Lavender Oil Facts (Definitive Safety Guide)

Lavender oil is a liquid made from thedistilled essenceof the lavender flower.

This "oil" is not really an oil in the typical sense—it doesn't leave behind a greasy residue, but rather it encompasses the main elements of its root form. In this case, the root is the lavender flower.

How Does Lavender Oil Work?

Lavender oil is full of a chemical compound called Lavandin, which contains deodorizing and antibacterial properties.

In addition to this, lavender oil contains esters at the chemical level which help it give off a soothing effect when inhaled or applied sparingly to the skin.

What Are the Benefits and Uses of Lavender Oil?

Pest Control

Did you know that moths can't stand the smell of lavender? We humans find the scent pleasing and calming, but moths would rather pack up and leave your home than sit in your house and deal with its aroma!

Ants, too, are warded off by lavender's strong scent. TheAmerican College of Healthcare Sciencesrecommends that you diffuse lavender oil in the air or leave it stagnant in a saucer to keep ants and other insects out.

Hair Revitalization to Combat Dandruff

一条丝般光滑的头发混合几滴lets of lavender oil with olive oil, creating a DIY hair treatment.

Work the oil treatment into the roots and let it sit on your scalp for about an hour. The chemical makeup of the lavender oil will bring your tired hair back to life, and fortify theskin on your scalp.After an hour, wash the oil mixture out of your hair and repeat the process as needed as every few days.

Sunburn and Skin Treatment

If you're suffering from a sunburn (or any kind of burn, for that matter), lavender oil can help speed the healing process along. It's calming properties help to soothe the irritated skin and keep you comfortable while your body takes care of itself.

To apply薰衣草油对皮肤, mix a few droplets of pure lavender oil with an unrefined oil of your choice. This unrefined oil will act as a sort of "gateway oil" and carry the lavender into your pores so that it can work its magic.

Anxiety

这是米ost common usage for lavender oil out there: to soothe the twinge of anxiety. Because of the chemical makeup at the core of the lavender flower, this essential oil is ideally suited to assuage feelings of stress when applied topically or inhaled in small doses.

Not only does lavenderreduce the production of cortisol(the body's stress hormone), but it relieves generalized anxiety in a mannercomparable to that of benzodiazepine(lorazepam), which is a high-powered pharmaceutical.

Aromatherapy

A study in Taiwanrecently revealed that elementary school teachers (who are known to work in notoriously stressful conditions) actually benefitted substantially from a physical from aromatherapy sessions.

Though aromatherapy has only recently begun to gain traction, it's catching on as a new method of self-care, and its benefits are many. When diffusing lavender as an aromatherapeutic tool, you can enjoy its calming and deodorizing properties in your air at all times.

What actuallyisaromatherapy? Take a look at the video below for a quick explanation.

Okay, so we've covered the basics on why lavender oil is a pretty awesome resource for humans.

But what about the fight against pests? What makes lavender oil stand a chance against traditional pesticides??

For Fleas

It's been shown that by mixing two drops oflavender oilwith the same amount of tea tree oil in a solution of water and using it as a shampoo, that you can knock out head lice with a snap.

The same concept holds true forfleas—these parasites latch onto your pet in the same way that head lice do, and will die off under the same circumstances with this solution.

For some quick tips on how to use lavender on your dog's fur to banish fleas, check out this video!

With statistics like these, there has to be a catch. If lavender oil is such a beneficial alternative in terms of pest control, what kinds of problems could it cause to someone if it were taken in abundance?

General Side Effects

Lavender oil has an incredibly low toxicity, and is recommended as a suitable alternative to medications for anxiety and depression due to its lack of side effects.

In fact, this essential oil has been shown to deliver such a calming affect (without any adverse reactions) that it's been given to surgeons and nurses before performing surgical procedures as a method to cope withpre-operative stress.

However, it's worth noting that in some cases, as studied by theNew England Journal of Medicine, lavender oil can be the culprit of hormone changes, particularly in boys and men.

During a Pregnancy

Essential oils cancross the placental barrierand reach the developing fetus, so it's best to exercise caution when using an essential oil during a pregnancy. If you or your partner chooses to utilize lavender oil while pregnant, dilute the oil to a 0.5 ratio.

For Babies and Toddlers

The American College of Health Sciencesdoes not recommendthe use of essential oils around babies and toddlers, even gentle and calming oils such as lavender.

Side Effects

Though we were unable to dig up any scientific backing to conclude that lavender oil may have some side effects toward dogs, it's best to exercise caution.

Keep an eye on your dog if it roams around an area and could be exposed to lavender oil in excessive quantities, and stay vigilant in case your dog exhibits signs of behavioral changes.

What Does The Government Think About Lavender Oil?

Essential oils are not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and therefore not generally recognized by the government as pesticides.

This doesn't mean, however, that the government doesn't ave anything to do with them. Check out what the two important agencies below think of lavender oil.

Environmental Protection Agency

While there's no distinct fact sheet on the EPA website for lavender oil, this is actually a good thing. In fact, the less information the EPA posts about an essential oil, the better.

Essential oils are basically the anti-pesticides: they work to achieve the same goal as a pesticide while doing it in a wildly different way.

In fact, the only information that EPA has on lavender oil whatsoever is an ingredient fact sheet for anall-purpose soapwhich happens to contain lavender.

National Center for Biotechnology Information

Research from the NCBI on lavender oil is plentiful, butone such studysticks out at the top of a search query, pointing to lavender oil as a vehicle to decrease stress and increase feelings of contentment.

Lavender Oil Vs Other Stuff

What makes lavender oil a better choice than the other essential oils?

Well, it's not necessarily that lavender is abetterchoice, but that each oil has different strengths and benefits. Check out some different perks of these essential oils below.

Lavender Oil vs Tea Tree Oil

While lavender oil and tea tree oil can be used in many of the same ways (to combat dandruff, acne, and dry skin, just to name a few), there are a few benefits of tea tree oil that lavender actuallydoesn'tboast.

For example, did you know that you can fight halitosis with tea tree oil? In addition, this particular essential oil can fight off scabies, and works to soothe the respiratory system as well.

Lavender Oil vs Rosemary Oil

薰衣草油,从本质上讲,“万事通s" in the world of essential oils. This mighty serum can do it all, and it balances the job quite well.

Rosemary oil, on the other hand, is much more specialized. This essential oil zeroes in on just one aspect of improvement and works to revitalize a failing aspect where it's needed. Most commonly, people take rosemary oil for damaged, unhealthy hair.

Lavender Oil vs Lavender Extract

The major difference between any essential oil and its extract (be it lavender, rosemary, or whichever scent you may find) is this: the essential oil will always carry the medicinal properties with it from its plant form.

The extract is nothing more than a fragrant piece of decor used for cooking, or simply to make your house smell nice.