Want the best from your lavender oil? Making it yourself means that you get to control the quality and the process, so no corners have to be cut or ingredients scrimped on. Keep it handy for traffic jams, awkward phone calls and any time you would ordinarily feel your heart rate rising.

Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:681304. doi:10.1155/2013/681304Apply this minty oil in the morning after your shower to soothe your skin, wake up, and start your day feeling fresh and focused. Further, a few drops of lavender on a cotton handkerchief can provide a moment of relaxation when you’re on the go. Lavender (lavandula) is part of the mint family and is famous for its lush aroma and vivid purple flower blooms.

Lavender, long known for its beautiful appearance and calming aroma, has found its way into many popular products today including skincare, cleaning solutions and candles. Nabavi, Sayed Fazel, et al. " Antibacterial Effects of Cinnamon: From Farm to Food, Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Industries." Nutrients, vol. 7, no. 9, 2015, pp. 7729-7748., doi:10.3390/nu7095359To create a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom before you fall asleep, try spraying a lavender and water mixture directly onto your bedsheets or pillow.

This is largely due to the cleansing properties that it has been proven to have, which can kill spot-causing bacteria that cause pimples. 6 When paired with calendula, lavender can be used to make an effective all-purpose salve to speed healing for various skin issues. It's great for dry, chapped lips, parched winter skin, eczema, bug bites, burns, wounds, and more. You could also make a lavender honey mask to soothe your skin and help you relax before bedtime—it’s a win-win!Da Silva GL, et al. Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2015. And yet another study proved that lavender oil, when massaged into the skin, can help relieve dysmenorrhea, which is associated with menstrual pain and cramping in the lower abdomen. The results of this study suggest that lavender oil can be used as a natural remedy for PMS and menstrual cramps. 10. Complementary Therapy for Cancer People have been using it for centuries to help people sleep and relax, as well as in perfumes, cosmetics and other herbal remedies. 1 What is lavender essential oil?

Boukhris, Maher, et al. " Hypoglycemic and Antioxidant Effects of Leaf Essential Oil of Pelargonium graveolens L'Her. in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats." Lipids in Health and Disease, vol. 11, 2012, pp. 81., doi:10.1186/1476-511X-11-81 The list of ways that you can use lavender oil is endless, but here are some ideas to get you started: ounce (roughly 2 tablespoons) of carrier oil, such as sweet almond, apricot kernel, sesame seed, or grapeseed oil

What kind of lavender is best for lavender oil?

Aromatherapy aside, lavender has powerful healing abilities when used topically or internally. Scientific studies show that lavender is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, an antioxidant, and has the ability to relieve pain. It can also help repair damaged skin tissue and heal wounds. This makes it awesome to heal rashes, bites, burns, acne, scrapes, eczema, stings, scars, and more. You can see why lavender is incorporated into so many natural skin care products!