Lavender Plant: Care, Contraindications And Medicinal Uses

The lavender plant and its origin

Lavender or lavender is one of the most used medicinal plants in the world and this has been the case since the time of the Roman Empire, its wide use is due to the large number of benefits that it can provide . Lavender is an easily recognizable shrub for its beautiful violet and bluish flowers , which grow in spikes and expel a mild and very characteristic aroma.

It spreads from the entire Mediterranean basin , and spreads from North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. It is also considered to come from South Asia and from there it was deployed to India.

Currently there are many other species and hybrids which grow in different countries around the world, which are responsible for their cultivation and distillation to obtain certain oils and essences.

There are a large number of theories that dispute the origin of the name of lavender . It is believed that this comes from the French lavandre, there are others who assure that it comes from the Latin lavare, this means to wash. While others claim that it comes from the Latin livere which means bluish.

Scientific name of lavender

Lavandula is the scientific name by which lavender is known. It is a genus of plants in a family called Lamiaceae, in which there are about 60 species. It is also known as lavender, lavender, lavender, lavender and many other names that are usually very common in certain countries.

Despite having a large number of lavender species , the results remain practically the same, for that reason any type of lavender that is chosen will be the best to obtain good results in the body.

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Lavender plant characteristics

Lavender can grow up to a meter in height , its stems are square with a bit of hair. Its leaves usually measure 2-6 cm by 2-5 mm. They are a little sharp and green, their flowers on the contrary have a hairy calyx of about 5mm which has about 13 furrowed nerves.

The corolla of this plant measures about 12 mm from which 3 lobes are detached that are much smaller, which are usually purple or blue, which is what characterizes them in the distance.

How is the lavender plant grown?

To cultivate the wash , a large number of factors are needed . All this so that it can be cultivated in a way that it can grow normally. These are the steps to follow:

  1. You should choose a bright place where it can receive at least 8 hours of sun. In the same way, it must be protected from any winter wind that does not arrive.
  2. The land is checked for proper drainage. The plant should not have a lot of humidity as this can affect its growth. It is best to mix the soil with some construction area.
  3. The pH level in the soil should be checked, the ideal for lavender is between 6.7 and 7.3.
  4. The best types of lavender that you can buy to grow are Munstead and Hidcote since these are the most resistant.
  5. A hole is dug where the roots can fit.
  6. Add a little cando rolled about 3 centimeters, with a little limestone and mature manure. It mixes well and is covered with a thin layer of soil.
  7. The lavender is first watered in the pot before planting it, this should be done at least one hour before.
  8. Before planting it, it must be pruned a little, in this way the air will circulate correctly through the stems.
  9. The roots are planted bare so that in this way they can grow fast, and adapt to the new environment.
  10. The plant is placed in the designated place and closed with a layer of soil on top.

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Composition of lavender

One of the main components of lavender is an essential oil , which is rich in terpenic alcohols, including geraniol and linalool, which help to have a property with a relaxing effect.

Lavender is made up of more than 150 active components , each of them have a large number of esters. Esters are aromatic molecules, these in turn have calming and stimulating properties for the body.

It also contains tannin that is usually included in grapes , this is an astringent and anti-inflammatory. In addition, it is a great antioxidant, which protects the cells of the body and the action they can have on free radicals.

Lavender plant care

The maintenance of the plant must be totally revised, although its care is quite simple.

  • It should be fertilized once a year, applying a mixture of manure and lime, in early spring. Failing that, the plant can be nourished with a little fish emulsion or seaweed extract twice during the venison.
  • It should be watered very sparingly, lavender is not a fan of water, so care must be taken with water. For this, it must be watered and at the same time the soil remains dry, always making sure that it has good drainage.
  • In case it is in summer and it is very hot, you should place a little sand on the ground when you are going to water the plant, this will allow a much faster evaporation, thus avoiding the appearance of fungi or lavender be damaged by excess moisture.
  • Eliminate the weeds that are born, if you do not want them to appear, cover the land with a little mulch.
  • Lavender should be pruned once a year, especially in spring, preferably with scissors.
  • When the lower part of the stem opens it is time to collect the flowers, it is best to collect them from the base of the stem along with the leaves.
  • A practical tip to remove the flowers is to take a set of stems and hang them upside down in a place where no light can reach. At the same time it must be very ventilated so that there is no possibility of mold growing on the plant.
  • Harvesting the flowers before they fully open, allows the aroma to last much longer on the petals, this is ideal in case you want to use them for flavorings, perfumes, potpourri, certain cooking recipes, or creams. for body and face use.

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Benefits and properties of the lavender plant

These are some of the properties that lavender has:

  • It is anti-inflammatory, helps to heal injuries and sprains in any area, you should only apply a few drops of this oil and perform a gentle massage to calm the pain.
  • It works as a sedative, you can deal with depression and anxiety by taking an infusion of lavender flowers with a little chamomile and honey. In case you do not want to take the tea, you can apply it in a diffuser with a few drops throughout the room.
  • It is a natural antiseptic agent, a few drops of lavender oil should be applied to some cuts or wounds, in this way bleeding can be stopped and any type of infection is avoided at the same time.
  • It works as an astringent.
  • It is antiviral.
  • It is an excellent antibacterial.
  • It is bacteriostatic.
  • It is an antispasmodic agent.

Normally lavender is for use based on an essential oil, the oil is rich in esters , this helps fight depression, anxiety, stress, and relaxes the mind. It can also release tension.

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Lavender contraindications

As such lavender does not have any negative effects . But if it is consumed or used in excess it can produce certain changes in the body, such as increased heart rate, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, vomiting, headaches and hallucinations.

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Medicinal uses of lavender

Here are some medicinal uses for lavender:

  • Eliminates bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory illnesses, such as the flu, bronchitis, and colds.
  • It can attack stomach nervousness.
  • Fight insomnia.
  • Eliminate nausea.
  • Fight anxiety.
  • Reduces hypertension.
  • Treats various pains, such as stiff neck, headache, and sore feet.
  • Treats skin injuries such as scars, burns, and cuts.
  • Heals bites, scabies and bruises.
  • It stops hair loss, an infusion of lavender tea should be prepared and applied on the scalp, doing a light massage, then it should be washed normally.
  • Eliminates bacteria that cause laryngitis or pharyngitis.
  • Combat dandruff, you should mix about fifteen drops of lavender oil and 2 tablespoons of olive oil, let only one freckle warm, and then moisten your hair with the mixture. Giving circular massages on the scalp, it remains at rest for about an hour and washes normally. This is a good treatment that can be applied twice a week.

Home remedies with lavender

To reduce stress

Lavender has a great property that reduces cortisol levels and eliminates stress. To reduce stress , the following ingredients and the steps to follow should be mixed:

  1. 60 ml of water.
  2. 20 drops of lavender oil.
  3. 20 drops of rosemary oil.
  4. All ingredients should be mixed in a sprayer or diffuser.
  5. In case of using the sprayer it can be added on the bed, on the clothes, or on the furniture.
  6. If it is the diffuser, place it in a central place where the smell can reach the entire room.

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To relieve muscle aches

Lavender with a kind of lotion can be used to relieve muscle aches that usually appear with stiff neck or poor posture. These are the ingredients that should be used and the steps that should be followed are as follows:

  • 50 gr of lavender flowers.
  • 96º alcohol.
  • The petals are taken from the flowers and placed in a glass jar.
  • The alcohol is added until it completely covers the lavender petals.
  • It is left to marinate for about ten days in a place where the light does not reach.
  • After time, the remaining liquid should be filtered and let it rest for one or two days.
  • Once you have the liquid, it should be applied to the affected skin.
  • A small massage should be done and then let this rest and take effect on the skin.

To detoxify the body

On the other hand , detoxifying the body with lavender can be quite simple, with a remedy in which it is combined with lemon and produces a sedative effect that calms all kinds of pain and also eliminates waste and bacteria found in the body. .

These are the ingredients and the steps to follow in order to prepare this detoxifying anti stress lemonade:

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of dried lavender.
  • Sweetener to taste.
  • 4 glasses of water
  • 3 lemons.

preparation:

  • In a pot you should add the lavender along with the glasses of water, it is recommended that the lavender is as fresh as possible.
  • It should be heated until it reaches the boiling point.
  • Without boiling, turn it off and let it rest for half an hour.
  • After this time, the lavender should be filtered with the help of a strainer.
  • It is transferred to a jug and the 3 lemons are squeezed over the lavender water.
  • It is mixed and the sweetener is added, it can be served cold or natural.

The good thing about this recipe is that it can be taken at any time of the day , providing calm, relaxation and also remove toxins that may be in the body.

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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.

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