Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Lavender, English lavender
Family: Labiatae
Description: “Small summer-flowering shrub with downy, linear leaves up to 6cm long which are white at first, becoming greener. Tiny purple flowers appear on stalks up to 35cm tall. H and S 60-90cm. Fully hardy.” (Bown, 1995)
Habitat: Native to Mediterranean region.
Harvest: Flowers are picked as they begin to open (Bown).
Parts used: FLOWERS
Dosage: 1:5 2-8ml, FE 1-2ml, dried 5-15g daily;
Actions:
-CARMINATIVE,
-SPASMOLYTIC,
-ANTI-DEPRESSANT (Wren, 1988);
-RELAXANT,
-CIRCULATORY STIMULANT,
-ANTIBACTERIAL,
-ANALGESIC (Ody, 1993);
Indications:
-Sleeplessness, especially assoc. with coughing or tension,
-Anxiety or irritability, esp. with muscular tension/ spasms, panic attacks, palpitations, dizziness;
-Headaches or nervous tension incl. migraine, especially with poor digestion,
-Flatulent dyspepsia,
-Over-excitement [AD];
External usage (ESSENTIAL OIL):
-Insect bites, stings (Ody);
-Burns (dilute for large burns),
-Headaches, rheumatic pain, muscular tension (as massage 5drops per 10ml BC),
-Acne, and as addition to skin creams for psoriasis, eczema (AD);
Also see ‘sources’ below
Safety: Good for children -use 25% normal strength for babies.
Contra-indications: Do not use if using insulin for diabetes (Brooke, 1992);
Key Constituents (Wren):
-Volatile oil, about 0.5-1%,
-Coumarins,
-Triterpenes, incl. ursolic acid,
-Flavonoids, incl. luteolin;
Pharmacology: Oil is reported to show CNS depressant activity in mice and be anti-microbial (Wren, 1988).
Clinical trials: None found.
Toxicology: No studies found.
History: Name derives from Latin lavare, to wash. In European folk tradition regarded as useful wound herd and worm remedy for children (Ody). Was dedicated to Hecate, Medea and Circe and used to avert the Evil Eye; called ‘elf leaf’ by witches. Worn together with rosemary is said to preserve chastity. (Brooke, 1992)
Traditional and Practitioner sources:
“Take the infusion for nervous exhaustion, tension headaches or during labour; also for colic and indigestion.
Take up to 5ml tincture, twice a day, for headaches and depression.
Use as a mouthwash for halitosis.” Penelope Ody, 1993: 73
“Use in place of Valerian for insomnia -less addictive and side-effects.” AD
“For insomnia where there is physical tension or a mind which cannot slow down and stop thinking, for women who work with their intellect and find it difficult to wind down at the end of the day. [Also] for those whose minds are not receiving enough stimulation during the day and are still awake at night.
[It] can be used to wean people off addictive substances. [NB] for anyone who has taken benzodiazapenes…cut the dose down gradually under the watchful eye of a physician, complementary or orthodox.
To stop a [migraine] attack, draw a hot bath and drop 15-20 drops of essential oil into it . Lie still in the bath for 15-20 minutes, keeping the water hot. Then lie in a darkened room.
Lavender acts as a digestive stimulant. It acts on the liver, clearing stagnation due to excess blood; it strengthens the stomach and reduces bloating after meals, wind, distension and poor absorption of food.
Lavender is a herb of the solar plexus which reside above the navel, and as such is concerned with the assimilation of external stimuli.” Elisabeth Brooke, 1992: 200
“Lavender oil can be used for:
-Respiratory infections in babies and children; otitis media.
-Anxiety, agitation, insomnia, tachycardia.
-Spastic colon: works on the solar and mesenteric plexus.
-Fungal and other skin infections, rosacea, pruritis, scars, burns, anal fistulae.
-Varicose veins, phlebitis (as an adjuvant).
-Dysmenorrhoea.” Rosalind Blackwell (1991) An insight into aromatic oils: lavender and tea tree. BJP, vol 2, no 1 (AD handout)
