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Since antiquity, people have used essential oils for a variety of purposes. Lavender oil is one of these vital essential oils for improving health, skin and mental wellbeing.
Not only does this flower have a vibrant color and an exquisite scent, but lavender extract essential oils may promote a variety of additional benefits.
According to Healthline, users can imbibe the lavender plant extract orally or through aromatherapy. They can also spread it on their skin.
Here are five amazing uses for lavender oil:
A natural way to fight anxiety
In 2013, the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice published a study showing that lavender oil taken orally actually has anxiety decreasing benefits comparable to anti-anxiety medication Lorazepam!
Additionally, the plant extract has far fewer and milder side effects!
Medical News Today cites another study, published in 2017 that evaluates the benefits of breathing in the fragrant oil to reduce presurgical anxiety. According to the authors, more research is needed to unlock the benefits of lavender aromatherapy.
To relieve everyday stresses, simply massage some of the aromatic oil into your temples and breathe deeply!
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Using lavender oil to heal wounds and scars
As Kama Ayurveda reports, people have turned to lavender for its potent healing properties for generations. During the First World War, nurses actually applied lavender oil to wounded soldiers as an antiseptic!
But only in recent years have researchers examined claims of lavender oil’s healing potential. And what they’ve found is that this potent oil may be able to assist in collagen production and wound healing.
A 2016 study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicines demonstrated its wound regeneration potential on a group of rats.
And even for already-healed wounds, lavender oil applied to the skin may be able to reduce scarring.
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Can lavender oil keep wrinkles away?
Lavender oil is a potent antioxidant.
Free radicals can contribute to premature skin aging. How can people fight these free radicals and keep skin young, healthy and glowing?
LavenderLotion.net suggests leveraging lavender oil’s ability to stimulate your body’s antioxidant production to keep wrinkles at bay. Plus lavender oil also moisturizes the skin.
You can make a smoothing lavender oil mask by mixing it with honey and rubbing it on your wrinkles. Leave it there for 20 minutes. As you wash it off, mix in moisturizer.
Here’s a recipe for a balancing lavender oil mask.
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Lavender oil: not just for skin
But lavender oil isn’t just for skin. It can do wonders for hair too. This miracle extract can keep your hair shiny and thick. Lavender oil may even be able to promote hair regrowth
Urban Company recommends mixing it with Jojoba oil for maximum hair growth benefits. Massage this mixture into your scalp and leave it on for an hour before rinsing it with warm water.
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Lavender oil great for people, but not for insects
Although this flower is attractive to people, and has an appealing scent, lavender oil can actually be used to repel insects.
Sonoma Lavender reports that this essential oil contains linalool, which is similar to the active ingredient in DEET. In other words, it works similar to traditional bug repellents but is more natural and safe.
In addition to applying lavender to the skin for its fragrance and to keep mosquitos away, burning or diffusing lavender can create an insect-free home.
The best part? Because of its skin healing benefits, not only can lavender oil keep insects away, but it can also be used to treat bug bites.
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