Lavender – the Calming Elixir

In ancient Rome Lavender was a staple in the baths..they recognized it’s unique calming effect when added to bathwater. Over the centuries this herb continued to gain in popularity as a therapeutic agent for treating a wide variety of ailments, from muscle pain and headaches to depression and irritability..even sleep disorder. During the Victorian age, the gentry carried handkerchiefs perfumed with Lavender to calm anxiety.

Lavender is pale yellow in color. It is the most versatile of all essential oils. Therapeutic grade Lavender is calming, sedative, a muscular relaxant, anti-inflammatory, indeed a  powerful tonic for the entire system. It is highly regarded for use in skin conditions such as acne and  to soothe burns and skin irritations. Inhaled, it can ease depression and nervous tension. It can be used to calm the nervous system, lower high blood pressure and balance the entire nervous system.

Lavender is ‘balancing’ and useful for a multitude of ailments. It is considered the ‘universal oil’ and is good for all skin ailments. It helps the body regenerate new skin cells and minimizes scarring, and is an excellent oil for sunburns and other types of burns. It is useful in healing acne and eczema, and is good for the hair and scalp. Lavender is very good for headaches, especially PMS headaches, as well as general sharp aches and pains.

Spiritually, Lavender brings a peaceful energy to all the chakras of the body, as well as opening the heart and crown chakras. It encourages feelings of patience and security. It balances the heart chakra system. No wonder it remains today one of Nature’s great gifts to all sentient beings.

Scent To Unstress & Heal

LAVENDER OIL. The Power to Heal and Relax

Lavender wins the Mother Nature Triple Crown for essential oils: it is one of the most popular floral fragrances, it is a natural “Bacteria Buster” (antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal) and it has the power to sooth and relax.Here are some comments on using Lavender based on our own experiences and feedback from our customers…

Healing

We have found Lavender to be most helpful for skin problems such as facial blemishes (adult), Rosacea, sores, athlete’s foot, cuts and burns. We have used it to relieve itching and prevent infection on poison ivy, insect bites and bee strings.

We don’t know many of the names for the skin problems where customers have reported Lavender to be helpful nor do we know why Lavender often has a beneficial effect. It is so inexpensive and has a good enough batting average that it’s worth a try. We have not had encouraging reports on using Lavender to combat teenage acne; at best, it seems to keep it from getting out of hand. Nor does it seem to work for psoriasis or eczema.

Lavender can be applied directly to the skin but care should be taken not to get it into one’s eyes. When applied to the face, the fumes can have a mild stinging effect on the eyes.

Essential oils work more slowly than modern drugs so one shouldn’t expect immediate results (a test period of about three weeks is suggested). The amount of oil applied doesn’t seem to be as important as the frequency of application. The more often used, the better the chance for a favorable result.

Lavender, in spite of being an oil, has a slightly drying effect. When using it to attempt to relieve skin problems where the skin is very dry (such as the scalp), try a mixture of approximately one quarter Sweet Almond oil and three quarters Lavender oil.

Relaxing

Most interesting is the ethereal nature of Lavender. Lavender is known as an antidepressant and sedative when its fragrance is inhaled. The use of the oil to sooth and calm can vary from a few drops on a handkerchief, on the upper lip just below the nostrils, in a room diffuser or as a room spray. Experiment.

Some customers find Lavender helpful for inducing sleep. The amount used carry vary from a few drops on the upper lip to misting sheets and pillows. If one tends to wake in the wee hours with events, problems, etc. kicking the brain into such a frenzy of activity that sleep seems impossible, try short circuiting the brain with a good whiff of Lavender.

The comments above apply to the essential oil of Lavender (preferably French) extracted from the plant and not to synthetic Lavender. Lavender oil will last for about two years or indefinitely if kept in the refrigerator (not the freezer). The brown bottle protects the oil from the effects of light.

Obviously, if you have or suspect a reaction to Lavender, discontinue it’s use. About the most negative reports we’ve ever had of Lavender is that it did not alleviate the problem or that the fragrance was repellant.Not for internal use.

Please contact us if you have any questions. Ask for Caitriona: sales@barclaycrocker.com

Rosacea and Me - A Personal Saga

This is a personal saga about a bit of luck which lead to a cure for my rosacea. Hopefully, it will help you or a friend.

I had rosacea for about five years when I happened on an article which suggested that rosacea is caused by a bacteria or a fungus. Barclay Crocker carries the essential oil of French Lavender which purports to be antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and antiseptic. Why not give it a try? If it didn’t work, at least I would smell good.

I applied Lavender directly from the bottle (neat - no carrier oil) to the red areas in the morning and before going to bed. It stung slightly and had a very strong lavender fragrance. I’m not sure how long I kept up this regimen as I never really expected it to work but it must have been two or three weeks. After perhaps a week, I think I noticed a slight improvement but it must have a couple of weeks more that a real improvement was obvious. It’s been several years since those first attempts and the redness has long since completely disappeared and I find I no longer need to use Lavender. A number of customers with Rosacea have experienced the same success. We have not had any reports of side effects except that a few didn’t like the lavender fragrance. If you want to begin slowly, just apply the lavender to a small area to make sure you are comfortable with it. [Read more]

A Scent to Unstress and to Heal

Lavender wins the Mother Nature Triple Crown for essential oils: it is one of the most popular floral fragrances, it is a natural “Bacteria Buster” (antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal) and it has the power to sooth and relax.Here are some comments on using Lavender based on our own experiences and feedback from our customers… [Read more]