Lavender is a versatile flowering plant that is widely known for its soothing fragrance and vibrant purple flowers. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, lavender has been used for centuries for its magical properties. These properties make it a popular ingredient in various rituals, spells, and magic practices. One of the magical uses of lavender is for purification and cleansing purposes. It is believed that burning dried lavender bundles or using lavender essential oil as incense can cleanse a space or an object from negative energy. Lavender's calming aroma is also thought to promote relaxation and peacefulness, making it a popular choice for meditation and spiritual practices.
Kim JT, Wajda M, Cuff G, et al., Evaluation of aromatherapy in treating postoperative pain: pilot study. Pain Pract. 2006;6(4):273-7.
These drugs include narcotics such as morphine or oxycodone OxyContin for pain, and sedative and anti-anxiety agents such as lorazepam Ativan , diazepam Valium , and alprazolam Xanax. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that lavender and tea oils in some shampoos, soaps, and lotions may cause gynecomastia, breast development in boys.
Lavender's calming aroma is also thought to promote relaxation and peacefulness, making it a popular choice for meditation and spiritual practices. In addition to its cleansing properties, lavender is also associated with love and romance. It is often used to attract love and enhance romantic relationships.
What are the health benefits and risks of lavender?
Lavender is an herb native to northern Africa and the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. Medicinal uses may include helping with mood, anxiety, and depression.
Lavender is also grown for the production of its essential oil, which comes from the distillation of the flower spikes of certain lavender species.
The oil has cosmetic uses, and it is believed to have some medicinal uses.
Lavender essential oil, in contrast to the plant form, is toxic when swallowed.
Fast facts on lavender
- Lavender is grown in northern Africa and the Mediterranean mountains, often for extraction of its essential oils.
- The medicinal benefits of using lavender to treat anxiety, fungal infections, hair loss, and wounds have been demonstrated.
- Evidence does not yet support the use of lavender to treat depression, high blood pressure, nausea, menstrual pain, or eczema, among other conditions.
- Lavender is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should not be taken in place of approved and prescribed medicines.
Share on Pinterest Lavender can be distilled into an essential oil, and has a range of medical applications.
The herb is highly regarded for skin and beauty and is commonly used in fragrances and shampoos to help purify the skin. It can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) from drugstores, and some versions are used to add flavor to baked goods and foods.
There are also many medicinal properties associated with lavender.
Lavender oil is believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to heal minor burns and bug bites.
Research suggests that it may be useful for treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness.
Some studies suggest that consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling.
In addition to helping with digestive problems, lavender is used to help relieve pain from headaches, sprains, toothaches, and sores. It can also be used to prevent hair loss.
Fungal infections
A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that lavender oil could be effective in combating antifungal-resistant infections.
The researchers found that the oil was lethal to a range of strains that can cause disease in the skin.
In the study, the essential oils distilled from the Lavandula genus of the lavender plant seemed to work by destroying the membranes of fungal cells.
The study showed that Lavandula oil is potent and demonstrates antifungal activity on a wide spectrum.
Wound healing
A study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine compared the effects of several treatments for wound healing.
The researchers compared the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), saline solution, povidone-iodine, and lavender oil. These were applied to laboratory rats.
The study authors noted that wounds closed faster in the TENS and lavender oil groups than the control groups. These findings suggest that lavender has an acceleratory effect on wound healing.
Hair loss
Lavender is possibly effective for treating alopecia areata. This is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body.
Research from 1998 shows that lavender can promote hair growth by up to 44 percent after 7 months of treatment.
In a more recent study , researchers found that applying lavender oil to the backs of mice helped to promote hair growth over the course of 4 weeks.
Anxiety disorder and related conditions
Share on Pinterest Lavender scents have been shown to reduce anxiety before a dental appointment.A review article in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice evaluates how effective Silexan might be for patients with different anxiety disorders. Silexan is a lavender-oil preparation available in 80-milligram (mg) gelatine capsules.
The team found that Silexan had an anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing, effect on patients with generalized or subsyndromal anxiety within 2 weeks.
Researchers have also found that lavender scent may help anxious dental patients.
The investigators measured the dental anxiety levels of 340 adult patients during their wait at the dentist’s waiting room for their appointment.
Half the patients were exposed to lavender scent, while the other half were not.
The team found that those exposed to lavender scent reported lower levels of anxiety compared to the other patients. The calming effect of lavender was present regardless of the type of scheduled dental appointment.
Kritsidima, who conducted the study, concluded:
“ Our findings suggest that lavender could certainly be used as an effective ‘on-the-spot’ anxiety reduction in dentists’ waiting rooms.”
Dr. M. Kritsidima, study author
Lavender does not seem to impact anxiety about future dental visits. However, it has been shown to provide a sense of calm while attending a treatment.
Post-tonsillectomy pain in children
Lavender oil has been shown to reduce the amount of painkilling medicine required after a tonsillectomy.
A team of researchers at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, carried out a study to determine whether aromatherapy with Lavandula angustifolia essential oil might reduce symptoms of pain in children after the removal of the tonsils.
The study included 48 children aged 6 to 12 years. They were randomly separated into two groups of 24 participants. One group took painkillers alongside lavender, and the other took only painkillers.
The frequency of each child’s acetaminophen use and nocturnal awakening due to pain was monitored for 3 days after surgery. Pain intensity was also measured. Acetaminophen is also known as Tylenol or paracetamol, and the group using lavender oil was shown to use acetaminophens less frequently.
However, there was no significant difference in how often they woke up at night or their perceptions of pain intensity.
Due to the small sample size, more research is required to fully confirm lavender oil as an effective painkiller.
Premenstrual emotional symptoms
Researchers have also studied whether lavender might help to alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms.
Many women of reproductive age experience a range of symptoms in the premenstrual phase, commonly known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Even though PMS is common, no single treatment is universally recognized as effective. As a result, many women turn to alternative therapies, such as aromatherapy.
This crossover study involved 17 women, aged on average 20.6 years, with mild-to-moderate premenstrual symptoms. The participants spent one menstrual cycle with no lavender aromatherapy treatment, and another undergoing lavender aromatherapy.
The study concluded that lavender aromatherapy could alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms.
What does lavender not treat?
There is insufficient evidence to rate lavender’s effectiveness for treating:
- depression
- colic in infants
- constipation
- nausea and vomiting
- migraines
- otitis, or ear infection
- high blood pressure
- menstrual pain
- eczema
- cancer-related pain
- dementia
- lice
One study found that lavender fragrance could have a beneficial effect on insomnia and depression in female college students. However, the authors highlighted that “repeated studies are needed to confirm effective proportions of lavender oil and carrier oil for insomnia and depression.”
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved lavender for medicinal use. It is sold as a supplement only and should not replace any prescribed course of treatment.
If you choose to use this essential oil, the FDA does not monitor these products. There may be concerns about purity, safety, or quality. Only purchase essential oils from reputable companies.
Some people use lavender in love spells or charms to attract a specific person or to promote emotional healing after a breakup. Lavender is also believed to have protective properties. Hanging dried lavender bundles or placing lavender sachets near doorways and windows is thought to ward off negative energies, evil spirits, and even illness. Some people also sprinkle lavender oil or dried lavender petals in their homes to create a protective barrier against negative influences. Furthermore, lavender can be used in healing and wellness rituals. It is believed to have soothing and calming effects on the body and mind. Lavender essential oil is often used in aromatherapy to relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Some people also incorporate lavender in their bath rituals to promote relaxation and release negative emotions. Overall, lavender possesses various magical properties that make it a versatile ingredient in different forms of magic and spirituality. Whether used for purification, love, protection, or healing, lavender's soothing fragrance and vibrant energy make it a beloved herb in the world of magic..
Reviews for "Unleashing the Magic of Lavender: Exploring its Powerful Properties"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Magical Properties of Lavender" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The author seemed to focus more on describing the various shades and scents of lavender rather than exploring its supposed magical properties. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any real insight into the subject matter. Additionally, I was disappointed by the lack of scientific evidence or historical context to support the magical claims made by the author. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an informative or engaging read.
2. Daniel - ★★☆☆☆
"Magical Properties of Lavender" was not what I expected at all. I was hoping for a comprehensive exploration of lavender's alleged magical properties, but instead, the book was filled with anecdotes and personal opinions. There was little substance to the information provided, and it felt more like a collection of random thoughts rather than a coherent book. Moreover, the writing style was rather amateurish, which made it difficult to follow and enjoy. I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied after reading this book.