Added: 10/14/2005 |
Lavender Products will Help you Get Rid of Your InsomniaLavender products are those which can be recognized all over the world thanks to their fresh and heady fragrance. It's Latin name is Lavendula angustifolia. It is a flowering evergreen shrub, which came from the Mediterranean region. Ancient Romans used to add lavender products to their baths (besides, Latin word lavare means to wash), the Tibetans use the plant for preparing special butter treating nervous disorders. Nowadays, lavender oil is widely used throughout Europe both topically and internally. It is considered to be a remedy for a number of conditions, from anxiety to sunburn.
Dried lavender is used for packaging purposes. The essential oil which is distilled from the dried lavender products by different methods is added to countless soaps, perfumes and a lot of other commercial lavender products.
In the past years there were held a lot of experiments which showed that lavender extract is able to reverse the growth of advanced mammary tumors.
Other researches showed that parts of the flower may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A clinical trial which was held in 1998 proved that lavender oil can slow hair loss. Perfect results were seen with the participants of the experiment who rubbed a blend of lavender and other essential oils, such as rosemary, thyme, and cedarwood, into the affected area.
Lavender tea is very popular in Europe. German health officials have declared the tea effective for such ailments as disordered stomach, appetite loss and intestinal gas pain.
Lavender products are used for a number of purposes. Folk healers used to employ antiseptic and astringent properties of lavender centuries ago. When used topically, lavender products can soothen and protect sunburned skin and possibly prevents blister infections which can accompany severe sunburns. For this purpose cool compresses soaked in strong lavender tea are used. Lavender tea is effective for fighting germs and tightening skin. It encourages healing protecting it from further damage.
In Germany restlessness and difficulty sleeping is cured by tea made from dried lavender flowers which is recognized as an official remedy. Animal research and human studies have shown that the herb possesses strong sedative effect. In particular, experiments in mice have proved that lavender calms motor activity, slows the central nervous system, counters the stimulant effect of caffeine and even boosts the narcotic effects of certain drugs.
In one of the most remarkable human studies four nursing home patients who had some problems with sleep found that their sleep was more sound and long when the rooms were perfumed with lavender or lavender oil. The benefits were noticeably increased when the participants also began to take their regular sleep medications.
Another study researched wave measurements in the patients who inhaled lavender oil. The study showed that this inhalation could provide a high level of sedation and relaxation. Still more investigation is required to learn the way how lavender influences directly the human nervous system and to identify how smelling a scent can cause physical changes in the body.
Though research is insufficient, lavender's calming effect is well-known. Massage therapists often add some drops of lavender oil to a neutral carrier oil (jojoba, almond or grape seed) in order to increase the relaxing effect of the total body massage.
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