Lavender Benefits
Due to the rich, long history of lavender, it's no surprise that many cultures have used it in various ways to help treat different conditions. Below are some of lavender's benefits that were found to be effective:
Restoring hair loss: According to The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCB), lavender may help treat alopecia areata (hair loss), boosting the recovery rate by as much as 44 percent after seven months of treatment.
Improving your digestion: Lavender may help improve your digestive tract by stimulating the production of bile and gastric juices. As a result, it may help alleviate conditions like stomach pain, indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
Improving blood circulation: Lavender may help with lowering elevated blood pressure levels and can be used against hypertension.
Relieving respiratory disorders: If diffused via an inhaler or a vaporizer, lavender essential oil can help treat respiratory infections like the common cold, flu, cough and asthma. You may apply it directly to your chest, neck or back as well.
Pain relief: Applying lavender essential oil to your muscles may help relieve soreness, joint pain and rheumatism.
Treating skin disorders: Lavender essential oil is known to have strong antifungal properties, which may help with common fungal infections like ringworm.
Other Great Uses of Lavender
Aside from the therapeutic and topical benefits of lavender, it has other useful applications as well, such as for:
Cooking
Dried lavender buds or petals can help enhance the aroma of dishes, most notably desserts and salads. Make sure to grind them finely first before cooking so that when you eat the finished product, you don't have leaves or petals stuck in your mouth.
Use them sparingly as well, as they have a powerful flavor and aroma that can overpower the other ingredients in your dish.
Air Freshener
Lavender sachets can enrich the atmosphere in your house, making you feel like you live right beside a lavender field in rural France. To liven up your home, you can leave lavender sachets inside your drawer to make your clothes fragrant.
They're also a safe, natural alternative to mothballs to help preserve your prized clothing. Similarly, you can place sachets in your car as an alternative to commercial air fresheners.
Home Decorating
Lavender flowers are very pleasing to the eye, making them popular choices for home decorations. You can plant them in patterns to create natural borders in your garden, or you can just grab a bunch and place them in a vase or jar to add life to any room.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating with lavender, and there are many home decoration tips you can find online to help you.