Lavender - application, recipes, medicinal plant

contents

• ingredients
• applications
• lavender oil
• Active ingredients in detail
• side effects
• Different quality
• Lavender - single species
• Dried lavender flowers
• Lavender Conditioner
• lavender powder
• lavender lotion
• Lavender oil in the apartment
• An old medicinal plant

ingredients

The remedies are found in the flowers, but especially in the essential oil, which we win by distilling with steam from the fresh flowers. It contains linalyl acetate, linalool, camphor and cineol, esters, monoterpenols, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, ketones and oxides. In total, there are more than 2000 active ingredients, which are in different lavender species in different doses and also depend on the time of collection, the climate and location and also vary from plant to plant.

Monoterpenes are volatile substances that play a role in the perfume industry and provide the typical smell of lavender. Monoterpenols act against bacteria, viruses and fungi and are used in plants to ward off such pathogens. They can do that also with humans. In addition, they help to regenerate cells, balance out stress hormones and thus improve the mood. Above all, sesquiterpenes are important for transport within cells, they act on the production of membrane fluid and support oxygen metabolism.

applications

If you use lavender yourself as a remedy, you probably use the flowers first, because they are the easiest to gain. You can heat them as a steam bath and inhale the steam, prepare a tea with them or put them in a sachet under the pillow (lavender pillows).
Tea made from lavender flowers helps against the following symptoms: severe arousal, stress, problems falling asleep, mild depression, migraine, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, fatigue and acute anxiety. In permanent anxiety disorders in the psychiatric sense, they "only" relieve the symptoms and replace psychotherapy.

Stress is associated with high blood pressure and lavender lowers it. Put two teaspoons of the fresh or dried flowers in a cup, pour hot water over them and let them steep for ten minutes. Then siphon off the liquid and drink a cup three times a day.

Lavender as a base for teas harmonizes with other medicinal herbs that help against gastrointestinal problems, difficulty falling asleep or stress such as anise, caraway or fennel. Melissa also calms and is compatible with lavender. Sage is highly antiseptic and antibacterial, but many people do not like it very much. Here lavender intensifies the effect and also ensures a pleasant aroma.

Lavender tea is slightly antiseptic and inhibits inflammation. In practical terms, it helps with symptoms of menopause, cramps, high blood pressure, it relieves tachycardia, supports regeneration, expels flatulence and works against constipation and drives the urine. Above all, he calms down. It is therefore particularly suitable for all problems that have to do with "restlessness": nervousness, fatigue, hyperactivity, unexplained fears, tears of mind, exaggerated impulsivity or test anxiety.

lavender oil

In lavender oil are the active ingredients in concentrated form and it can be applied in various ways against various ailments. In the bath, it alleviates circulatory system disturbances, gargling it against bacterial diseases in the mouth, throat and throat, combating it on the skin candida and filamentous fungi, thus effectively effective against skin and nail fungus. The antibacterial and antifungal effects of lavender not only relieve symptoms but attack the cause. To put it bluntly, lavender oil is far too good to use just to relax.

Areas of application for lavender oil are:

• sniff,
• nervousness,
• high blood pressure,
• sleep disorders,
• mental eating problems such as bulimia and anorexia,
• Headache in the temple area,
• Earache from infections in the outer and middle ear,
• halitosis,
• minor skin injuries, insect bites and cuts,
• Relaxation during labor and foreshortening,
• painful nipples,
• muscle relaxation

Active ingredients in detail

The many different ingredients in lavender show extremely different, but complement each other very positively.

linalool

Linalool inhibits inflammation, acts against harmful microbes and is antiseptic. Speiklavendel contains this substance to a large extent.

Linalylacetat

This ensures the typical lavender scent, relaxes the nervous system and compensates in the hormone balance. It dampens sensory overload of the nerves, slows over exuberant feelings, soothes fears.
This substance promotes the production of the happiness hormone serotonin. Among the lavender species, the highest concentration of linalyl acetate is found in real lavender.

Fighter

Camphor is an analeptic. These substances excite the nervous system, but can be toxic in high doses. Camphor inhibits inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose and throat when you inhale lavender oil in steam. In creams with lavender oil applied to the skin it relieves pain in rheumatic problems.

cineole

This substance dissolves mucus and is effective against bacteria, so it is suitable for treating pulmonary complaints and infections of the paranasal sinuses. It dilates narrowed bronchi, because cineole prevents the release of neurotransmitters that cause this tightness. It also has an antiseptic effect.

side effects

Especially the essential oil of lavender, like all essential oils, can lead to unwanted effects. Because these oils irritate the mucous membranes. What applies to the individual active ingredients such as camphor, of course, is also true for the whole plant that contains these substances. Especially crested and Speiklavendel are toxic in high concentrations. For this reason, you should only use lavender oil internally under the supervision of a doctor.

If you apply lavender products to the skin, irritation may occur. Watch the effects. If the skin itches or reddens, you may be allergic to the essential oil of the flowers. Toddlers should not use the oil.

A "side effect" is, strictly speaking, a major effect of lavender. An agent that helps to fall asleep makes you sleepy. Lavender is therefore not suitable if you need to operate machinery or drive a car.

Lavender may affect barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Final tests are still pending, but because of possible side effects you should use such funds together with lavender at most in consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.

Different quality

An important point you must pay particular attention to self-cultivation: The amount of active substances varies depending on the location, but also from month to month. You can not control the efficacy of garden plants. Do you want to lavender not only to fall asleep, feel better, against stress or because of its fragrance and taste, but as a medicine against serious diseases? Then you can rely on tested products from the pharmacy.

Lavender - single species

Lavender is present in a wide range of different species, which also differ in their effect.

French lavender

Its oil is particularly effective against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

spike lavender

Its oil is similar to that of the Schopflavendels and is mainly used in diseases of the bronchi and in infections with streptococci.

Silverleaf Lavender

Its oil is very good against viruses, but not so much against fungi and bacteria as it does with crested and Speiklavendel.

hybrid lavender

Hybrid lavender is a cross between genuine lavender and Speiklavendel. Its antibacterial effect is lower than that of the Speiklavendels, but the oil is better for skin care.

Dried lavender flowers

Dried lavender flowers can be used to make tea or make a scented sachet. The tea from the flowers, the herb and the root regenerates, promotes blood circulation, balances the thyroid hormones, helps to fall asleep and sleep, promotes labor, promotes milk production in breastfeeding and raises low blood pressure. A fragrance bag with lavender flowers provides a good smell, helps against mosquitoes and moths and lowers stress hormones.

Lavender Conditioner

For a lavender conditioner, take two tablespoons of lavender flowers, 3 tablespoons of chamomile flowers and 300 ml of apple cider vinegar. Put everything together in a jar, close the mixture and leave it for two weeks. Then sieve off the liquid and store it sealed. For each hair wash, use 1 tablespoon, stir the essence with a glass of lukewarm water and pour into the hair.

lavender powder

Lavender powder can be used as a spice and prevents mold from being contaminated with food.

lavender lotion

The lotion is used for skin care and regenerates the skin.

Lavender oil in the apartment

Lavender oil in the household is an all-rounder. It is suitable as an essential oil in fragrance lamps, as an additive during laundry, but also to clean floors and walls - especially in the bathroom. Firstly, lavender smells good, secondly it combats the bacteria, fungi and viruses, including the persistent mold fungi. Lavender oil is also suitable for cosmetics, because as a face cream it refreshes the skin and works against pimples and blackheads.

An old medicinal plant

Lavender already used the ancient Egyptians. The cloths of her mummies soaked her in lavender oil. Ancient Roman women perfumed with lavender oil, hospitals were smoked with lavender. Men put it to the bathwater. Lavare, the Latin word for washing, gave lavender its name.
The Romans also used lavender as a medicinal herb to treat period discomfort, stomach ache and kidney disease such as jaundice. Arab women treated their hair with lavender essence, treated inflamed skin with lavender oil and garnished with lavender water for bad breath and infections of the pharynx.

The Mediterranean plant came to Germany via Italian clerics, and the first to cultivate lavender in this country were monks. In the sixteenth century, Paracelsus recommended lavender to relieve nervousness and relieve pain, so it properly assessed its effects. In Cologne in 1710, cologne was produced for the first time, one of the few perfumes that could also be drunk.