What is Lavender Essential Oil?

Lavender essential oil is made up of aroma compounds from the flowering lavender plant. Lavender is a purple, flowering plant with long, pointed leaves, though the essential oil is not purple. The plant is best raised in a dry soil with an abundance of sun. Bottled for a plethora of uses, lavender essential oil is one of the most common volatile, ethereal oils.

Lavender essential oil is used in many ways, including for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. In many such cases, the essential oil blends are either applied topically or ingested. Oil of lavender also has purely aromatic and herbal uses. It may be purchased in bulk or in tiny bottles, online and in a variety of specialty stores.

Like other common essential oils such as eucalyptus, mint, and sage, lavender essential oil is often distilled. During this process, the raw material is heated in a contraption above water. The resulting vapors condense into a liquid, which is formulated and sold as essential oil. The distilling process is best left to professionals, as the process can be difficult for a novice to regulate. Additionally, lavender essential oil is occasionally somewhat flammable.

Oils of lavender are common ingredients of aromatherapy supplies. Aromatherapy is known as an alternative medicine used to alter a person’s mood, brain function, or overall health. Though scientific evidence is pending on the effects of lavender essential oils and other oils, this type of therapy is commonly known to be quite beneficial. When lavender essential oil is used during aromatherapy, the scent is known to have a relaxing effect on the patient.

During aromatherapy, the scent of lavender may be environmentally diffused, topically applied, or breathed in directly by the patient. It is often used with massages and other forms of skin care, such as spa treatments or facials. This oil may be added to massage lotion or gel and applied all over the body. It may also be used in baths.

When added to a vaporizer or spritzed into the circulating air, lavender essential oil is thought to be useful as an expectorant. It also has an overall calming effect on the nervous system, is thought to curb anxiety, and can decrease stress to a certain extent.

Essential oil is often associated with alternative medicine. As with any medical regime, consulting a physician before continued use of the oil of lavender may be recommended. Some people use lavender essential oil as a topical medication to treat slight bites, burns, stings, and aches. Using lavender essential oil is not suggested for women who are pregnant or breastfeed, and people with sensitive skin.