Lavender essential oil is probably the most popular and widely used essential oil out there — and we understand why. This versatile essential oil not only smells lovely, but it also brings a myriad of benefits and uses. Lavender essential oil is known for its relaxing properties, but it can also help treat much more than just jittery nerves.
If you’re wondering how it all works, first you must understand aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the practice of using scented oils derived from plants to help treat various ailments, ranging from depression and anxiety, to joint and muscle aches, while also simply promoting a general sense of well-being. And one of the stars of aromatherapy is lavender essential oil, because its therapeutic benefits are out of this world.
Lavender essential oil has calming and anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it’s great for both your body and mind. Whether you need help winding down before bed or want to soothe skin issues like eczema and dandruff, lavender essential oil has you covered. From treating and preventing bug bites, to alleviating symptoms of hay fever, to soothing dry and chapped skin, it’s pretty clear this wonder serum is a savior year round.
Now that we’ve properly established that lavender essential oil is amazing, it’s time to learn how to use it — because let’s be real — aromatherapy can be a little overwhelming at first. Whether you’re inhaling its delicious scent or using it topically on your skin, there are a ton of ways you can incorporate lavender essential oil in your everyday life. As we said, the uses are practically endless, but we have a list that’ll get you started on your lavender essential oil journey. Here are 15 uses for lavender essential oil that prove it’s a wonder serum.
Relax And Unwind
Above all, lavender essential oil is calming and can be used to help you relax and unwind. And what’s great is that there are numerous ways you can use the essential oil to deliver the results you desire. First, you can add a few drops to an aromatherapy diffuser, and have the scent fill whatever room you’re in. Or you can rub a drop or two between the palm of your hands, and inhale the scent from your cupped palms. Lastly, using a carrier oil, apply lavender essential oil to your inner wrists, temples, or even feet.
Bug Bites
Few things are as annoying, and sometimes painful, as bug bites. Yet, when the summer months roll around, they’re pretty much unavoidable. Luckily, lavender essential oil can help with your bug bite woes, and in a variety of ways. Lavender can help both soothe your bites and prevent them from happening. Since the essential oil is anti-inflammatory, it’ll help calm swollen and itchy bites when applied topically. Or, you can make an insect repellent. While we may love the scent of lavender, bugs do not, so you can either lather up with a lavender oil-infused lotion, or by adding some to water in a spray bottle.
Healing Wounds
Much like lavender essential oil can help soothe bug bites, it can also help heal wounds. Before the development of more modern medicine, the essential oil was used to treat and disinfect wounds, and even sterilize medical equipment. With its powerful antiseptic properties, lavender essential oil can still be used today as a natural way to treat scrapes, cuts, and burns. You can either mix a few drops with vitamin E oil or shea butter for a salve, or apply a drop directly for instant relief. Please be advised that lavender essential oil should only be used on minor cuts and burns, and you should seek medical treatment for more major wounds.
Sleep Aid
We’re huge supporters of keeping a bottle of lavender essential oil next to your bed, and we bet you already know why. Since this essential oil is amazing for helping you relax, it’s obviously a go-to for bedtime. If you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep at night, definitely give lavender a try. You can either inhale it from your palms using the cupping method mentioned above, or you can even sprinkle some on your sheets and pillow. We love using a spray bottle to mist the bed before getting in — allow a few minutes for the water to dry and you’ll be in lavender heaven.
Cold And Flu Treatment
Have a cold or flu? Lavender essential oil can help with that! This gentle essential oil helps to soothe cold and flu symptoms, and the secondary symptoms like insomnia and restlessness that accompany them. Specifically, lavender essential oil is great for aches and pains, and as a decongestant, which is especially helpful at night. For aches and pains, add a few drops into a carrier oil and massage onto your skin (or get someone else to do it for an added treat). For decongestion, add lavender essential oil to a diffuser, or into a pot of hot water and carefully inhale the scented steam.
Facial Toner
Because of lavender essential oil’s soothing and disinfecting qualities, it makes a great ingredient to add to your toner. We love mixing it with witch hazel, which too is an anti-inflammatory used for all sort of skins issues. This combination of witch hazel and lavender essential oil is truly amazing, and is safe to use everyday. Just add 5-10 drops lavender essential oil to about 5oz of witch hazel, apply to a cotton ball or pad, and rub over your face after cleansing. Your skin will thank you for it. And since you’re making the toner yourself, your bank account with thank you, too.
Eczema Relief
Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a skin rash characterized by redness, bumps, dryness, and above all, itchiness. Doesn’t sounds too fun, does it? Luckily though, lavender essential oil can help with eczema relief, calming symptoms and giving way to healthier, and happier, skin. You can add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and lather on the problem areas. You can also add a few drops to a bath and soak for full-body relief (just make sure the water isn’t too hot, as that’s not the best for eczema). Since lavender essential oil is so gentle, it’s great for people with sensitive skin, and specifically those with eczema.
Cleaning Products
It’s clear that lavender essential oil has numerous possibilities for your body and mind, but did you know it can benefit your overall home as well? That’s right, lavender essential oil can be used around your house, and we’re not just talking about in a diffuser. Add a few drops to a load of laundry for an instant refresh, or make your own cleaning solution that can be used on countertops, or really wherever. To make the solution, combine 3 to 1 of water and white vinegar, and then add 5-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Not only will it act as a antiseptic, but it’ll make your home smell absolutely amazing.
Nosebleed
This one is pretty awesome, we have to admit. Typically nosebleeds aren’t an everyday occurrence, but for some, whether because of allergies or some other ailment, they may happen more often than they’d like. Lavender essential oil can help with that, but I mean, are you surprised? To help stop a nosebleed, add a drop of lavender essential oil to a tissue and wrap it around a small piece of ice. Then hold the tissue-wrapped ice to your nose, sticking it up your nostril a little. Hold it there and breathe in the icy aroma, and your nosebleed should subside.
Nausea And Motion Sickness
When you’re suffering from nausea, you’re of course feeling pretty crappy and unsettled. Inhaling lavender essential oil with the cupping method can help calm nerves and relax your body, thus helping alleviate feelings of nausea. Or, you can use a carrier oil to rub the lavender oil on the inside of your wrists, behind your ears, and on your temples. The objective is to settle both your stomach, and your mind. Also, what’s great about using essential oils to help with nausea is that you’re using a natural remedy, and one you don’t have to worry will make you feel worse (as sometimes synthetic medicine can do).
Scalp Health
If you suffer from dandruff, or any other scalp issues, lavender essential oil can help. With its anti-bacterial and soothing properties, lavender oil not only treats existing problems, but helps prevent their return. When it comes to dandruff, lavender essential oil works amazingly in conjunction with tea tree oil. Together they make an anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory duo. Next time you wash your hair, add two drops lavender essential oil and two drops tea tree oil, and let it sit a few minutes before rinsing. You can also add lavender essential oil to some warm coconut oil and apply to your scalp and hair as a leave in treatment. Just don’t forget to rinse it out!
Acne
We’ve all dealt with acne, and while it’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, it’s definitely something we’d rather go without. Lavender essential oil can be used to help treat acne, by reducing inflammation and cleaning bacteria. For a spot treatment, mix a drop of lavender essential oil with a non-comedogenic oil like argan oil, and apply directly on the pimple. Since it’s safe and gentle, you can use this multiple times a day. You can also just add a few drops of lavender oil to your daytime or nighttime moisturizer, which will help keep your skin happy and your acne at bay.
Relaxing Baths
Adding lavender essential oil to your next bath is an absolute must-do. Whether you love detox baths, or ones filled with moisturizing ingredients, lavender oil is the perfect addition. For a detox bath, add a cup or two of epsom salts and about five drops lavender essential oil to the water. Soak for at least 20 minutes to get all the purifying and relaxing benefits. Or, you can make a lavender milk bath using powdered milk. Get the recipe for the lavender milk bath here.
For Lips
Just as lavender essential oil can be helpful to wounds and burns, it can also help with dry, chapped lips. Use a carrier oil, such a jojoba oil or argan oil, and add a few drops of lavender oil before rubbing over your lips. This is especially great during the winter months, when chapped lips are the absolute worst. You can also make your own lavender essential oil lip balm using beeswax and safflower oil. Get the recipe here.
Smell Good
Plain and simple, lavender essential oil can be used for its amazing scent. I mean, how many soaps out there are lavender scented? It just smells great. The best part is that it’s all natural — that means you can use it as perfume and not worry about putting harsh chemicals onto your body. Apply it to your inner wrists and behind your ears just as you would normal perfume. Or, add lavender essential oil to your shampoo to give your hair an incredible scent. The possibilities are endless.
