From EcoReality

Learning about lavender –- a “clean” crop!

The history of use of lavender dates to Roman times, when it was used in the famous roman baths. The name Lavandula is derived from the latin lavare, to wash. Romans also scented their clothing with lavender -– it was the disinfectant of choice in the middle ages! It would seem that Romans were interested in cleanliness, and thus cultivated lavenders, making it the first “clean” crop!

Essential oils distilled from members of the genus Lavandula have been used both cosmetically and therapeutically for centuries. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, P. Miller) is used in aromatherapy as a sedative/relaxant or to treat anxiety, and this usage is supported by scientific evidence². Other traditional uses of lavender species (including English, French, and hybrid types) include: antibacterial, antifungal, carminative, antiflatulence and anticolic. It is administered in the following methods to treat insomnia, nervous tension or anxiety, digestive malaise & bloating: essential oil (1-4 drops in water), infusion of 0.8-1.5g dried flowers per 150 mL boiling water, inhalation (2 drops in boiling water diffuser). Its sedative nature, on inhalation, has been shown in both animals and humans¹.

Why is it useful as an antiflatulence and anticolic herbal? Perhaps because lavender has been shown to have a spasmolytic activity (ie. it stops the nervous system from triggering smooth muscle spasms) in vitro in guinea pig and rat smooth muscle systems, and it also decreases the tone in the skeletal muscle preparation of the phrenic nerve-diaphragm of rats. The mechanism of action was postsynaptic and not atropine-like - most likely mediated through cAMP, and not through cGMP. One of the major components of lavender essential oil, linalool, showed mode of action that was similar to the action of the whole oil. The mode of action of lavender oil resembled that of geranium and peppermint oils¹. Many massage therapists rely heavily on lavender essential oils as adjuvants to massage oils used as lubricants: the calming effects of this herb are effective treatment of psychological and nervous system tension, as well as muscular tensions.

While often inconclusive and controversial, there does seem to be both scientific and clinical data that support the traditional uses of lavender. However, methodological and oil identification problems have severely hampered the evaluation of the therapeutic significance of much of the research on Lavandula spp. These issues need to be resolved before we have a true picture of the biological activities of lavender essential oil². Variations in essential oil from lavender seems to be related to genetic composition of the plants, as well as distillation processing¹.

Do you or someone you know suffer from insomnia? How about anxiety from the stress of modern times? Do you ever experience digestive troubles in the form of bloating or discomfort! Learn about lavender’s magical properties to help these and other symptoms, as well as external uses as a disinfectant. Perhaps a few days in EcoReality’s lavender patch would do you good this season! You are welcome to contact us to arrange to volunteer in the lavender harvest, or just drop by for a visit.

References

1: Studies on the mode of action of the essential oil of Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia P. Miller M. Lis-Balchin, S. Harh. 1999. Phytotherapy Res.Volume 13, Issue 6, Pages 540 – 542.

2: Biological activities of Lavender essential oil. H. M. A. Cavanagh, J. M. Wilkinson.2002. Phytotherapy Res. Volume 16, Issue 4, Pages 301 – 308.

--Shannon, Ecology steward