.

Lavender Tea for Stomach Problems & More

Steep fresh or dried lavender flowers in hot water for three minutes before straining and drinking. This tea willhelp with stomach problems, bad breath and the pain associated with arthritis, backache and headache.

You can also try a calming cup before bedtime, especially if you feel anxious, overwhelmed or depressed.