Lavender- (a stretch, but it appears in some gourmet recipes) Planet: Mercury Element: Air Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, happiness, healing, love, Midsummer, money, passion, peace, peace of mind, protection, psychic protection, purification, tranquility Other magickal uses: blessings, chastity, divination, dreams, energy, gentleness, good luck, grieving, harmony, keeping secrets, magic (esp. to increase the duration of a spell), meditation, memory, psychic development, retention, ritual, sleep, stability, virility, weddings Lore: Attributed by some to Hecate, Saturn, and snake goddesses. Aoumiel also calls it attractive to elves.
Parts used
The fresh and dried flower tops are used, as well as an essential oil.
Properties
Lavender is an aromatic, tonic herb with a sweet scent. It relaxes spasms, benefits the digestion, stimulates peripheral circulation and the uterus and lowers fever. It is anti-septic and has an anti-depressant effect.
It contains linalyl acetate, linalool, cis-b-ocimene, trans-b-ocimene, 1-terpenen-4-ol, limonene, 1,8-ceneole, camphor, a-terpineol, caryophyllene epoxide and 3-octanone. The leaves contain rosmarinic acid and other tannins, coumarins, triterpenes and phenolic acids.
Therapeutic uses
* Internal use
o Lavender is used internally for indigestion, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, tension headaches, migraine and bronchial complaints.
* External use
o Used externally to treat most type of burns, including sunburn, rheumatism, muscular pains, neuralgia, cold sores, insect bites, head lice, halitosis, vaginal discharge and anal fissure.
o It has an analgesic effect on the skin, which helps with pain relief, but it is the antiseptic and stimulant properties which make it very effective for use on wounds and burns.
o It is mainly used for its antiseptic and anti-dandruff properties but also have antibacterial, spasmolytic (relieving spasms) and local pain killing actions.
o It also contains ursolic acid, which is not only antibacterial, but also active against lipid oxidation and inhibits elastase – which results in tissue degeneration as well as inflammatory processes as well as tissue degradation such as psoriasis and eczemas.
o The rosmarinic acid and polyphenolic derivatives have good antioxidant properties, which is helpful in countering aging.
o On the skin, lavender oil tones and revitalizes it and it is useful for all types of skin problems, such as abscesses, acne, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis, lice, insect bites, stings. It also acts as an insect repellent.
* Aromatherapy and essential oil use
o Lavender essential oil must be one of the most popular essential oils on the market, due to its versatile and safe use.
o It has a soothing and calming effect on the nerves, relieving tension, depression, panic, hysteria and nervous exhaustion in general and is effective for headaches, migraines and insomnia.
o It is an excellent oil to help with depression, migraine, insomnia and stress. Its antiseptic qualities are excellent for wounds and burns and its spasmolytic properties to treat coughs and intestinal complaints.
o The therapeutic properties of lavender oil are antiseptic, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, bactericide, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypotensive, nervine, rubefacient, sedative, sudorific and vulnerary.
Lavender
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