Upon hearing the term “lavender,” one’s initial association is likely with a pale hue of purple. However, there are additional facets to this plant beyond its color. Continue reading to explore the potential health advantages of lavender, alongside its other applications and possible hazards associated with its use.
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With its sweet floral scent, lavender is a flowering plant belonging to the mint family. Its origins trace back to as far as 2,500 years ago and is believed to have grown natively in regions including the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India. Lavender was once considered a sacred herb and was widely used to freshen up personal items like clothing and hair.
Fast facts on lavender
- Lavender is grown in northern Africa and the Mediterranean mountains, often for extraction of its essential oils.
- The medicinal benefits of using lavender to treat anxiety, fungal infections, hair loss, and wounds have been demonstrated.
- Evidence does not yet support the use of lavender to treat depression, high blood pressure, nausea, menstrual pain, or eczema, among other conditions.
- Lavender is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should not be taken in place of approved and prescribed medicines.
Health Benefits of Lavender
Currently, lavender serves a purpose beyond its pleasant smell. This plant is frequently utilized for its medicinal and healing advantages. In case you are experiencing some health problems and wish to avoid adverse effects from various pharmaceuticals, check out the potential health benefits of incorporating lavender.
It is thought that lavender oil possesses antiseptic and anti-inflammatory characteristics that aid in the healing of small burns and insect bites. Studies indicate that it could be beneficial in addressing anxiety, sleeplessness, low moods, and unease.
According to certain researches, drinking lavender tea may aid in alleviating digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, unsettled stomach, bloating, and flatulence. Besides its digestive benefits, lavender has pain-relieving properties that can effectively ease headaches, sprains, dental pain, and ulcers. Furthermore, lavender is useful in averting hair loss.
1. May Help Improve Sleep
Struggling with insomnia, characterized by restlessness and sleeplessness, can be troublesome. Engaging in physical activity and reducing caffeine intake may facilitate sleep. Nonetheless, despite attempting these solutions and other treatments, they may not always be effective, resulting in daytime fatigue and drowsiness.
A study conducted in 2017 on 60 participants revealed that lavender essential oil is a useful solution for ICU patients having trouble sleeping, seeking a peaceful night’s rest.
In case other methods of improving your sleep have failed, try putting a couple of drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow before going to bed tonight. Nevertheless, make sure not to consume it or any other essential oil as it may have adverse effects on your health.
2. Could Help Treat Skin Blemishes
Including lavender, various essential oils are exceptional for dermatological purposes.
A 2017 paper suggests that lavender oil application on inflamed or blemished skin can aid in treatment, but more clinical trials are necessary. Direct application of essential oils may cause skin irritation, hence it is recommended to dilute them with water or carrier oil.
The healing of wounds may also be aided by lavender’s antioxidant properties. However, it is important to consult with your dermatologist before incorporating lavender into your skincare routine to avoid any possible interaction with your current medications.
3. May Offer a Natural Remedy for Pain
When coping with acute or chronic pain, certain individuals resort to using pain relievers that can be bought without a prescription. However, if the pain is serious, consulting a physician for a prescribed medication may be necessary.
Instead of resorting to conventional methods to alleviate pain, consider using aromatherapy utilizing a diluted 2 percent lavender essential oil. In a 2014 study, lavender was discovered to be a beneficial solution for postoperative pain. Its pain-relieving capabilities can be attributed to linalyl acetate and linalool, anti-inflammatory constituents that are present in several other essential oils.
In 2021, a study discovered that lavender oil gathered during the initial phase of the plant’s flowering season exhibited substantial inhibition of various molecules responsible for inducing inflammation. Additionally, separate research indicates that lavender aromatherapy could be beneficial during childbirth as it may lessen the severity, although not the length, of pain.
4. Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Continuously elevated blood pressure causes additional strain on the heart, which heightens the likelihood of medical issues such as stroke and cardiac arrest.
In 2017, a study consisting of 40 individuals who underwent open-heart surgery showed a decrease in their blood pressure and heart rate after inhaling lavender essential oil. This implies that the oil has a beneficial impact on vital signs. However, the authors pointed out that further investigation is necessary to confirm this potential advantage. To be specific, a randomized controlled trial with an increased sample size is required, which is the most dependable form of medical research.
5. Could Relieve Asthma Symptoms
Lavender’s anti-inflammatory properties suggest potential benefits for bronchial asthma and a 2014 study conducted on mice reported positive effects on respiratory health, reducing allergic inflammation and mucus hyperplasia. However, it remains unclear whether humans would experience similar benefits.
6. Lessens Menopausal Hot Flashes
Numerous women experience hot flashes (or hot flushes) as a typical symptom of menopause. This results in an abrupt sensation of heat throughout the body, leading to a flushed face and perspiration. Nonetheless, a study conducted in 2016 suggests that indulging in lavender aromatherapy for 20 minutes twice a day may aid in diminishing menopause flashing and enhancing one’s quality of life.
7. Help Combat Fungus Growth
Lavender has been the subject of various studies that indicate its potential as an antifungal agent. Reports reveal that the essential oil extracted from lavender could be a successful inhibitor of several fungal species, including C. albicans. Earlier research suggests that the oil might prove to be a useful solution for curing athlete’s foot and ringworm- both of which caused by fungi.
8. Potentially Promotes Hair Growth
In yet another study, lavender essential oil applied to the backs of mice once a day, five times a week, for four weeks, resulted in an increase in the number of hair follicles and a thicker dermal layer. This leads researchers to believe that lavender could potentially be used as a hair growth-promoting agent, though more research is needed. After all, you aren’t a mouse.
Alopecia areata, a condition characterized by hair loss from certain or all body regions, may potentially be treated through lavender usage. According to a study conducted in 1998, lavender can encourage hair growth of up to 44% within a 7-month therapy period.
In a study conducted more recently, it was discovered that the application of lavender oil to the backs of mice resulted in the stimulation of hair growth within a period of four weeks.
9. Wound Healing
The application of various treatments for wound healing was compared in a study that appeared in the publication Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The investigation involved the evaluation of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), saline solution, povidone-iodine, and lavender oil on rats in a laboratory setting.
According to the study, the groups treated with TENS and lavender oil experienced faster wound closure compared to the control groups. These results imply that lavender oil can aid in expediting the process of wound healing.
10. Anxiety Disorder and Related Conditions
The efficacy of Silexan on patients with various anxiety disorders is being assessed in a review paper published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. Silexan, which can be found in 80 mg gelatine capsules, is comprised of lavender oil.
Within two weeks, it was discovered by the team that Silexan was effective in reducing anxiety for patients with generalized or subsyndromal anxiety. Additionally, researchers have identified that the scent of lavender may assist patients who are anxious during dental procedures.
The dental anxiety levels of 340 adult patients were assessed by the investigators while they waited for their appointments at the dentist’s office. Lavender scent was presented to 50% of the patients, while the remaining 50% were not exposed.
The researchers discovered that individuals who were exposed to the scent of lavender reported decreased levels of anxiety in comparison to their counterparts. Lavender’s soothing impact persisted despite the nature of the dental appointment that was scheduled.
Having conducted the study, Kritsidima reached the conclusion that:
Dr. M. Kritsidima, the author of the study, concluded that lavender could serve as a useful means of reducing anxiety in dentists’ waiting rooms, providing instant relief.
Although lavender does not appear to alleviate anxiety related to upcoming dental appointments, it is known to induce a feeling of relaxation during the procedure itself.
11. Post-Tonsillectomy Pain in Children
It has been demonstrated that the use of lavender oil can decrease the quantity of pain medication needed following a tonsillectomy.
The Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran conducted a research to investigate whether the use of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil in aromatherapy could alleviate pain symptoms in children who had their tonsils removed.
The research involved 48 kids between the ages of 6 and 12. They were divided into two groups with an equal number of participants. One group received a combination of painkiller and lavender, while the other group was solely administered painkillers.
The usage of acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol or paracetamol, by each child and their frequency of nocturnal awakening due to pain was observed for three days following surgery. Pain severity was assessed and it was found that the group using lavender oil demonstrated less frequent use of acetaminophen.
Despite using lavender oil, participants did not report a notable variation in their frequency of waking up at night or their evaluation of the intensity of pain. Further investigation is necessary to completely validate the capacity of lavender oil to serve as a reliable pain reliever, given the limited number of subjects involved in the study.
12. Premenstrual Emotional Symptoms
The possibility of lavender being useful in easing emotional symptoms during the premenstrual phase has also been investigated by researchers. During the premenstrual phase, which is referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a variety of symptoms are commonly experienced by women who are in their reproductive years.
Since there is no widely agreed-upon cure for PMS, numerous women opt for alternative remedies, like aromatherapy.
Seventeen women with mild-to-moderate premenstrual symptoms and an average age of 20.6 years participated in a crossover study. They experienced one menstrual cycle without lavender aromatherapy and another with lavender aromatherapy.
According to the research, premenstrual emotional symptoms might be relieved by using lavender aromatherapy.
When combining lavender with certain elements, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) urges individuals to exercise caution.
- drugs that induce sleepiness, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and Ambien
- drugs to reduce blood pressure, such as captopril, enalapril, and losartan
Before adding lavender to your drug routine, consult a doctor if you are already taking the aforementioned medications.
According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the regular application of lavender oil to the skin can potentially lead to pre-pubescent gynecomastia, which results in the enlargement of breast tissue in young boys.
It is uncertain if lavender is safe to consume during pregnancy or lactation. It is crucial to consult with your doctor regarding any use of herbs, essential oils, or supplements during these periods.
Doctors recommend that patients discontinue the use of lavender for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to undergoing surgery, due to its believed ability to reduce the activity of the central nervous system.
Different Forms of Lavender
There are various forms of lavender that can be found, such as:
A scented oil can be made by extracting nectar from the Lavender flower. This oil can be used for massages, diffusers, or inhaled through a pillow or cotton swab for aromatherapy purposes after being thinned down.
The Lavender Plant is a fragrant perennial that not only brings a pop of color to any garden but also emits a sweet scent.
Supplements in the Form of Lavender Capsules It is possible to acquire lavender in the form of capsules for supplementation. Follow the instructions provided for therapeutic advantages – however, it is crucial to collaborate with your medical professional to guarantee that the supplement will not adversely affect any medication you are using. Additionally, keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements.
A relaxing drink that aids in reducing anxiety and inducing sleep can be derived from lavender in tea form. Lavender tea can be bought or prepared by steeping fresh lavender buds for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water.
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