Benefits of Lavender
Lavender comes from the Latin word lavage which means "to wash". It is widely used in soaps, shampoos, fragrances, etc. Lavender has other uses that is not known to all. It is used to treat a range of ailments such as anxiety and depression to exhaustion and physical wounds. Research shows that lavender has soothing, calming and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.
The benefits of lavender are explained further below:
- Insomnia or Agitation: Traditional folklore has tales wherein lavender is used in pillows to help people fall asleep. Studies have shown that lavender has calming and soothing effect on individuals who inhale its scent by slowing the activity of the nervous system thereby effecting relaxation, better sleep quality and improving the mood. Studies also suggest massages with lavender and other essential oils improves concentration, mood and reduces anxiety. There has been evidence to suggest that lavender also reduces the agitation of people suffering from dementia. In one study, people felt better when lavender oil was used that those who just received a massage alone.
- Alopecia aerate - This is an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall in patches. Studies have shown that use of lavender oils combined with other essential oils on scalps showed significant improvement in terms of hair regrowth compared to those who just massaged their scalps without any essential oils.
- Other uses - Use of lavender in aromatherapy has shown to treat headaches, exhaustion and nervous disorders. It is also used to treat skin ailments such as eczema, fungal infections and acne. It also reduced the dryness of skin lesions. Another study showed that lavender helped improve pain control after surgery.