Aloe Vera Tips n' Solutions - September 14, 2020

Contents:
Taking Care of Ourselves - Blessed Lavender Benefits

Contact & Policies

Blessed Lavender Benefits

I've been discovering lavender and it's blessed benefits this summer. A neighbour/friend asked me to help her plant a lavender she'd been given for Mother's Day, and another friend gave me a potted lavender plant for my birthday. I'd heard and read of this plant occasionally, but was under the impression it came from an exotic part of the world - out of my reach. I'm now planning to grow much more lavender, but here will stick to sharing what I've learned about it's benefits.

Lavender, as an herb, has both medicinal properties and some spiritual meaning, and values.

Spiritual Meaning & Values

The shortest answer is for it's Biblical and spiritual meaning and value. The Greek name, spikenard, is used in the Bible, so its essential oil and medicinal efforts have been known for many, many years. Spikenard grew in India and the fragrant ointment made of the flowers was imported in alabaster boxes to keep it from over-powering others.

The spikenard or lavender flower represented purity, silence, devotional serenity, grace and a calm spirit. The purple colour indicated royalty, elegance, refinement and luxury.

Nowadays lavender is much more common and grows in many countries. There are three main types, the English lavender is considered the most hardy, and having the best perfume, with flowers that can often be harvested twice a year. The French and the Spanish lavenders have more vivid colours and grow taller, but are more fussy to grow and their scent is more subdued. They only grow in more temperate zones. (This means I'll have to stick with trying English lavender here in the Canadian prairies.)

What Beneficial Blessings Does Lavender Bring?

The crushed flowers produce an essential oil, so you'll find it in aromatherapy products. The fragrance is said to promote calmness and wellness. It reduces your stress, anxiety, helps you sleep, and may even alleviate some pain.

Some love lavender for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It may heal minor burns and bug bites, besides helping you to sleep through the night. You could try it for antifungal-resistent infections - particularly against some fungi responsible for skin and nail infections.

Furthermore, lavender has an effect on our human EEG patterns with its anxiolytic effect. That is, if you inhale lavender diluted to 10% concentration for three minutes, it will increase the alpha power of your EEG, you will notice that your anxiety decreases and your mood will improve.

More recent research (2018) suggests that lavender can kill bacteria, fungi, viruses and some sources of infection. It may be an antioxidant too, especially when mixed with oil of oregano; they can inhibit E. coli and staphylococcus.

Cautions and No-Nos

We are advised to stop using lavender oil immediately if we experience nausea, vomiting or headaches from initial use.

Under no circumstances should you take lavender oil orally - that is, by mouth.

However, the flowers and leaves may be eaten in small amounts. Apparently they have a slightly bitter taste, but most who have tried it, say it is still somewhat pleasant. (Could it be the scent makes them think so?)

Where to Find Lavender?

If you want to try the essential lavender oil, your best source would be where you buy aromatherapy oils.

If you want to grow them, or try taste-testing lavender, it is grown throughout southern Europe, Australia and the United States. What? Not in Canada? But I did an internet search and discovered that there are lavender farms right near my city, and in other parts of Canada. Since it is a perennial that blooms again and again, for about nine years, I'm ready to embark on a personal learning curve with growing lavender. I'll let you know what happens. Also, how I experience its benefits personally.

Contact & Policies - Constant
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CONTACT INFO: Ruth Marlene Friesen (306)856-7785
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