Lavender and its many products have been produced for hundreds of years. It is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and effective essential oils. Depending on the  application it is antiseptic, stimulating and even calming.

               The benefits of Lavender are endless, from helping with sleep by placing a few drops on your pillow at night, to help ease aching joints and muscles. Try soaking in a warm bath with Lavender oil to relax your body and mind.

Lavender is deducted from the roman word "lavare - to wash“. The antiseptic  virtues of  lavender are well known. There are many hints to the fact that these effects of lavender oil were known in earlier times. Today there are more and inflammations which cannot be cured by modern pharmaceuticals. 

There have been astonishing results when these inflammations were treated with lavender oil (Dr. B. Belaiche, Paris) 

Following illnesses are said to be treated effectively with lavender oil
 Illness:                           Therapy:
 Sleeplessness                   lavender bag, diffuser, inhalation

 Loss of appetite             2-5 drops of Essential oil of Lavande fine on a piece of sugar
      
Swellings, Sprains            Compress

Diseases of upper             Inhalation
respiratory tract
                                     
Indigestions                    20-30 drops of a 7%  alcoholic dissolution of 
                                      Lavande fine
Insect Bites                     Rub with a 1:1-Solution of essential lavender oil in
                                      alcohol 
rheumatic diseases           rub with pure lavender essential oil

 Important to know:

Before the intake of lavender essential oil it is really important to be sure of the purity of the essence. Sometimes  lavandin is blended with lavender essential oil. Lavandin essential oil is much cheaper than lavender oil.  It has different effects and is seldom used for medical purposes.

LAVENDER IN MEDICINE
                           Written records of the use of lavender for medicinal purposes date back as far as 60AD and the writings of Dioscorides.  At one time lavender was virtually essential to the home medicine cabinet.  It was used to relieve,  among other things; headaches, fainting, hysteria, stress, insomnia, muscle  aches, bug bites, rashes, colds, chest infections, rheumatism and flatulence.

                           Many of the purported medicinal uses for lavender have, upon modern  scientific testing, proven to be legitimate.  Lavender oil does have antibiotic  activity effectively killing many common bacteria.  Lavender oil was used  extensively during world Wars I and II on the battle field and whenever  medical supplies became scarce to prevent infection and as a pain reliever.

                           The sedative effects of lavender are well documented in medical tests  demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing caffeine induced hyperactivity, and increasing length of sleep by ingestion or inhalation.   The inclusion of lavender in lotions and oils placed on burns and bee stings aids in relieving  the pain and its use in massage oils helps in relaxing muscles.
                           While many of the medicinal properties of lavender involve the use of  lavender oil or dried lavender flowers the stems or "straw" left after stripping  the flowers can be burned like incense and have often been used as a means  of deodorizing and disinfecting sick rooms.

                           The other maladies that Lavender is reportedly helpful in controlling  include such things as the control of dandruff and hair loss when included in shampoos.  Many of these claims have yet to be tested scientifically but it is  evident that many of the old uses for lavender were more than simply old wives tales.

LAVENDER AS FOOD
                            In today's upscale restaurants flowers are making a comeback as enhancements to both the flavor and appearance of food.  As a member of  the same family as many of our most popular herbs it is not surprising that  lavender is edible so it is not surprising that its use in food preparation is also returning.

                            Lavender was often used during Tudor and Elizabethan times in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes and was a particular favorite of Queen Elizabeth I.  The palace gardeners were required to have lavender flowers available at all times which were sued to make Conserve of Lavender (a mixture of lavender flowers and sugar) and sweet lavender tisane, a drink made with lavender flowers, boiling water and honey.

                            Today the flowers can often be found in salads where they bring a dash of color, fragrance and a bitter-sweet flavor.  The blossoms and leaves can be used instead of rosemary in many recipes and crystallized flowers make  beautiful and tasty cake decorations.

                             Lavender used in the kitchen is primarily fresh blossoms or "culinary lavender".  To get fresh blossoms you must of course grow your own of know someone that does.  In many recipes dried blossoms can be substituted.   Culinary lavender is lavender buds harvested just before  flowering, it is when the oil concentration in the bud is the highest.

LAVENDER IN COSMETICS
                           The practice of extracting essential oils from plants and flowers for use in cosmetics is an age old practice and one that is as much an art as a science.  
Lavender has long been a staple of this industry with very high prices being paid for the highest quality oils.  

                          Today most lavender oil is extracted by steam distillation.   There are three primary types of lavender oil produced today.  Oil of spike distilled from L. latifolia and produced primarily in Spain, "true" oil of lavender distilled from L. angustifolia primarily in England and Australia, and oil derived from the Lavandin hybrids produced primarily in France and the United States.   The latter is by far the most abundant.

                          Many of today's perfumes are synthetic in origin but the synthetic components tend to lack the subtlety of the essential oils and thus are often blended with oil of lavender or other essential oils to add complexity and 'soften" the edges of the synthetic aromas.