Essential Oil Post Series – Lavender Edition!
Lavender essential oil is one of the most useful oils an aromatherapist can have. It’s also one of the safest for all age groups. It is a fantastic oil to use when introducing a client to therapeutic aromatherapy. It’s gentle, easily recognized, and it can do just about anything you need.
Most commonly I use lavender in my practice(and at home) because of it’s stress-busting, anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. However, it does so much more than that! The following is a list of properties of lavender essential oil:
- Analgesic
- Anticonvulsive
- Antidepressant
- Antimicrobial
- Antirheumatic
- Antiseptic
- Antispasmodic
- Antitoxic
- Carminative
- Cholagogue
- Choleretic
- Cicatrisant
- Cordial
- Cytophulactic
- Deoderant
- Diuretic
- Emmenagogue
- Hypotensive
- Insecticide
- Nervine
- Parasiticide
- Rubefacient
- Sedative
- Stimulant
- Sudorific
- Tonic
- Vermifuge
- Vulnerary
I told you it did ALL the things!
Note: I’m working on a glossary of terms page for massage and aromatherapy, but until it’s done please feel free to google for definitions of anything with which you are not familiar.
Safety Data:
The awesome thing about lavender essential oil (lavedula angustifolia) is that it’s safe to use while pregnant, on children, infants and the elderly, all of whom need to take a little extra care when using essential oils.
Lavender Essential Oil & Massage:
Lavender is one of the oils I go through the quickest. As I mentioned before it’s a good introductory oil for a new aromatherapy client and it’s very gentle. I use it in a massage treatment most commonly for pain, inflammation, or stress reduction. It is gentle enough to use neat on most people. If I’m treating a pregnant woman, child, baby, or an older person I will dilute it a little bit, taking into account their size and general health.
Normally, I just applied it to the affected area of the body depending on the needs of the client. Sometimes, if I’m using oils to help someone decrease their level of stress I’ll apply a little to their body and will also diffuse it into the air during their massage. The idea as with all of aromatherapy is to choose the best delivery method for whatever ailment or complaint my client has.
If you have any questions about lavender essential oil please feel free to ask!