You can even draw the perfect calming herbal bath using a few drops of lavender to soak your stresses away. Take 10 drops of lavender oil in your palms and run them through the hair strands. The effects were immediate and lasting: Researchers found that those in the experimental group reported significantly less severity of migraine attacks for the next two hours. For most purposes, a person can massage the mixture of oils into the skin using fingers or cotton pads. For tips on how to use lavender oil around the house as a cleaner or an insect repellent, keep reading! Expert Interview. Used topically over the pox pure lavender oil can help soothe itchy skin and promote faster recovery from this viral infection. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Including a drop or two of lavender oil into your favorite lotion or face cream will give your skin a boost of antioxidant power before bed (and will add a touch of soothing aromatherapy to your nighttime routine). Try parting your hair and applying the lavender oil to the affected areas with a dropper so it doesn’t end up in your hair instead of on your scalp. The oil is extracted by a steam distillation process, in which the flowers are steamed, the steam is captured, and the oil is separated and collected from the water. Just make sure you check the label to verify your essential oil was made from true lavender, or Lavandula angustifolia, and dilute the oil in a carrier oil before use. A review of the most popular essential oils and their functions in dermatology cited lavender oil's ability to calm irritated skin when used topically. Option 2: Fill a spray bottle with water. Smell fresh using the floral fragrance of lavender oil. You can either dilute the lavender oil ahead of time and store it, or you can dilute a little each time you need it. How to Use Lavender Oil Take 4-5 drops of lavender oil and mix it with coconut oil (carrier oil) and apply it to your skin after washing our face. The oil can also help reduce the temptation to scratch the bug bite, helping to avoid potentially dangerous and painful infections. Add a few drops (2-4) to a general unscented body lotion and rub into your feet before going to bed. Lavender essential oil has been used for centuries now, and it is popular for its versatility. Mastitis- Dilute 4 drops of oil in 1 tsp of carrier oil and massage gently into breast tissue. Try a whiff of lavender. Diana Yerkes. Lavender oil will also add a flavorful twist to marinades, baked goods, and desserts. In fact, it was shown to fend off candida (the culprit behind yeast infections) in one lab study. Clinical trials in humans are needed, so the jury is still out on this one, but perhaps this is the inspiration you need to add a couple of drops of lavender to your DIY hair mask. Always wash the hands before applying a mixture containing lavender oil to … 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Skincare Professional. Use a Lavender Oil Roll On to melt your worries away. It acts as a toner by mixing 2 drops of lavender oil with one teaspoon of witch hazel soaked cotton ball in the blend and gently rub it over the face. This magical oil can even counteract the effects of nausea and prevent you from throwing up. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Take a look at this recipe for a Blueberry Milkshake with Lavender oil, and see just how delicious Lavender essential oil can be. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. bottle add 5 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Make Lavender Hair Growth Oil Because the lavender oil is an essential oil, don’t apply neat. If you're using a diffuser, read the instructions to determine whether or not you need to dilute the lavender oil. You can also apply diluted lavender oil to your skin to act as an insect repellent when you go outside. 4 Crucial Lessons I Learned While Recovering From COVID-19, Anxiety & Depression Impact Decision Making: A New Study Explores How, The Doctor's Guide To Falling Asleep Naturally, This Simple Trick Might Just Make Your Affirmations More Powerful, These 11 Rich Hair Masks Will Coax Your Dry, Dull Strands Back To Life, Need A Last-Minute Dessert? Reapply every few hours to refresh and enjoy the relaxing aroma. Applying pure essential oil to your skin can potentially cause severe irritation. 1. It is used to cleanse cuts, heal bruises, and soothe skin irritations. For tips on how to use lavender oil around the house as a cleaner or an insect repellent, keep reading! There are lots of ways that you can use Lavender Oil, however, one of the best ways to apply your Lavender Oil is to place it where you can smell it, such as on your temple or forehead. Lavender oil is very versatile and there are many ways you can use it on your hair. Lavender oil, also known by its scientific name Lavandula angustifolia, is a type of essential oil derived from—you guessed it—the lavender flower. Try using it on warm towels to create a relaxing atmosphere and calm your senses instead. % of people told us that this article helped them. You can apply the diluted lavender oil to your skin, your pillow, or your bed sheets. Pounding head? That being said, the work that has been done to put lavender oil to the test has generated some pretty impressive health benefits. Tie your hair up in a bun. Add lavender essential oil to your diffuser before going to sleep. It can also help heal wounds, cuts, burns, insect bites and itchy skin. Become A Functional Nutrition Coach! This mixture can be used as a room freshener, on your bedding, or anywhere you want to have the scent of lavender. Though lavender oil is safe for most individuals, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with a doctor. If it's improving anxiety or getting a sound night's sleep that you're after, putting your oil … Respiratory Disorders In this list of tips on how to use lavender oil for health, you should … 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil Do not topically apply lavender oil, or any essential oil for that matter, to your vagina since the pure form is too strong and can burn. Diana Yerkes is the Lead Esthetician at Rescue Spa in New York City, New York. Wait for 30 minutes before washing it off your hair with a good shampoo. Wendie Trubow is a functional medicine gynecologist with almost 10 years of training in the field. Lavender oil can also help ease insomnia due to stress. Ingredients. Lavender can help cut the sharpness of citrus, so try adding a little to a lemon pie. You can tell an oil is high-quality if it lists both the common and scientific name of the active oil(s) and any carrier oils, has the word "therapeutic" on the label, and comes in a dark glass bottle that keeps light from entering—which can mess with the oil's efficacy. Rub a Little on Your Skin Rubbing a few drops of lavender onto your skin is an incredibly popular way to use this oil. If your skin is dry and itchy, try taking a bath with dried lavender and oatmeal. Lavender oil is used for treating various skin problems like acne, eczema and wrinkles. Add 12 drops of lavender oil to 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of a carrier oil, such as argan or coconut oil, to dilute it. The smell of lavender oil is rich, floral, herbaceous, sweet, and yet mildly woodsy, given that the product is of high-quality. Soak for 15 minutes and you will feel that all your anxiety and depression has vanished away. Whenever you're purchasing an essential oil, it's important to look out for certain things on the bottle. The color of lavender oil is usually colorless. Use Lavender Oil As A Serum: The beautiful aroma of lavender oil will add a calming effect, make your hair shiny, and prevent the need for perfume. I prefer it as an aromatherapy treatment versus something you use on your skin. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. The mixture can be used just as you would a lotion or moisturizer, once or twice daily. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,511 times. Be on the lookout for a welcome email in your inbox! The oil should be sold in a dark-colored glass bottle to help protect it from breaking down. It even has beneficial effects for those who suffer from insomnia—a study found that inhaling lavender oil twice a week for 20 minutes at a time soothed the nervous system and improved sleep quality scores for women with insomnia when compared to a lavender-oil-free control group. While the research is still preliminary, one animal study showed that applying lavender oil once a day for four weeks to the backs of mice stimulated hair growth on all facets: from follicle number to depth to thickness. Overview Information Lavender is an herb. Lavender oil is lauded for both its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it a quality contender to include in your clean skin care routine. The ancient Romans and Egyptians often used Lavender essential oil aromatically for relaxation purposes, and you can too. This article was co-authored by Diana Yerkes. Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils because of its many therapeutic properties. Before you use lavender oil, dilute it in olive oil, coconut oil, or lotion, since pure lavender oil can irritate your skin. She received her esthetics education from the Aveda Institute and the International Dermal Institute. Use Lavender essential oil in the bath water Enjoy a relaxing bath by mixing 15 to 20 drops of lavender essential oil in your warm bath water. These types of studies help inform researchers about the properties and potential uses of substances, but more research is needed to understand how lavender oil can be used on fungal infections in the future. Lavender Oil is also extremely natural on the skin, and will not cause irritation. 16 April 2019. Researchers chalked this phenomenon up to improving the quantity of EGF, or epidermal growth factor, in the skin, which is necessary for regenerating tissue. It's wise not to go too heavy-handed with the oil—since it's highly concentrated, two or three drops are most likely all you need. Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. This article has been viewed 21,511 times. So, How to use Lavender Oil to improve sleep quality? Just as lavender oil can soothe the mind, it can also do wonders for calming the body. They're each a different form of fungal infection, which occurs when annoying fungi develop in or on damp parts of the body. She has... https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7769/13-uses-for-lavender-oil-the-only-essential-oil-youll-need.html, In order to save this article, you will need to. References The wrists, scalp, and even bottoms of the feet are common places to use lavender. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender oil. Just use a dab or drop on the wrists or behind the ears. Lavender oil has both antibacterial and antifungal properties, which could help clear these up. There is conflicting data on the use of lavender for patients with asthma; therefore, it should probably be avoided until more research is done. For hair health, you can massage a couple of drops of lavender oil into your scalp as a calming end to the day, or add two or three drops to each dollop of shampoo or conditioner you use. [1] X Expert Source Diana Yerkes Skincare Professional Expert Interview. That divine smell is lavender’s most defining characteristic, alongside it’s romantic purple shade. By using our site, you agree to our. Here's what you need to know about how one of the most popular essential oils, lavender oil, can promote well-being: Any way you spin it, the foundation of a healthy lifestyle starts and ends with sleep. I have one that I keep at my desk in my home office. 5 Productivity hacks you NEED for working from home. Moreover, there is a research that claims that lavender oil helps your brain in putting together memory blocks. Enroll today to join our upcoming live office hours. If you don’t want the whole bottle of lotion to smell like lavender, dispense a little lotion into your hands, add 1 drop of lavender oil, and rub your hands together to mix it thoroughly. To diffuse your essential oil, you can purchase a commercial diffuser, or you can place a few drops of the oil onto a tissue and place it near you during your massage. In particular, not-so-fun skin flare-ups like eczema and psoriasis have responded well to the anti-inflammatory properties of lavender oil. Massage diluted lavender oil onto your scalp. For six weeks, one group of participants took the anxiety-reducing medication Lorazepam while another group took an oral dosage of lavender oil. Chicken Pox! Last Updated: October 8, 2020 Antioxidants are known to fight off the free radicals that can send your skin into a tizzy by impairing mitochondrial function and speeding up the process of aging. The catch: Once again, the study was conducted on animal subjects, so more rigorous clinical trials are needed before we start hailing lavender oil as the next Neosporin. Essential oil diffusion consists of using a small device to disperse particles of oil into the air, allowing for easy inhalation. Lavender is also used on pressure points, such as behind the ears and around the navel, to ease nausea. It gets used at least once a day for a variety of reasons. It soothes angry skin and can help with bug bites. You just need some oatmeal, dried lavender, and a muslin bag. Just put 2-3 drops into your palms, hold your palms to your face, and inhale. https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/dilutingessentialoils.asp, http://www.naturallivingideas.com/carrier-oils/, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265922.php, https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-lavender-essential-oil.html/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27863613, http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/oil-diffusers-asthma, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319775.php, https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-articles/10-essential-oils-for-nausea-and-how-to-use-them/, http://lemonlimeadventures.com/calming-lavender-sugar-scrub-essential-oils/, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20587573,00.html, https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5645596/, https://gardentherapy.ca/lavender-linen-water/, https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/how-to/article/cooking-with-lavender, https://www.prevention.com/beauty/natural-beauty/7-signs-your-essential-oils-are-fake/slide/8, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Your article and new folder have been saved! Rub into the palms of your hands and inhale. Place a few drops on a tissue and inhale. Essential oils and aromatherapy have gained quite the reputation for being a go-to in holistic health. However, it can also range from mild yellow-green to pale yellow. The soothing powers of lavender oil don't stop there. What do yeast infections, athlete's foot, and ringworm all have in common? Diana Yerkes is the Lead Esthetician at Rescue Spa in New York City, New York. She received her esthetics education from the Aveda Institute and the International Dermal Institute. Popular carrier oils include coconut, olive, sweet almond, argan, and avocado oils. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. She received her M.D. When it comes to your skin, dilution is important: The oil can be applied topically to help with irritated or inflamed skin but only if it has been diluted in a "carrier oil" or neutral, minimally processed oil such as coconut, argan, or olive. 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Pro tip: for use in the tub, add the oil (1 oz.) If you experience nausea, vomiting, or a headache after using lavender, discontinue use immediately. Essential oils are the liquid extracts of plants, which can be used to help with everything from stress to sleep, hormone health to home cleaning, and beyond. From your head to your toes, lavender oil can help you de-stress, decompress, and develop your healthiest routines yet. Minor wounds, that is. If you are looking for the most popular used lavender oil product with the best quality on the market, NOW Foods Lavender Oil is the best one you are looking for. Be sure to check the expiration date, too! To dilute the lavender oil, add 12 drops of oil to 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) of a carrier oil like argan, coconut, or olive oil. Want your passion for wellness to change the world? Approved. Use your lavender oil as a daily facial moisturizer (only a few drops needed), as a massage or body oil, as part of your oil cleansing method, an ingredient in other homemade skincare recipes such … One animal study found that when applied topically, lavender oil closed up wounds more quickly than other solutions, such as saline and iodine over the course of a five-day period. It slows down your heartbeat and relaxes your muscles. To use lavender oil for acne, dilute it in coconut oil or another carrier oil and apply it to your skin after washing your face. 16 April 2019. Whether you’re already familiar with essential oils or you’re just getting started, lavender oil is one of the most useful oils you can have in your kit. When you add lavender hair oil to it, not only does it do all of this but it also calms the itchy scalp and the lovely aroma really helps you relax. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you like, you can add 3 drops of purple food coloring, but this is optional. So when you’re thinking about how to use lavender oil on hair, this is actually a great method to try. You can dilute lavender essential oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil. It can even be used as a natural alternative for healing pesky bug bites—when mixed with a little baking soda and applied to the bites, you'll hardly even notice they're there. Enroll today to join our upcoming live office hours. At the end of the trial period, both groups reported an almost identical decrease in anxiety—45% and 46%, respectively. While the pretty purple plant itself is a sight to see, its versatile essential oil is where the healing powers are at. If you find yourself sick with a cold or flu, you can even try dabbing the diluted oil on your chest to help you breathe more easily. from Tufts University. Use 1-3 drops Lavender oil and inhale immediately as required. It's a relatively affordable essential oil because of the way the lavender plant is extracted, so a low price isn't necessarily a red flag. Dilute pure lavender oil in your choice of carrier. Elizabeth Gerson is a former mindbodygreen intern and a student at Stanford University studying Psychology and Communication with a specialization in Health & Development. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This article has been viewed 21,511 times. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The consistency of lavender oil is thin and watery. Then, use the diluted oil to relieve stress. 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