Indre Kisonas
It is purple flowered, heavenly scented, medicinal and easily grown. What is not to love about Lavender?
Lavender, that beautifully scented evergreen plant, native to the Mediterranean, Middle East and India, has leaves and flowers that are used as medicine. The Egyptians employed it in cosmetics, perfumes and rituals, including embalming. Greeks and Romans used it to scent their baths and beds and cleanse and add shine to hair. The aromatics of Lavender soothe stress and anxiety which in turn promotes sleep. Headaches, migraines and, apparently, motion sickness is purported to be soothed when the diluted oil is applied to the temples. Dried sachets of lavender were put under pillows for many of these reasons, including the attraction of a love interest. The oil is used as an antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory and is claimed to soothe and heal insect bites, sunburn, small cuts, burns and inflammatory conditions, even acne. As an air spay (shake a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle) use it in any room, on linen or dog/animal bedding for freshening, deodorising and repelling fleas.
Sip it as a tea or soak with it in your bath for respiratory congestion, mood enhancement and immune support through its antioxidants.
Walking through a field of lavender hedges can be nothing but beneficial as you are wandering through nature, outdoors and surrounded by heavenly aromatics that are assisting your wellbeing – a beautiful recipe to aid any anxiety or depression and promote a positive mood.
Lavender is also used as a deterrent for mosquitos, moths, fleas and ticks, whilst also attracting beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies to the garden. The dried aromatic flowers and leaves have long been used in drawers and cupboards to not only deter moths and silverfish but to add a soothing scent.
It was a conversation with an American native Indian elder that added yet another to my list of beneficial properties of lavender. He suggested that in American folklore, lavender hedges were used as a repellent for deer. I realise we are in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia, but we do have our fair share of introduced pests including rabbits, mice, rats, foxes, (controversially) cats and now deer. For those of you backing onto forest having a problem with deer, let me know if the folklore rings true.
Here in the Goldfields region, we are fortunate to have two lavender businesses that encourage walking through their lavender fields. Lavandula in Shepherds Flat has been reopened with new stewardship and much love from the new owners. Sault in Sailors Falls is a second business that has lovely lavender fields. Eat, walk and be merry, I think.
According to Valerie Ann Worwood in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, “Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) is an indispensable essential oil. It is the mother of all essential oils, incredibly versatile yet powerful.” Lavander has stood the test of time and continues to be an oil in the medicine cabinet for the whole family.
Note that with any essential oils, care should be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. All essential oils should be diluted in a safe carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, before application. Children require further dilution.
Indre Kisonas is a Daylesford resident and the owner and principal designer of iok design. She specialises in colour & interior design.
