No doubt about it, essential oils are amazing! They smell great and do remarkable things. Out of all the oils, however, I think lavender oil is the most useful.
Did you know that lavender can do so much more than just help you feel relaxed? Read on to learn more!
1. Lavender oil makes a great insect repellant.
Sprinkle a few drops of lavender oil around the room on the carpet, especially near doorways and windows, to deter pests from entering your home.
Make a spray with 10% rubbing alcohol in water, and add lavender oil. Use the spray on countertops, corners, or hard-to-reach places where pests might hang out.
Before going outside, you can add 5 drops of lavender essential oil in a teaspoon of neem oil and apply to all exposed skin areas. Neem’s potent insecticide benefits are enhanced with the addition of lavender oil.
2. DIY natural first aid burn remedy*
Lavender’s effectiveness as a first aid treatment for burns was discovered in 1910 by the French chemist Rene Gattefosse. He burned his hand during an experiment, and plunged his hand into the nearest liquid at hand, which was lavender oil. He was amazed at how quickly the burn healed, with very little scarring. He went on to become an essential oil pioneer.
You can make your own burn remedy to have on hand at home with this simple recipe. Fill a small wide mouth glass jar with a couple tablespoons of raw honey. Stir in 60 drops of lavender oil, and cap the jar tightly.
To use: apply a thin layer of the lavender-infused honey to the affected area, and cover with gauze. Change the dressing several times per day. This is a very sticky remedy, and the honey will become runny from the warmth of your skin. If the gauze sticks to your skin, dab it with cool water and it will come off easily.
*for serious burns, seek professional medical treatment
3. Fast relief for stress and anxiety
One of the most effective ways to use lavender oil to relieve stress is to place a single drop of the oil in your palm. Briefly rub your hands together, then bring your hands to your face, and breathe in the fragrance slowly and deeply. Repeat taking slow deep breaths, breathing in the fragrance, until you feel calmer.
4. Feel more grounded
If you’re having one of those moments or days when you can’t focus, and feel spaced out, place a drop of lavender oil on your fingertips, and lightly rub this into the top of your head. Doing this helps bring you back down to earth.
5. Acne, boils, ingrown hairs
Put the antibacterial qualities of lavender to work by dabbing a tiny drop of lavender oil directly on acne, boils, or ingrown hairs. Lavender helps calm the inflammation and heal the skin.
6. Treat your feet
Massage sore, tired, achy feet with this simple combo: blend a teaspoon of coconut oil with 3 to 5 drops of lavender oil, and massage deeply into the soles of your feet. This is a nice way to relax at the end of the day, and may help promote deep sleep.
7. Add to dish soap to kill germs
Besides smelling heavenly, adding lavender oil in the sink when you’re doing dishes helps to sanitize without harsh chemicals.
8. Deodorize funky laundry
The name “lavender” comes from the ancient Roman word “lavare”, which means “to wash”. The Romans not only bathed in lavender, they also added lavender to the water they washed their clothing in. You can do the same by purchasing ecofriendly unscented laundry detergent, and adding 60-90 drops of lavender oil in your laundry load to add a fresh aroma and kill germs. The aroma might dissipate in the dryer, so check out tip number 9!
9. DIY dryer sheets
Here is an easy recipe to make your own chemical-free dryer sheets using natural materials and pure essential oils like lavender.
10. Keep moths out of your closet
Lavender sachets will keep moths away from your clothing, and are simple to make. Fill several muslin cloth tea bags with dried lavender flowers, and sprinkle 30 drops of lavender oil inside the bag on the lavender flowers. Tie the bag shut in such a way that you make a loop for hanging in your closet. You can hang a sachet with vulnerable garments, as well as hanging them throughout the closet. You can also tuck sachets into your dresser drawers to protect and scent your clothing. Every six months, refresh your sachet by sprinkling on 30 more drops of lavender oil.
11. Facial rejuvenation serum
One of my favorite things about lavender oil is the way it heals and rejuvenates your skin. It’s wonderful for all ages, and is extra nice for mature skin. Fill your palm with ½ teaspoon of rosehip seed oil or jojoba oil, and 2 drops of lavender oil. Massage into neck and face in gentle upward sweeping motions.
12. Heal insect bites and stings*
A simple effective paste to apply to bites and stings is to take a 1/4 teaspoon of bentonite clay, add 7 drops of lavender oil, and enough Echinacea tincture to create a paste. Apply to the affected area several times a day.
*for serious or poisonous bites or stings, seek professional medical treatment
13. Relieve muscle tension
Lavender not only relieves emotional tension, but it also helps relieve tense and sore muscles. If you’re sore after a heavy workout, you can massage the sore areas with coconut oil with a few drops of lavender.
14. Tension headaches
Before grabbing for an over-the-counter pain killer, try dabbing a drop of lavender on your temples. Sometimes, that’s enough to do the trick.
15. Natural cold relief
Another lesser known use for lavender is for helping open the lungs and sinuses during a cold or flu. A simple trick is to place a bowl of water by the bed and float several drops of lavender oil in the water. The oil will help soothe inflamed sinuses and also disinfect the room.
16. Mood support
Lavender is not just relaxing; it can also help relieve feelings of sadness and melancholy, as well as irritability and frustration. Take a bath with a few drops of lavender oil, or follow the tip in #3 and inhale a drop in your palm any time your spirit needs a lift.
17. PMS
Many women suffer from mood fluctuations every month. Keep some lavender oil on hand to sniff during times of escalated emotions. For cramps, massage the abdomen with a few drops of lavender in a teaspoon of carrier oil like coconut, almond, or even olive oil.
18. Hair treatment oil
Both men and women can benefit from massaging lavender oil into the scalp to stimulate hair growth and increase circulation to the hair follicles. Use either of these carrier oils for best results: Bhringaraj oil, an ancient hair tonic from India, or Herbal Hair Oil, a blend of bhringaraj and other herbs.
19. DIY hand sanitizer
Make your own non-toxic hand sanitizer with this simple recipe. In a 2 oz. spray bottle, combine 1 oz. vodka, 1 oz. purified water, and 60 drops lavender oil. Shake well before every use. Simply spray on your hands, or use it as an on-the-spot surface disinfectant.
Do you have any more uses for the amazing lavender oil? Let us know in the comments below!
~Kita
