Lavender

History

Documents show Lavender has been used for over 2,500 years. The Egyptians and the Phoenicians used it during the mummification process and as a perfume, the Romans during bathing, cooking and to scent the air. From Greece the plant arrived in France around 600 BC and spread further through Europe. Today, it is grown in France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Britain where it was introduced in the 1600’s. During the 16^th Century, French glove-makers perfumed their wares with lavender and never caught cholera. In the 17^th century, during the Great Plague in London people felt protected from the disease by wearing bunches of lavender around their wrists. The various Kings of France and their courtiers used lavender extensively¹.

Recent history

In 1910, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist, discovered the healing powers of lavender. Whilst working in his laboratory he suffered severe burns on his hand during an explosion and immersed his hand in the nearest vat of liquid, which happened to contain lavender oil. He was amazed at how quickly the skin healed leaving no scarring³. This lead to him experimenting with essential oils on wounded soldiers during World War I. He noted an increase in wound healing that had been treated with essential oils. He later actively supported lavender growers in France.

Origins of lavender

There are more than 30 different varieties of lavender available commercially, mostly grown in the Mediterranean, and this causes confusion. Cross-pollination happens very easily with other varieties creating hybrids that do not produce the same quality oil as the true lavender oil Lavandula angustifolia².

Benefits

Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils and has a complex structure. One of the main components, linalool, has sedative properties⁴ that accounts for it to be useful with insomnia. Lavender also has skin regenerating² properties that help wound and scar healing. Diluted and in small quantities, it is safe for babies. It is one of the few oils that can be applied neat on the skin in small quantities. Test before use by applying a very small quantity on the inside of the elbow and watch out for any skin reaction such as redness. In the event of a reaction, remove the lavender with a vegetable oil; olive oil is fine. Water will not help, as essential oils are not water-soluble.

Some of the benefits are⁵

·       Used in skin and wound care

·       Calming, soothing and balancing

·       Relaxing and refreshing

·       Uplifts the spirits

·       Induces a peaceful sleep, relieves insomnia

·       Treats burns and scars (seek medical attention for anything more than a small burn)

·       Has a calming effect on the heart and palpitations

·       Calming or stimulating according the body’s needs

·       Reduces muscle pain and reduces spasms

·       Keeps moths at bay

References

1.     Lavender Farm. The history of lavender. Retrieved from:         http://www.lavenderfarm.com/history.htm

2.     Arthur, D. (1997). Aromatherapy. Course notes.

3.     Oils and plants. Rene-Maurice Gattefossé. Retrieved from:     http://www.oilsandplants.com/gattefosse.htm

4.     Bowles, E.J. (2003). The chemistry of aromatherapeutic oils. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

5.     Oils and Plants. Lavender. Retrieved from http://www.oilsandplants.com/lavender.htm

What are unadulterated essential oils?

Unadulterated essential oils are those that have been extracted from particular plant material leaving the chemistry of the oil intact and in its original state, exactly as nature intended them to be. Unadulterated oils are highly beneficial for our mental and physical well-being. They help from relieving discomfort, fatigue, depression to chronic conditions found in various parts of the body.

What are and where do essential oils come from?

Essential oils are the odorous and highly concentrated natural oils extracted from particular parts of a plant such as petals, leaves, flowers, bark, etc.  and possess the aroma and healing qualities of the plants they come from. As they are the concentrated oils, a little goes a long way.

Complexity of essential oils

Essential oils are complex as they consist of different compounds each with different chemical and physical properties. The synergy of the compounds gives the complete and unadulterated oil its distinctive qualities and aroma that sedate or awaken the mind and body. Mixing two or more essential oils enhances their effectiveness as the blending of the compounds changes the chemistry.

Synthesising essential oil components

After discovering the benefits of certain compounds in essential oils, the pharmaceutical and beauty industries have successfully isolated and inexpensively synthesised them. These can then be added to modern medicines and beauty products. As isolated components, they lose the full capacity they have when still in the unadulterated oil.

Adulterated essential oils

With this knowledge, essential oils can easily be adulterated. Fully synthetic oils are available in the market whilst other oils have for example the synthesised smell component added to a cheaper oil that can then be sold at a higher price. Adulterated essential oils do not have the same healing properties as truly pure oils extracted from the plant material.

Purchasing essential oils

Therefore in the practice of aromatherapy, care must be taken when purchasing and using essential oils as it is difficult to distinguish between a genuine and a synthetic oil. The genuine essential oils are never cheap as growing the plants in the right conditions and the method of extraction, quality control, etc. are all labour intensive. Damask Rose is very expensive as it is highly labour intensive, as many rose petals are needed to obtain a small quantity of oil.

Conclusion

When buying essential oils, buy from a trusted source and remember to dilute them in a vegetable oil before applying to the skin. As the oils are highly concentrated, only a few drops are needed at a time. Enjoy the journey.

Reference

Arthur, D. (1997). Aromatherapy. Course Notes