Lavender Oil (7 page)

–
see
Hair Care

Anxiety is one of the most common stress-related conditions encountered today, and is characterized by symptoms such as high blood-pressure, insomnia, palpitations or irritability. If the state of anxiety is allowed to persist over a prolonged period, it can lead to secondary, more serious complaints such as stomach ulcers or heart failure.

The value of lavender oil in helping to counter the effects of anxiety within a clinical context has been confirmed by several scientists including Dr Valnet and Professor Rovesti.
²
The effects of lavender on brainwave patterns has also been
researched in recent years. In Japan, Dr Sugano has shown that the scent of lavender increases both alpha brainwave activity (associated with a relaxed mental state) and cerebral blood circulation, while Prof. Torii of Tokyo University includes lavender among those oils having a sedative effect on the central nervous system, based on EEG material.
³
As a result, lavender is being used increasingly in hospital wards today as a massage oil or airborne fragrance to help dispel anxiety, calm the mind and increase general feelings of well-being (see
pages
).

                               
  
Add 8–10 drops to a warm evening bath to relieve insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, nervous tension or an overactive mind.

                               
  
Receiving a regular professional massage using a blend of suitable oils can dramatically reduce anxiety levels. For self-treatment blend 2–3 drops of lavender with 1 tsp sweet almond oil and massage into the hands and the soles of the feet.

                               
  
For a soothing room fragrance, use lavender oil in a vaporizer, or put a few drops on a handkerchief for inhalation throughout the day.

                               
  
Other measures: yoga, meditation and psychotherapy. Other essential oils of benefit include bergamot, neroli, ylang ylang and rose.

See also
Depression,
Insomnia,
Stress

There are several different kinds of arthritis – but all signify the body’s inability to eliminate toxic waste efficiently. This causes excess uric acid to be deposited as crystals in the spaces between the joints. The two most common forms are
rheumatoid arthritis
, which can affect all age groups, and
osteoarthritis
, which usually occurs in the elderly. Both are forms of joint distress which can result in pain, inflammation and sometimes deformity.

Gout usually affects the joints of the toes, but also sometimes the fingers.

Stress, emotional conflict, lack of exercise and a poor diet all contribute to these conditions. Aromatic baths and massage can help eliminate the toxic waste, as well as provide relief from pain. Lavender oil is particularly recommended for children suffering from these conditions, because of its relative mildness.

                              
I applied a cool compress of lavender, juniper and rosemary and wrapped her knee in a towel. The compress was repeated again after 15 minutes … she was delighted with the results which were relief from pain and increased mobility to the joint.
⁴

                               
  
Make a massage oil by mixing 30 drops of lavender oil with 50 ml of a vegetable carrier oil. Very gently, apply twice daily.

                               
  
Add 8–10 drops of lavender oil to the bath water for pain relief.

                               
  
To ease inflammation, apply a cold compress using clay (or a flannel or face-cloth) to which has been added a few drops of lavender oil.

                               
  
Note:
There are several other oils which are of great benefit in arthritis and are best used in combination:
for detoxifying
– cypress, fennel, juniper, lemon and tea tree;
for inflammation
– chamomile, and marjoram; and
for stimulating greater mobility
– pine, rosemary and ginger.

Asthma, characterized by wheezing and shortness of breath, commonly appears during early childhood and often ceases at puberty. It usually runs in families and, like many allergic conditions, an attack can be brought on by a number of different factors including diet; contact with allergens such as dust, polish, hair-spray or feathers; climatic conditions, especially damp; strenuous exercise; and/or underlying emotional issues.

Many things can be done to alleviate asthma, if the cause of the attack and the pattern of the illness can be identified. As a relaxant and antispasmodic oil, lavender is very helpful for asthma especially when combined with massage. Used as a preventative measure it can keep attacks from occurring so frequently.

One case history shows the benefits of using lavender on a regular basis for massage, baths and inhalation:

                           
Jodie had a history of eczema from birth to about 6 or 7 years old and thereafter suffered asthma attacks and coughs on a regular basis … Her summers were made miserable by severe hay fever and in previous years she took Triluden on the advice of the school nurse …
[after being treated with lavender oil in regular baths, inhalations and as a massage oil consisting of 50 ml sweet almond oil, 9 drops lavender, 3 drops geranium and a little rose oil] despite a two-week camping holiday Jodie did not have to take any Triluden over the summer. Only one asthma attack was experienced … Her parents were really pleased and have now purchased an infuser and some lavender for use in the home.
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Mix 7–8 drops of lavender with 1 tbs sweet almond oil and massage the back in long sweeping movements, starting at the base of the spine, up over the shoulders, then down the sides of the body.