Lavender
Parts Usually Used
Flowers, leaves
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
The stems, growing 1 or 2 feet high, are gray-green and angular, with flaking bark. The gray-green leaves are opposite, sessile, downy, and lanceolate to oblong-linear. The lilac-colored, tubular flowers are arranged in successive whorls up the stem. Each false whorl consists of 6 to 10 flowers. Flowering time is July to September. Other varieties: Used interchangeably with L. officinalis; L.
angustifolia, L. spica, L. vera. Harvest the flowers just as they are opening, when the essential oil content is greatest and the fragrance purest. Cut off the flowering shoots, tie them into bundles, and hang them up to dry in a dust-free, well-ventilated place. This old method of preparation has proved most reliable, because the essential oil survives best in this way. Once the bunches are dry, strip off the flowers and store them protected from light and dampness.
angustifolia); (L. alba) has white flowers; (L. Jean Davis) has pink flowers; (L. Munstead) dwarf lavender flowers; (L. Twickle purple) very fragrant with soft lavender flowers and broader, more silvery leaves; (L. hidcote) 12 inches high with purple flowers; (L. provence) 2 foot stems becomes a 3 foot shrub with soft gray foliage; French lavender (L. dentata), also known as fringed or Spanish lavender, has roughly toothed leaves and a camphorous smell: (L.
spica) is used medicinally.
Where Found
Lavender is a Mediterranean shrub which is cultivated for its aromatic flowers in the United States and Europe.
Medicinal Properties
Antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, relaxant, antibacterial, antiseptic
Biochemical Information
Essential oil, coumarin, triterpene, tannins, and flavonoid.
Legends, Myths and Stories
One of the most popular medicinal herbs since ancient times; in Arab medicine, it is used as an expectorant and an antispasmodic. In European folk tradition it is used as a wound herb and a worm medicine for children. The name lavender comes from the Latin, lavare, to wash and refers to the Roman custom of scenting bath water with the leaves and flowers of this aromatic plant. Used in perfumes, soaps, and sachets.
The early Romans used this herb to scent their public baths.
Uses
Historically, herbalists utilized lavender as a nerve tonic and recommended it as a remedy for coughs, halitosis, and gum health. Traditional practitioners applied the essential oil externally for headaches, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, cold sores, and fever. In various folk traditions, preparations such as teas steeped from the flowers or decoctions of the leaves were administered to address digestive complaints, nausea, vomiting, gas, and fainting spells.
Older texts also recorded its use for conditions such as cramps and toothaches. In aromatherapy traditions, the oil was employed to promote relaxation and soothe headaches. Beyond medicinal applications, the flowers were historically placed in sachets to deter moths, protect linens, and impart fragrance, while also serving as a flavoring agent in perfumes, beverages, and baked goods.
How Sold
Spirit of lavender in the pharmacy.
Warning
Avoid high doses during pregnancy because it is a uterine stimulant.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Magic of Herbs , by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.
The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974 Old Ways Rediscovered , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988 Country Home Book of Herbs , Meredith Books, Editorial Dept. RW240, 1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023, copyright 1994 The Healing Plants , by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.
, Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992