How To Add More Lavender To Your Life
From Mountain Rose Herbs
The name “lavender” is derived from the Latin lavare, meaning, “to wash”. Known as one of the seven polyvalents (effective against many toxins), which are applicable to many ailments. Greeks and Romans perfumed their bathwater with lavender, burned lavender incense to appease their wrathful gods, and believed the scent of lavender to be soothing to untamed lions and tigers.
Commercially lavender is grown mainly for the production of the essential oil of lavender. We love scenting our natural coconut milk soap with it because not unlike the Greeks and Roman's, we like to please the goddesses with our creamy fragrant lather. There are plenty of internet articles available touting health and wellness benefits of lavender essential oil, but we'll leave the medical claims to the experts.
We just know we just love the scent.
There are so many other more unusual uses of this flowering member of the mint family. We all know it's a very aromatic herb, but did you know that in addition to using it in bath and body products it's also used in baking, gourmet cooking, tea making, tinctures and much more? Here are just a few simple ways you can add a but more lavender into your life.
Lavender Aromatherapy: Add 5-6 drops lavender essential oil to a bit of water in an oil diffuser.
Lavender sachets: Add some organic lavender buds to a muslin bag. Place them in drawers, closets or even make a dream pillow by placing a few in your pillowcase at bedtime.
Lavender Wreath: Here's a great tutorial to make a beautiful lavender wreath that looks and smells lovely!
Lavender Mint Tea: Place 1/4 cup fresh organic lavender petals and 1 cup fresh organic mint leaves into a saucepan, pour 4 cups filtered water over lavender and mint, and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and simmer tea until flavor is your desired strength, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain out the mint and lavender petals and serve tea hot or over ice. Sweeten with raw honey if desired.
Lavender Salad Dressing: Whisk together 6 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp balsamic or apple cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 crushed garlic clove, 2 Tbsp honey, 1 tsp each mustard powder & organic dried lavender flowers.
Lavender Cinnamon Ice Cream: Stir crumbled organic fresh lavender blooms and a pinch of cinnamon into vanilla ice cream made with coconut milk!
Or...oh my! How about a Blueberry Lavender Mojito? We're definitely going to have to try that recipe!
A Note of Caution; Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids that can be harmful if not used carefully. Never use essential oils on the skin undiluted, in your eyes or mucus membranes. Do not take them internally unless you are working with a qualified and expert practitioner. After you have properly diluted it in an appropriate carrier oil and are applying an essential oil to your skin, always perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body. Keep them away from children. And always check for any possible side effects or other safety concerns.