D'Lavender Suite: Lavender: The healing history..

Lavender - The Healing History....

Lavender is a plant rich in history and myth. With its roots in the ancient herbalists, lavender's properties as a disinfectant and antiseptic were founded. Its healing qualities grew through the centuries, even gaining the reputation of warding off the plague. Lavender's popularity with the English royalty gave it a berth in the ranks of a cosmetic herb, and it was with Queen Victoria that lavender was recognized as a tonic for nerves.

Lavender – Swiss Army Knife…
With its history of healing properties, glorious colors and enchanting perfume, lavender has remained the "Swiss Army Knife" of herbs. Lavender has stepped out of its attachment to old fashion and has found a modern status in aromatherapy. With scientific research verifying its ancient uses, lavender is an essential component of any household first aid box. The essential oil is used on insect bites, burns, and blemishes.

Lavender – Buena Vista…

There are 115 varieties of Lavender. Buena Vista lavender is one of them. It is a variety appreciated for its brilliant purple color and sweet aroma. Dry summers and moist winters, provide the ideal climate for the plants to flourish. Lavender is a drought tolerant perennial that takes 12 to 18 months to propagate from start to a 4-inch pot for planting. Lavender responds well to lime fertilization in the fall and occasional irrigation when necessary. Irrigating throughout the growing season could yield a second bloom on plants and corn gluten is being used for weed control.

Blooming Lavander…
When the buds begin to bloom, the lavender is best harvested by hand with the use of bull hooks (machete type knives) and hand scythes. It takes about eight cuts to complete harvest on one plant. Once cut, the stems should be laid across the plant for a few hours to air dry, before then bundled with rubber bands and dried in the hayloft. It air dries and will stays beautiful for up to a year if not exposed in a direct sunlight.

Growing Lavender…

Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant, making it easy to grow and maintain for gardeners of all levels. Home growers only need to pick a spot to plant lavender where it won’t receive too much moisture such as near other plants that don’t require much water or near the edge of a garden. Soil that drains well is recommended, however the plant is hearty and can withstand some of the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. Plant lavender in the spring or fall and water regularly (but don’t over water) throughout the first growing season. This shall help prevent the young plants from getting stressed and establishes root systems in the soil.

The Prime Cut…
Lavender should be pruned at least once a year. To dry the flowers for later use, cut stems just above the woody part of the plant when the first few flowers on the spikes begin to bloom. Then, tie the stems together and dry upside down in a dark, arid location (coat closet would be fine). If enjoying the flowers in the garden is preferred, cut back the plant after the blooms have died. In either case, the plant should then be pruned into the shape of a mound, without cutting into the woody parts. Spanish lavender is an exception; it tends to grow more like a shrub, but can be shaped appropriately with extra effort. It is possible to get a second bloom from the plants if they are nurtured in a region with an extended growing season.

Lavender Lore

In ancient times, lavender was a symbol of distrust because it was believed that snakes made their nests near lavender plants. Thus, the plant could not be trusted as safe for use. Ironically, this drove up the price of lavender because those who harvested the plants were deemed risk-takers to brave the snakes. Lavender is also considered the “good witches herb”, known to avert the “evil eye”. Consequently, it is believed that the plant provides protection; evil spirits disperse at the scent of the purple flower. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region, but is most noted for being grown in Provence. Additionally, it is grown in England, Australia, New Zealand and more recently the United States. Historically, lavender was used for its natural antiseptic properties to heal wounds and help prevent infection. We use the essential oil to keep bee stings from itching and the swelling down. Lavender is also a natural moth repellant.

Healing Lavender….
Most commonly known for its calming effects, lavender is used in many aspects of aromatherapy. Some say it relieves headaches and anxiety, by either rubbing a bit of essential oil on the temples or resting on a lavender pillow. And, many use lavender as a sleep aid, inserting a small lavender sachet into their pillow or leaving one on the nightstand to squeeze before bedtime. There are many practical uses for the plant such as Lavender soap, a delicious lavender honey, sachets, aromatic bath tea, exfoliating salt scrub, live lavender plants, and also a bright purple bundles.

Feeling stressed? Wont you like to place yourself in provence. After a busy day, drape our flax seed and lavender-filled wraps, all cotton, across your shoulders. Experience the release of tension that only the scent of calming lavender can bring. Heat in the microwave for 3 minutes... then relax.

Wouldn’t you love to fall asleep in a field of lavender? A mist of a delicately-scented linen spray will take you there. Lavender calms nerves when it is misted on your linens at bedtime each evening. By trying it on freshly washed bathrobes and pajamas, too. spa-la-la, anyone?

Rough and chapped hands? Lavender is nature’s soothing. Usually most of our hand balm contains cocoa butter, shea butter and the finest oils for dry skin with beeswax and lavender essential oils to give it a subtle scent that will ease your mind. Apply it as the last thing at night for the feeling of a day spent in a lavender garden.

100% of our finest lavender flowers create an experience for the senses. Fill the enclosed tea ball with lavender and place under running water. The experience is like bathing in lavender awash with dew.

Transform your shower into a luxury spa with luscious, all natural body polish. Fine sea salts and raw sugar combined with honey and maple syrup are scented with the finest lavender oil, and our body scrub invigorates and smoothes skin while it calms the mind.

Lavender body lotion and bath gel transport you to the tranquil beauty of lavender fields. Soothing body and soul, the luxurious of natural lavender products will then able to nourish your skin with the finest use of essential oils. Sweet-scented lavender does calms your frayed nerves and clears your mind.

Personality Traits

Lavender's aroma imprint is camphoric sweet and rich ~ with an herbaceous, floral heart and a soft balsamic-wood undertone. Its odor at evaporation is generally a low, middle note. Its effect is calming, refreshing, uplifting, expansive, soothing, purifying.

It is antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, antiviral, anticoagulant, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, deodorant, decongestant, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue,hypotensive, insecticidal, nervine, parasiticidal, rubefacient, restorative, sedative, sudorfic, tonic, vermifugal, and vulnerary. Emotionally, lavender helps support a calm composure and self-expression. It reduces irritability, insomnia, nightmares, apprehension, panic attacks combined with uncontrollable shaking, stress, nervous tension, hysteria and is generally balancing to the psyche, as well as the body.

Internal Possibilities
Research is proving that lavender is beneficial with regard to support for hyperglycemia, hypertension, indigestion, arteriosclerosis, digestive complaints, kidney stones, fragile capillaries, anemia, and heartburn. It is non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing.

The Power of Lavender
Historical anecdotes tells that the lavender field workers and perfumers of the Middle Ages

survived the Black Death and other plagues because lavender protected them from the lethal bacteria. Its the power of lavender to stimulate and supplement in the body's healing forces is unmatched by modern pharmaceuticals. And amidst the aromatic plants, there seems to be no other plant essence equaling its broad properties. It can kill pathogens in the air and in nasal sinuses and respiratory airways. It stimulates the immune system, yet it's also analgesic, soothing muscle aches, taking the pain out of insect bites and much more. Not only does lavender have hydrating, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties, lavender is also a nerve tonic and an antidepressant, boosting one's spirits as well as helping to beat "the blues" that accompany immune stress and illness. In addition, modern studies of burn patients have confirmed that oil of lavender eases pain, enhances healing and prevents scar tissue from forming. All of this is done non-toxically