You want to relax after a long hard day at work but what helps you achieve deep relaxation? Let's talk essential oils. Lavender oil has a soothing scent that can help to relax the mind and body, and it has several other benefits, too. Let's take a closer look at why lavender oil is such a great choice for relaxation. Follow along to learn more.

What does Lavender make you think of?

People usually associate lavender with two specific traits: its fragrance and its color. But you may not know that the lavender flower and the oil derived from this flower have long histories in herbal medicine.

Lavender History

The word lavender comes from the Latin root “lavare,” which literally means “to wash.” The earliest recorded use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. There, lavender oil played a role in the mummification process.

In later times, lavender became a bath additive in several regions, including ancient Persia, Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped purify the body and mind.

Read on to learn more about the potent health potential of lavender in its many forms.

Lavender Health Benefits

Lavender can help with so many things! It's a great natural relaxant and antispasmodic. Not only does it have mood-lifting properties, but Lavandula Angustifolia is the plant's name.  Lavender helps to relieve insomnia as well calming anxiety down - perfect for those night sweats when you're stressed out from work or just need some peace in your life. . There are even studies showing how effective the oil has been at healing burns while improving pain tolerance thanks largely due its anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

How to Use Lavender Oil

Now that we know some of the incredible benefits that lavender oil has to offer, let’s talk about how to use it.

The simplest way to enjoy the benefits of lavender oil is to add a few drops to your diffuser. You can also create a relaxing lavender-infused room spray by adding a few drops of oil to water in a small spray bottle.

For a lavender-scented massage, add a few drops of oil to lotion or carrier oil before massaging it into your skin. You can also add a drop or two of lavender oil to your bathtub for a relaxing soak.

If you’re interested in using lavender oil for its skin benefits, add a few drops to your favorite moisturizer or face cream. You can also make a homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub that will exfoliate and nourish your skin.

I adore Aromatics International and home of clean, sustainably sourced essential oils. I absolutely love this clean, smelling lavender essential oil. I use it at home and in my spa all the time. You can find it here

Lavender Angustifolia

The smell of lavender is so gentle and soothing, it's perfect for any time. This organic essential oil has been shown to have an influence on your body systems—body, heart, mind! I love how this scent reminds me that even though life can be tough sometimes you can still find that calming serenity you need!

With its soft floral scent you'll feel immediately calm. This certified organic lavender essential oil is steam distilled from beautiful flowers grown in purple fields of the Bulgarian countryside.

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Lavender Oil Side Effects and Precautions

Lavender oil is generally safe for most people when used in small amounts. However, it’s always important to do a patch test on your skin before using any new product, even natural ones.

How is lavender oil extracted

Lavender oil is extracted from the lavender plant through a process of steam distillation. This concentrated form of lavender contains the highest concentration of chemical constituents, including linalool and linalyl acetate.

Lavender Hydrosol

This Montana-grown lavender hydrosol is sourced by Aromatics. Lavender is by far the most versatile plant in the aromatherapy world, with a myriad of uses—especially for relaxation and skincare. This certified organic lavender artisan hydrosol has a floral, fresh, herbal, honey-like aroma that users just fall in love with. It can calm and restore the body, heart, and mind. Raised on their own 4700 ft. above sea level (lavender thrives at high elevations), Higher altitudes encourages these plants to produce even higher percentages of their soothing components

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These compounds give lavender oil its characteristic fragrance. But they also provide many health benefits, including relaxation, when used in aromatherapy.

Linalool is a naturally occurring terpene alcohol that is present in many plants. This compound has demonstrated anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative effects in animal studies.

Linalyl acetate is another naturally occurring compound found in lavender oil. This ester has also shown anxiolytic and sedative effects in animal studies.

Studies

In human studies, inhalation of lavender oil has been shown to decrease anxiety and improve sleep quality. A 2012 study of college students found that aromatherapy with lavender oil reduced test-taking anxiety.

A 2013 review of the literature concluded that lavender oil may be an effective treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. The authors of this review suggested that lavender oil’s anxiolytic and sedative effects are due to the action of linalool and linalyl acetate.

Lavender oil has also been shown to improve sleep quality. A small study from 2016 found that diffusing lavender oil in the bedroom improved sleep quality in postpartum women.

Another small study from 2017 found that inhaling lavender oil before bedtime improved sleep quality in boys with autism spectrum disorder.

In addition to its role in relaxation, lavender oil has also been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

A 2018 review of the literature concluded that lavender oil has antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Lavender oil has also been shown to reduce inflammation. A 2017 study found that topical application of lavender oil reduced inflammation and pain in rats with arthritis.

To sum up, lavender oil has a long history of use in relaxation and herbal medicine. This oil is a concentrated form of lavender that contains the highest concentration of linalool and linalyl acetate.

These compounds give lavender oil its characteristic fragrance and also provide many health benefits, including relaxation, when used in aromatherapy. Lavender oil has also been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

If you’re looking for a natural way to relax, lavender oil may be a good choice for you.

Lavender oil has a soothing scent that can help to relax the mind and body. It can be used to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Additionally, lavender oil is known to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which can help to keep the skin healthy and free from infection. It is often used in skincare for the many benefits it provides to the skin in healing, hydrating, and calming the skin.

The Benefits of Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is known for its relaxing properties, but did you know that it can also be used to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia? Additionally, lavender oil is known to have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which can help to keep the skin healthy and free from infection. All of these benefits make lavender oil the perfect choice for a relaxing body wash. New research suggests that it may even help in neurological degenerative conditions. You can read more about that here. Neuroprotective and Anti-Aging Potentials of Essential Oils from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

How to Use Lavender Oil for Relaxation

There are a few different ways that you can use lavender oil to relax. One way is to add a few drops of the oil to your bathtub while the water is running. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to your favorite lotion or cream and apply it to your skin after bathing. Another option is to purchase a lavender-scented body wash or soap. Whichever method you choose, be sure to take some deep breaths and enjoy the calming scent of lavender oil.

If you want an essential oil that will help you relax, look for lavender oil. Lavender oil has a warm soothing scent that can help to relax the mind and body, and it also has several other benefits, including anti-inflammatory and and calming. It may also offer neurogenerative help. You can use lavender oil in several different ways to relax, like diffusing the oil, applying a few drops to your bath, or adding a few drops to your favorite lotion. Find the best method that works for you and enjoy the calming effects of this wonderful, natural ingredient. Let us know some of the ways you like using your lavender in our comments section.

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PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: As a staff of licensed aestheticians we review products based on their merit based on our professional expertise. This is not a replacement for your own skin therapist's advice for your skin or any medical claim or endorsement. We encourage you to seek medical care when appropriate. To support our website activities, we may receive monetary compensation or another form of recompense for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonials, and/or links to any products or services from this website as part of the Amazon Associate program or another Affiliate program. We Thank you in advance for your patronage.

References

Ayaz, Muhammad et al. “Neuroprotective and Anti-Aging Potentials of Essential Oils from Aromatic and Medicinal Plants.” Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 9 168. 30 May. 2017, doi:10.3389/fnagi.2017.00168