In Love with Lavender (essential oil)

July 17, 2011 in Aromatherapy, Best Essential Oils, Chemicals / Toxic, Distillation, Essential Oils, Family Health, Inspirational, Lavender, Natural, Quality / Pure, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Wellness, Young Living Farms by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

Therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil We are indeed fortunate to have easy access to such superior quality essential oils and to be involved with a company that cares so deeply about every aspect of the plants and trees we use daily for wellness. Here’s what Gary Young has to say about the most popular essential oil, lavender…

In Love with Lavender by Gary Young

The first lavender I grew in 1989 came from seeds I brought back from a trip to France. The variety is Lavandula angustifolia. This species of lavender has the most health-supporting benefits.

I can’t think of another essential oil that is as popular as lavender. A well-known saying about lavender is that it is the “Swiss Army knife” of essential oils. It is renowned for its calming effect as much as it is for its heady fragrance.

I talked with a lady who attended our annual Lavender Days at the farm in Mona, Utah, this past June. She told me about buying lavender bubble bath at a specialty shop that sold bath foam with the title of “Fresh Lavender.” On the label it said that the company had “combined this classic and traditional scent” to “take you to that beautiful and fragrant place where the calming benefits envelope you while you bathe.” The bath foam had the right soft purple color but the sweet scent hardly smelled like lavender. When she got home and read the ingredients, this lady was angry! There was no lavender in it at all! There was just a lot of chemicals and fragrance.

Up Close with Lavender

Sadly, this is true of many “lavender” products. A chemist can whip up a batch of chemicals that resemble lavender’s scent and this is done all the time! But a chemist cannot bottle fresh air, sunshine, pure water, and rich soil. He may duplicate the chemical constituents found in lavender: linalyl acetate, linalool, cis-beta-ocimene, etc. But his concoction will not match what natural lavender can do.

I have told the story many times of the woman who angrily accosted me at one of our conventions because the lavender essential oil she used actually burned her skin. It didn’t take me long to confirm that she wasn’t using Young Living lavender but a cheap bottle she bought in a drug store. All too often, what is called “lavender” is either totally synthetic or cut with the less expensive hybrid essential oil.

Raising lavender without the use of chemical herbicides and synthetic fertilizers is expensive. But what comes out of the distiller is so pure and valuable, it’s worth every penny. Just ask the thousands of people who came to enjoy our Lavender Days this past June. Many of them participated in the 5K Run through the Lavender. They made lavender wreaths and bought lavender essential oil that was distilled on this very farm. It seems I’m not the only one who loves lavender!

~ Gary Young, Founder Young Living Essential Oils

5 Tips for Using Lavender Oil

For Eczema and Dermatitis, try mixing several drops of Young Living Lavender essential oil with 1 teaspoon V-6 Massage Oil and use topically on eczema and dermatitis when needed.
Try putting 1 drop of Young Living Lavender essential oil rubbed between your palms and then rub hands on your pillow to aid in a restful night of sleep.
As a scented dryer sheet, place a few drops of Young Living Lavender essential oil on a wet cloth and toss into the dryer with laundry, this will deodorize and freshen your laundry… without nasty dryer sheet chemicals!
As a carpet freshener, mix a cup of baking soda with a few drops of Lavender essential oil in a glass jar that is meant to hold red pepper flakes for pizza’s. Stir well so essential oil is evenly mixed in. Sprinkle mixture around the carpet and let it sit for a few minutes and then vacuum. Your carpet and room will smell great and you may get the added benefit of feeling calmer. If you are trying to get rid of really odors, try using Purification in place of Lavender. This 100% natural carpet freshener will mean that you never have to worry about exposing yourself, children or pets to harmful chemicals. It’s much cheaper than store bought products too!
To help reduce anxiety, put equal portions of lavender and orange oils in a diffuser. Studies have shown this combination significantly reduces anxiety and stress.

More ways to use therapeutic-grade essential oils.

Did you know…

A study at the Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan found that, “Lavender aromatherapy reduced serum cortisol and improved CFVR in healthy men. These findings suggest that lavender aromatherapy has relaxation effects and may have beneficial acute effects on coronary circulation”.
That you can cook and flavor foods and beverages with Young Living Lavender Oil? Lavender imparts a lovely flavor to foods and beverages. Follow this link to learn How To Cook with Essential Oils.

Some of my favorite lavender recipes:

Orange, Lavender or Peppermint Chocolate Truffles
Lavender Blueberry Banana Bread
How To Make Your Own Lip Balm
Creating Signature Perfume Blends with Essential Oils
Aromatherapy for Kids: Monsters-Be-Gone Spray
Foaming Shaving Cream Recipe (for him or her)