Description

The compounds in Lavender that give the herb its unique scent, also provide the medicinal benefits, Lavender contains terpenes, phytochemical compounds responsible for aroma, like linalool, cineol, and limonene. These compounds, along with flavonoids, alcohols and some 100 other constituents, give Lavender its antiseptic, sedative, anti-nausea, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Lavender is a fragrant, flowering shrub that grows upwards of three to four  feet in height  Its stems are woody, with leaf stalks more malleable – the leaves growing in pairs opposite each other along the stalk. Lavender’s soft-textured, grey-green or silver-green leaves are long and needle-like, becoming a true green when mature. During the summer months, small flowers bloom in spikes at the top of tall stems, rising above the fragrant foliage. Lavender flowers range in colour from a pale, bluish-purple to a deep indigo blue depending on the variety. As fresh it is available during the summer months. as dry through out the year.

All varieties of Lavender fall under the Lavandula genus of flowering plants, in the mint (Lamiaceae) family. There are at least one hundred Lavender varieties and hybrids in existence, the most common variety used for both essential oils and culinary applications is Lavandula angustifolia, or English Lavender.  Most Lavender is propagated from cuttings taken directly from mother plants, ensuring an exact replication of the variety.

The compounds in Lavender that give the herb its unique scent, also provide the medicinal benefits the plant is well known for. Lavender contains terpenes, phytochemical compounds responsible for aroma, like linalool, cineol, and limonene. These compounds, along with flavonoids, alcohols and some 100 other constituents, give Lavender its antiseptic, sedative, anti-nausea, antibacterial, and antifungal properties
Lavender has been known for a long time as being particularly beneficial to disorders involving the nervous system.
Lavender is an aromatic, shrubby, multi-branched herbal plant with a stem reaching a height of about 6 to 24 inches. Purple-coloured flowers typically grow on the woody stems, although there are varieties that have pink and white flowers. Lavender bears very narrow, gray green leaves.
Lavender has been valued as a scented herb throughout the centuries. The fragrance of lavender is known to relax and soothe the mind and the body. Many perfumeries include the essential oil of lavender in formulating their products.
The lavender plant is native to North and East Africa, the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, India and Arabia, but is also now cultivated and grown in such places as the United States and Japan. Lavender grows best at sites that are dry, and are exposed to good sunlight.
The beneficial constituents of lavender include flavonoids, tannins, courmarines, and essential oil containing camphor, geraniol and linalool.
To make lavender tea, simply infuse a handful of dried lavender blossoms in a pot of boiling water. Let the tea steep for about 7 to 10 minutes. Then strain and enjoy.
The following are some health benefits attributed to this herbal tea:
• May help ease insomnia.
• May help calm nervousness and anxiety. It may also be used to alleviate stress and uplift flagging spirits.
• May help treat an upset stomach, as well as flatulence and colic. It may also be used to treat stomach and bowel infections.
• May help alleviate depressive and migraine headaches.
• When applied topically this tea may help alleviate colds, cough, asthma, bronchitis and similar problems in the respiratory system.
• May help induce sweating and consequently reduce the body temperature during fever.
• When applied topically this tea may help heal cuts, wounds, ulcers and sores.
• Also useful as a mouthwash to combat halitosis.