Feeling a little down? Stressed-out? Achy and blue? Add a little lavender to your life and see what aromatherapy can do for you.
Historians can’t even begin to date when humans started burning herbs and using scents for rituals and healing. They guess that incense made its way onto the scene somewhere between 7000BC and 4000BC. Our ancestors mixed herbs into fats and used them for all sorts of antiseptic and healing purposes. Trade routes between the Middle East and Babylon were established before 2000BC to transport myrrh and other precious fragrances. These trade paths lasted more than 3000 years.
Herbal incense was burned in temples and homes alike from ancient times and well into the modern era. Medicinal aromas were used to treat plague by Hippocrates himself. Today, we still use scents to change our mood and make us feel better.
Lavender is a sweet, floral, herbal smell with antiseptic properties. It’s a circulatory stimulant and can relieve muscle spasms and cramping. According to Kathi Keville, director of the American Herb Association and editor of the American Herb Association Quarterly newsletter, “lavender is among the safest and most widely used of all aromatherapy oils. It relieves muscle pain, migraines and other headaches, and inflammation.”
She goes on to say that lavender is suitable for all skin types, and appears to prevent scarring and stretch marks. It also, reputedly, slows the development of wrinkles. Lavender is also used to treat indigestion, including colic, and boosts immunity. It’s one of the most effective scents for relaxing brain waves and reducing stress. Strangely, tests indicated that it also reduced computer errors by almost a quarter when used to scent an office. We don’t pretend to be a doctor so if you intend to use lavender for any medicinal purposes, don’t rely on us. Please consult a physician.
In addition to its effect on the brain and body through odor, lavender makes a beautiful and fragrant decoration for you home. Carve a small relaxation spot for yourself in your home using lavender to soothe your eyes, nose, and spirit.
More information on lavender aromatherapy.
More information on the history of aromatherapy.
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