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Lavender health benefits


Lavender is used for Acne, Allergies, Athlete's Foot, Boils, Bruises, Burns, Dermatitis, Eczema, Inflammation, Insect Bites and Stings, Lice, Psoriasis, Ringworm, Scabies, Spots, Sunburn, Wounds, Lumbago, Rheumatism, Sprains, Asthma, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Flu, Halitosis, Throat Infections, Whooping Cough, Colic, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Nausea, Cystitis,  Depression, Headache, Hypertension, Insomnia, migraine, Nervous tension, Stress.

 
 Key Qualities: Soothing, Sedative, Antidepressant, Calming, Relaxing, Balancing, Restorative, Cephalic, Appeasing, Cleansing, Purifying.


There are 28 species of these aromatic, evergreen, shrubby, perennials, all with small, linear leaves and spikes of fragrant,  usually purple or blue, two-lipped flowers. Aromatic oil glands cover all aerial parts of the plants but are most concentrated in the flowers. The flowers flavor jams, vinegar, sweets, cream, and Provencal stews, and are crystallized for decoration. Dried flowers add long-lasting fragrance to sachets and potpourri. Flower water is a skin toner useful for speeding cell renewal and is an antiseptic for acne. Flower tea treats anxiety, headaches, flatulence, nausea, dizziness, and halitosis. The essential oil is a highly valued perfume and healer. It is antiseptic, mildly sedative, and painkilling. It is applied to insect bites, and treats burns, sore throats and headaches. The oil is used for intestinal gas, migraine, and dizziness. Being antiseptic, lavender is added to healing salves. 


A tea of the leaf allays nausea and vomiting.
Use two teaspoons per cup of water and steep for twenty minutes. The dose is one-fourth cup four times a day. Steep lavender blossoms in white wine and strain to make a natural antidepressant beverage. Lavender and rose petal vinegar is applied to the temples and brow to ease headache. Lavender oil is added to foot baths, eases toothaches and sprains, and is used as a rub for hysteria and palsy.

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