Lavender, also known as Lavandula angustifolia, is one of the most widely used, versatile herbs known today. The benefits have been widely touted as well as the beauty of the plant, both fresh and dried! Living here in Sonoma County I am blessed that it grows naturally as well as in fields harvested for it’s many uses.
The many benefits of Lavender-image courtesy of Gypsy Purple Home
This time of year we not only harvest our grapes for wine and our fruit for market, we also harvest our lavender; much like the scenes you see in photos and in film from areas such as Provence and Tuscany. The scent seems to permeate the air around the fields and in local shops, infusing locals with calm and joy.
Lavender is considered a member of the Labiatae family, which also includes mints and the plant originated in England, France, Tasmania, and Yugoslavia and has many medicinal qualities such as:
- helping to reduce anxiety, tension, stress and insomnia
Lavender infused tea helps relieve stress, tension and insomnia-image via Dating Symbol site
- It’s a natural antiseptic
- soothes skin
- a natural scent
There are so many ways we use it here in Sonoma County, here are just a few:
- Flower arrangements-dried or fresh
- Entertaining Sonoma Style™-table decor from individual nosegays to centerpieces
- In the bathroom-as soaps, bath scrubs, bath oils, tied dried flower sachet in the shower for scent
- In food-particularly ice cream, pane cotta, creme brûlée, chocolate and baked goods of all kinds
Infused into chocolate!-image courtesy of Vintage Rose Garden on tumblr
- Infused drinks-from water to lemonade, tea and vodka
- Potpourri-in the form of wreaths, dried bunches throughout the house, in baskets, vases and simply laid on a windowsill
- Aromatherapy-scented cotton balls placed by light bulbs, essential aromatherapy oils, aromatherapy systems
- Sleep aids-from sachets to eye pillows and neck pillows, plus lavender tea is as effective as chamomile tea
- Scenting laundry-especially bed linens by adding oils to the rinse water or making old fashion lavender wands to keep in your linen closet
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as soaps and creams-image via Cecilia Rosslee’s blog
- As an Antiseptic-for cuts and scrapes etc, diluted with water always
- As a massage oil-provides relief from joint pain as well as relaxes and soothes
- As well as many other health benefits!
Not only do I love lavender as a color in interior design and in fashion, I love it for all it’s many attributes and benefits!
Do you have a recommendation for the use of lavender? Leave me your ideas in the comment section below. In the meantime, check out lavender in it’s many forms in the video below…It is a little bit of beauty™ for sure!
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11 Comments
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love the lavender soaps and sachets –I have lavender bouquets tied with ribbons in the bedrooms to impart that wonderful scent–To me the fragrance is very restful and theraputic to calming the senses!!
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