Native to the Mediterranean mountains, lavender oil or LO is one of the most widely used essential oils, not just for its calming fragrance, but for its many health properties. The oil, extracted from the small blue-violet flowers of the short lavender shrub, has a distinct aroma and is used as a remedy for conditions ranging from anxiety to alopecia, insomnia, eczema, fatigue and even depression. Lavender oil is often claimed to be a good stimulant for hair growth and an effective remedy for skin problems. Don’t take our word for it? Here’s what lavender oil can do for your skin and hair:
Lavender Oil Hair Care
Hair Loss
Losing a lot of hair? Or worse, diagnosed with alopecia (hair loss from the immune system mistakenly attacking hair follicles)? You should definitely invest in a bottle of lavender oil. Animal studies1 have found that lavender oil led to faster hair growth, increased number of hair follicles and deepened hair follicle depth in female mice. However, there are no available human studies to compare this claim with.
Lice And Dandruff
Journal Fitoterapia claims that lavender oil is the second best in getting rid of head lice after tea tree oil.2 However, it is not just head lice that this essential oil can combat. Going by user anecdotes, lavender oil is a good home remedy for dandruff because of its antifungal properties.
Lavender Oil Skin Care
UV Rays Screen
Using lavender oil on your face and body before stepping out can protect your skin from harsh UV rays of the sun.3 Aging is a real concern for a huge population. Lavender oil has an answer to wrinkles, lines, and crow’s feet. The essential oil is a part of a compound oil which is made by the combination of four other oils that fights aging. This compound oil, which also contains jasmine, chamomile, and jojoba oil among others, has been awarded a patent for the curative effect it has on the skin and for reducing laxity and early signs of aging. 4
On Wounds, Bruises And Insect Bites
Nursing a wound is simpler with lavender oil. According to a study published in the BMC Complementary And Alternative Medicine, lavender oil showed positive results in wound healing in just four days of application.5 It also increases the number of fibroblasts that synthesize collagen in our body leading to faster wound contraction. Lavender oil is also one of the main ingredients in a patented formulation to heal cuts and bruises.6 Moreover, lavender oil is also found to be effective in treating burns and insect bites.7
Skin Irritation
Applying a few drops of lavender oil or a mixture of the essential oil in any other carrier oil to your skin can be the antidote to all skin irritations. Herbalists have always been using lavender oil for acne, eczema and psoriasis. Massaging the affected area with the essential oil reduced itching, dryness of the skin and lesions.8.
Lavender oil is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Researchers from Portugal’s University of Coimbra tested the effect of lavender on a range of pathogenic fungi that causes infections of the skin, hair, and nails and found that it keeps the fungal cells from escaping into the bloodstream, thereby saving the body from serious infections.9
Apart from these benefits, lavender oil has also been proven to help manage insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety. It is great to combat your migraine, menstrual pain and also alleviates pain after surgeries. Vapor treatment using lavender oil has been recommended over solution treatment to make the full use of lavender oil’s antifungal properties.10
So now that you know a good deal about lavender oil, get a bottle of the essential oil for luscious hair and glowing skin.
References
