Lavender Oil (15 page)

See also
Anxiety,
Stress

– see
High Blood-pressure

Many essential oils, including lavender (but particularly tea tree oil) stimulate the immune system and can assist the body in resisting as well as combating infection:

1. by directly opposing the threatening micro-organisms
   
2. by stimulating and increasing the activity of the organs and cells involved
   
3. by building up resistance and promoting the immune system as a whole.
   

                              
People who use essential oils all the time, as part of their daily bathing, skin care and household routines, mostly have a high level of resistance to illness, ‘catching’ fewer colds, etc. than average and recovering quickly if they do.
¹⁶

                               
  
To help build up resistance levels, take a bath at least twice a week using 8–10 drops of lavender (or tea tree) oil in the water.

                               
  
To strengthen the immune system, have a massage once a week using a 2.5 per cent lavender (or tea tree) oil blend (see instructions
page
). If this is not possible, make up a 5 per cent concentrated massage oil blend and rub this firmly into the palms of the hands and soles of the feet once a day.

                               
  
Use lavender and other essential oils (particularly tea tree) as room fragrances on an everyday basis.

                               
  
Other measures: a course of garlic capsules, vitamin E and vitamin C are also indicated.

This highly infectious skin disease which mainly affects children is usually caused by an invasion of the
streptococcus
or
staphylococcus
bacteria. Inflamed patches or spots appear, usually on the face, scalp and neck, but sometimes on the hands and knees – which blister and then crust over.

The bactericidal action of lavender makes it very effective in treating this contagious skin condition. Strict hygiene is also essential to prevent the condition from spreading to other parts of the body – or to other people.

                               
  
Apply pure lavender oil to affected areas, using the tip of the finger or a cotton bud (swab). Repeat twice a day.

                               
  
Add 10 drops (no more than 5 for children) to the bath water as a disinfectant measure.

                               
  
Tea tree is also an effective remedy, alone or in combination with lavender.

–
see
Dyspepsia

Lavender is a useful remedy to have at hand during an infectious illness such as bronchitis, flu or the common cold, due to its ability to ease both physical and psychological discomfort and because of its balancing nature or ‘two-way effect’:

                              
Possibly the best instance in which lavender’s two-way effect is put to use simultaneously is at the onset of an infection such as fever, sore throat, headache, aches and pains and unrest. In this condition lavender’s predominating calming actions – anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and nervous system sedative – will relieve symptoms resulting from the individual’s response to the infection. However, its mainly stimulating actions – diaphoretic, anti-infective and antiseptic – will directly address the source of the condition – the infection itself.
¹⁷

                               
  
Use lavender in vaporizers throughout the duration of the illness, or add a few drops to a hankie for inhalation throughout the day, and to the pillow for night use.

                               
  
Take a daily hot bath adding 8–10 drops of lavender to the water – this soothes aching limbs and also acts as a kind of steam inhalation.

                               
  
For a sore throat, add 5–10 drops of lavender to a glass of warm water, mix well and gargle. Repeat at least 2 or 3 times a day.