Lavender

Unknown to others, lavender is an herb and not just a garden plant.

Also known as Lavandula, lavender is a genus in the large family of flowering plants, Lamiaceae.

It is native to Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. Moreover, it is also abundant in Europe to northern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, and southwest Asia, and southeast India.

Its uses range from being manufactured commercially for most essential oils, used as culinary herbs, or for gardening or landscaping purposes.

Moreover, it is also used in traditional medicine and cosmetics, although there are no critical studies that show relevant results for its efficacy in treating diseases.

Description

Lavender has prominent and diverse leaf shapes, depending on the species. Hence, you can see some commonly cultivated species such as pinnately toothed, pinnate, or multiple pinnate and dissected.

This plant also has prominent fine hairs or indumentum, which normally is the source of essential oils.

Lavender flowers are usually seen in whorls and spikes at the foliage. Its colors vary from one species to another. Some are blue, violet, lilac, blackish-purple, or yellowish.

Medicinal Use

Lavender is one of the most known plants with medicinal values.

It helps alleviate depression, sleeplessness, stress, and headaches while also being occasionally used for skin problems and rashes, joint pains, and sprains.

Here are some of its other medical uses.

Relieves Dysmenorrhea

Menstrual cramps, commonly known as dysmenorrhea, are a painful discomfort felt by most women during their period. Surprisingly, lavender reduces this pain either by direct application or inhaling lavender oil for the first three days of menstruation.

Pain Remedy

Lavender helps in alleviating pain after surgery. For example, based on some research, inhaling lavender essence while receiving pain killers intravenously can help reduce pain in women after a C-section.

May Improve Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

Some research shows that taking a specific type of lavender oil supplement by mouth might improve anxiety. On the other hand, lavender aromatherapy may improve symptoms in some people with depression.

May Aid in Sleeping

If you are suffering from insomnia, lavender may be the answer. Most practitioners of traditional medicine recommended it for people suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Heals Skin and Hair Conditions

Topical use of lavender oil might help to treat alopecia aerate or visible hair patches. For the skin, it can help heal eczema, acne, sunburns, and diaper rash.

Manage Potential Cancer and Dementia Symptoms

According to the National Cancer InstituteTrusted Source, aromatherapy can help patients manage the side effects of cancer treatment. Smell receptors send messages to the brain that can affect mood. Aromatherapy may also help adults who suffer from dementia.

While many people swear by its aromatic healing powers, the scientific community is not so sure. Many of the tests conducted around lavender have had conflicting results.