Beneficial properties and contraindications of lavender for the body, features of use

Lavender, whose beneficial properties, as well as contraindications for use, were found in ancient Rome, is today used in various branches of medicine. The fact is that the plant has a useful chemical composition, thanks to which a therapeutic effect is achieved. Due to this, lavender-based products are used in gynecology, as well as for infectious, colds, neurological, and vascular pathologies.

Chemical composition of the plant

The main active component that benefits the human body is linalool. The substance is included in the leaves, stem, and inflorescences. The volume of linalool content is about 60% of the total volume of essential oils. Due to this, the benefits of lavender are expressed in the possibility of providing a calming effect on the central nervous system, heart and blood vessels.

Due to the content of geraniol and borneol in lavender flowers, an aromatherapy effect is created. The content of coumarin in the plant, when using lavender-based products, ensures inhibition of the development of protozoa and insects. For this reason, infusions and decoctions are actively used in the treatment of head lice and helminthic infestations.

Approximately 10-12% of the plant’s composition comes from tannins. These help fight viral and bacterial processes in the upper respiratory tract. Infusions and decoctions are used to gargle and rinse the mouth, which creates a protective coating on the mucous membranes, stopping the progress of the inflammatory process.

Due to the resinous compounds, lavender-based products have a laxative and diuretic effect on the body. Such substances also have a preventive effect on putrefactive processes and enhance the effect of other medications used in complex therapy.

Medicinal properties

Lavender, due to its rich composition, is used in various branches of medicine. This also includes cosmetology, perfumery, and other industrial areas.

Dry grass and products based on it have been used in dermatology, since their use is justified for bruises, contusions, and burns. Active components help reduce the severity of spasms, pain, and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The plant accelerates the excretion of bile fluid from the body, and due to the therapeutic effect of the oils contained in the composition, products with lavender extract are used for inhalation for pneumonia and bronchitis.

Since lavender has a calming effect, it is used to treat conditions such as neurasthenia, neurosis, melancholy, insomnia, which are caused by frequent stressful situations and overwork. In addition, the plant extract helps improve the overall mental and emotional state.

What ailments does it help with?

Lavender-based products help fight many pathological conditions in women and men. Lavender extract is also used in the treatment of children over 5 years of age.

For gynecological problems

The use of lavender is justified for many gynecological diseases, as well as for the treatment of severe pain during menstruation. In this case, douching is done with an infusion of the plant, chamomile, or white acacia. Take 1 tablespoon of each ingredient, mix, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for half an hour.

The finished product is douched daily, before bed, for a week.

For stress and insomnia

Lavender oil has a calming effect, helps improve the condition of the nervous system, preventing emotional overexcitation. In addition, the oil helps get rid of insomnia. For this purpose, apply 2-3 drops to an aroma lamp.

If such a lamp is not available, apply 1 drop of oil to the corners of the pillow. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is important to take a natural product, without third-party ingredients.

Against infections

The medicinal plant can be used to prevent secondary infections in a skin wound (cut, scratch, burn, bite). In addition, products based on it are also used for existing infectious diseases - viral and bacterial.

The active components of the herbaceous plant accelerate the production of leukocyte cells in the body, while enhancing the protective reaction against pathogens. In this case, tea is prepared from lavender and drunk throughout the day.

For hypertension

To reduce blood pressure, use not only lavender oil, but also marjoram and ylang-ylang. Hypertension is accompanied by shortness of breath and increased heart rate during attacks, and lavender oil allows you to quickly cope with such symptoms. In addition to internal administration of plant-based products, it is added to baths - in the form of a decoction or infusion, and used during massage.

If hypertension has developed against the background of menopause, take orally a collection of lemon balm, hops, burdock, mint, sweet clover, and oregano. To prepare a medicinal infusion, take 2 tablespoons of the raw material, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, and leave for 8 hours. Take the finished product 50 milliliters, 3 times a day.

For colds and coughs

Lavender extract helps reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process and the risk of complications, has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. Products based on it enhance the body’s protective function, thereby accelerating recovery.

For medicinal purposes, for colds and coughs, infusions and decoctions are used for oral administration (1 tablespoon of raw material per 200 milliliters of water), as well as for steam inhalation.

To increase appetite

If interest in food has decreased, and also if anorexia develops, aromatherapy will come to the rescue, but only in combination with other therapeutic methods. Using lavender oil alone in this situation will not be effective. In any case, it is necessary to determine the source of the loss of appetite and eliminate it.

If these are psychological reasons, it is recommended to consult a psychotherapist or psychologist. During the main treatment, you can take relaxing baths with the addition of lavender oil or do a massage with it.

Uses of lavender

Not only decoctions and infusions are prepared from the plant for oral administration, but also products for adding to therapeutic baths.

Lavender baths

To add to the baths, you need to take 60 grams of the plant’s flowers, add 5 liters of hot water, and leave for an hour. After cooling, the infusion is filtered and poured into the bath. The time for water procedures is 20-30 minutes. A lavender bath has a calming effect and helps relieve tension, especially for people who experience constant irritation.

For general relaxation, you can prepare the following infusion:

1. Take 3 tablespoons of salt (it is better to take sea salt), baking soda in the same amount and 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
2. Mix the ingredients and add to the water.

Bags of grass tied in the bath (for example, on a tap, heated towel rail) have a relaxing effect. Lavender, chamomile, and rose petals are placed in the bag.

Oil

Essential oil is obtained from lavender flowers. The product has an antiseptic, bactericidal, antidepressant, and analgesic effect. Systematic inhalation of the aroma of lavender oil helps eliminate emotional disorders and restore normal functioning of the nervous system.

Oil is also used in the following cases:

• for hot and cold inhalations;
• for adding to baths;
• during a massage;
• for applying warm compresses to the painful area;
• for adding to creams, tonics, shampoos, rinses;
• for internal use with other components.

In addition, the oil from the plant normalizes heart rhythm and is effective for diseases such as tachycardia and arrhythmia, hypertension. Cosmetologists often use the product to eliminate inflammatory processes on the skin, redness and peeling.

Tea

The classic preparation of tea looks like this: take a few tablespoons of a dried plant (preferably flowers), pour in 250 milliliters of water, put on fire and simmer for 10 minutes after boiling. After cooling, the product is taken orally instead of regular tea.

If local use of tea is required, it is made concentrated by taking 5 tablespoons of raw materials per 250 milliliters of water. The product is used to apply disinfectant compresses to wounds and ulcers.

Infusion

Preparing an infusion is practically no different from a decoction. The only thing is that it is not boiled, but left to sit under the lid for half an hour. Take 1-2 tablespoons of raw material and pour 250 milliliters of hot water.

Syrup

Lavender syrup is used in cooking, adding to creams, baked goods, and drinks. At home, the product can be added to ice cream and pancakes.

Prepare the syrup as follows:

1. Take sugar (2 cups), water (2 cups), 3 tablespoons of plant flowers, 2-3 drops of purple food coloring.
2. Add sugar to the water, put on fire until the latter dissolves (stirring);
3. Pour flowers into water and add dye, let sit for 1-2 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and let the product brew.

The finished product is filtered and poured into a plastic or glass jar for storage.

Contraindications and possible harm

In most cases, lavender has a healing effect, but cases of harm to health cannot be ruled out. When using compresses, ointments, and other local remedies, swelling and hyperemia may occur on the skin. This reaction is caused by the body's hypersensitivity to its constituent components.

Contraindications to the use of lavender-based products include:

• hypersensitivity to components;
• periods of pregnancy and lactation;
• the first 2 weeks after an abortion or other surgical intervention in the gynecological organs;
• increased acidity of gastric juice;
• pathologies of the biliary tract;
• age up to 5 years;
• hypotension.

If the permissible dosage of a plant-based product taken orally is exceeded, a disorder of the digestive function and nervous system can be observed (increased irritability or, conversely, a depressive state).

Preparation and storage

The plant blooms in July-August. At this time, they begin to collect inflorescences for the winter. The latter are plucked together with the branches, forming into bundles that must be tied with thread and hung to dry. After preparing the raw materials, the flowers are separated from the branches and then used for their intended purpose.

The harvested plant must be stored in a room where open sunlight does not penetrate and which is well ventilated.

In any case, before using plant-based products, you should consult a specialist. Although this is a natural raw material, it still has some contraindications for use.