The Simple Guide to Lavender

We love lavender around here for its 1000 and one uses. From its refreshing floral scent to its medical uses. I wear lavender in place of perfumes I am allergic too. In fact, it can even help me cope with other allergies I have to deal with. After making a calming lavender lotion for the kids I began to make one for myself. Lavender is great for health and home in nearly any application. With over 30 species of, there are some variances. As a result, you can use different types for more potency in some applications. Lavender is a magical herb known for its ability to calm and heal proven by modern science.

The most common verity is referred to as true or English lavender. English lavender is prized for its quality it has been used in essential oils and perfumes since the 17^th century. Buy seeds, oils, and dried herbs offline if growing it yourself is not an option. Lavandin is bred for its stronger fragrance.

Growing your own lavender

Lavender is easy to grow and worth the effort. This herb requires well-drained soil in full sun to thrive. While you can grow more in the ground, this plant grows well in large pots. Planting near outdoor areas helps keep bugs away from you. Use throughout the warmer months.

Although you can propagate from cuttings, starting from seed in early spring is much simpler if you are choosing a standard species. Although a rare verity may leave you without this option.

Pruning is best done during early spring as the plant buds. Do not cut into the old wood of your lavender plant or it may die. Think of the hardwood as the base of the plant.

You can help your lavender grow by using bone meal mixed within in your soil. In addition to a bone meal, a light application of organic fertilizer must be applied seasonally. Mulch well and use the deep watering method.

Harvesting and storing lavender

Harvesting lavender is easy. In mid-summer when flowers on the spikes of the plant are one to two-thirds open you can trim them down. Tie into small bunches and hang upside down to dry or trip the lavender flowers from the stems and dry them on screens. Store in an airtight container to keep the fresh scent strong.

Lavender for health

Lavender flowers have been used for calming, soothing, and aiding in sleep for thousands of years. This amazing herb can relax the body and improve your mood. Because of these qualities use to help with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Simply infuse into a tea, soak in a bath, or make a healing salve relax your body after a long day. You can calm your entire body and relax while the world keeps going around you.

Use for healing burns and mild cuts. While Lavender Essential oil is commonly used for this, feel free to use fresh or dried lavender right out of your garden. With the growing popularity of hydrosols, you will find that lavender hydrosol is easy to come by and perfect for use on sensitive people due to its milder nature.

While there are many uses a great way is in a soothing compress. A compress is a cloth that has been soaked in an infusion. Here is an easy way to make and an herbal compress. First of all, fill a pan with 1-2 cups water and bring to a boil, mix in 2 to 3 teaspoons of fresh or dried herbs. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, removed the herbs and cool the infusion. Soak a clean white cotton cloth in your chilled infusion. Wring out, and place onto the burn or wound. You may also place on the head for headaches.

Use lavender essential oil for good health:

Improve circulation by adding lavender to your bath
Improve breathing by diffusing lavender into the air.
Smell lavender to reduce symptoms from seasonal allergies.
Help you sleep.
Care for insect bites.
Care for scratches, bruises, cuts, etc.
Boost the immune system.
Reduce joint pain.
Cure rashes.
Reduce wrinkles.

First aid and diaper bag uses:

Calming your child.
Soothing scrapes and preventing infection.
Calming tummy aches by rubbing diluted on your child’s tummy.
A drop under the tongue can stop small allergic reactions while you’re on your way for medical care.
Soothe eczema.
Soothe and clear rashes.
Repel mosquitos.

Lavender in the home

Lavender can be used around the home for a fresh, clean, and relaxing fragrance. Fresh and dried flowers can be used to create fragrance sachets for your dresser and closet. This leaves your clothing smelling wonderful and keeps moths from eating holes in your clothing. Use these sachets anywhere around the home for a light floral air freshener or fabric refresher.

Infuse white vinegar with fresh or dried flowers, leaves, and stems to create a disinfectant cleaning spray, fabric softener, and refresher

Lavender makes a great beauty tool from hot oil treatments to my hair spritzer I love using it for my daily routine. Use lavender in DIY cleaning products, and sensory materials for children. While you’re at it check out our calming sensory sand. Calm and relax your children at bedtime with our Bedtime Lotion.

You can add lavender essential oil to many homemade products such as:

Air freshener.
Carpet powder
Fabric refresher/put a few drops on wool dryer balls.
All-purpose cleaner.
Shampoo.
Conditioner.
Body spray.
Soap.
Body Scrub.
Sunscreen.
Bug spray.

Cooking with Lavender

You can cook healthy treats for your family with lavender added right to the treats, while anything with chocolate is amazing with lavender, venture out a bit. Add to either tea or lemonade for a mild flavor. Mix into peppermint frosting or cake batter for a more candy cane like flavor. Also, give lavender a try in your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Find new ways to cook with lavender.

When it comes to building a collection of valuable herbs for your family Lavender is on the top of the list. Along with oregano, and basil. Other herbs of interest include lemon balm, mint, and sage. Give any of these herbs a try in your garden next season or start an indoor herb garden. Learn how to use herbs for your home, health, and even pets with 101 recipes to get you started.

Lavender Essential oil

Lavender essential oil has many uses and is essential to every mom’s tricks and tools. The essential oil is one of the few oils that is universally considered safe to use neat (undiluted) directly on the skin though diluting helps you save a good amount of money by making your bottle last longer.

Lavender essential oil is Calming

Lavender essential oil diffused into the room or rubbed directly on the body can calm and relax. This is one of the most common uses for lavender essential oil and is why we add lavender to children’s bath products. To help your children prepare for bed use lavender.

Ways to use lavender to calm:

Make your own air freshener and spray it into your child’s room, on their bed, and on the pillow, if they use one. Children with fears of monsters would love a spray labeled Monster Spray.
Add to homemade soaps and lotions
Use a diffuser in your child’s room or put a drop on the light bulb before starting the bedtime story by the time you are done the whole room will smell of Lavender.
Use diluted in a roller bottle and rub onto the bottoms of feet and on the back of the neck.
Use lavender goat milk soap for a relaxing and soothing bath.

Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil is one of my favorites. The ethics on this brand is impressive and the price can’t be beat.

If you are making your own bath bombs or lavender sachets for around your home grab a bag of Organic Lavender Flowers that will leave your home smelling divine.

I nice Organic Lavender Tea is perfect for helping you to relax after a long stressful day and sleep better.

If you want to grow your own lavender you will want quality Lavender Seeds that have a high germination rate.