You Need to Calm Down... It's just Lavender
Ohm…. Ohm….. If you don’t have any calming music playing, I would turn some on now. I’ll wait… Did you turn it on? No… still waiting…. Ok good. Now Lavender.
Did I mention I have sensitive skin? I began adding a few drops of lavender in a carrier oil to put on my cheeks and chin at night for calming. I noticed a change immediately! I dealt with rosacea for years and never felt comfortable leaving the house without makeup. We could discuss career pressures on actresses to look “perfect” and “flawless” and you would be right. I felt that pressure. After adding lavender into my skincare routine, and noticing a change in my skin, I finally was able to run a simple errand without throwing on a coat of foundation. I even had friends tell me I had great skin… I didn’t even tell them to say that…
Lavender has been used for over 2,500 years as medicine, fragrance, and in cooking. It has been used in a variety of cultures and countries throughout history. This essential oil should be first in your kit, even if you don’t ever use anything else, as this should be a good go to for everyone. It has been consistently proven time and time again to fight anxiety and promote relaxation and sleep. Now, there are different types of lavender and depending on your body chemistry you may have to use a specific type. I’m partial to the scent of french lavender myself. I find it more calming, but that’s me.
Lavender’s top five health benefits are as follows: Antioxidants! Lavender is one of the most potent antioxidant upregulators out there. Mental health. Lavender helps with issues like anxiety, stress, and even depression. You can tag team with aromatherapy in a diffuser as well as a lavender oil preparation in a gel capsule to ingest. This promotes symptom relief for sleep issues, anxiety, and low quality of life. Bonus! No pesky side effects associated with typical sleeping pills, anti-anxiety meds, or anti-depressants! Lavender has also been shown as an effective treatment against diabetic illness markers: high levels of blood glucose, weight gain, depletion of antioxidants, liver and kidney dysfunction, and metabolic illness. As discussed the skin benefits are what drew me to lavender in the first place. If you add 12 drops per 1 ounce of carrier oil you have an effective treatment in skin care for a variety of ailments such as dry skin, sunburns, minor scrapes and cuts, and even canker sores. It also helps with immediate allergic reactions like hives. So cool! Last but not least, all essential oils have antimicrobial properties. Some are stronger than others. Studies have shown that certain blends offer the most potent results. The top two are lavender-cinnamon leaf and lavender-orange.
Lavender is thought to be the safest essential oil there is. Always dilute properly and listen to your body. Find which type of lavender works best for you. My organic recommendation is Plant Therapy. This is my go to for organic oils. The best seller on Amazon is Orchid & Temple, which I personally haven’t tried. Lastly, Viva Naturals is also one of my go to brands for trustworthy oil companies.
Note: Some schools of thought say certain essential oils may not be safe to use during pregnancy. However, experts say to use the minimum dosage as directed and it should be safe. Please consult your physician if you have any concerns and use at your own discretion.
