Dried Lavender Flowers

“Lavender tea was drunk by Queen Elizabeth I for migraine. Tea is believed to have special use in treating all grieves and pain of head and brain.”

The relaxing, sweet floral scent is what makes Lavender extremely popular around the world. The name Lavender comes from the Romans. The Latin word Lavere means “to wash.” Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths by Romans and Greek to help to purify the body and spirit and has a calming effect on the skin and mind and sets the mood.

Linen bags containing lavender flowers were commonly placed under pillows for their alleged soporific properties. Used as an ingredient in cooking, perfume, healing wounds and insect repellent.

KEY APPLICATION: Help in anxiety, depression, fatigue, improve mood, calm nerves, boost sleep, soothe menstrual cramping, balanced immune system, bloating, flatulence and reduce muscular spasm

PLANT FAMILY: Lamiaceae

BOTANICAL NAME: Lavendula Augustifolia

VERNACULAR NAMES: Common Lavender, English Lavender, French Lavender, Garden Lavender, Alhucema, Lavendel, Lavanda Vera

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FLOWER

Linalool, linalyl acetate, borneol, camphor, lavandulyl, caryophyllene, limonene, betaocimene, terpene and alpha-terpineol.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

The understanding of medicinal properties will help us utilize the herb better. Below are medicinal properties along with its meaning indicating multiple health benefits:

· Anti-inflammatory- Reduce inflammation

· Anodyne- Alleviate pain in the body.

· Antidepressant- Able to diminish or reduce nervous or functional activity.

· Anti-hypertensive- Lower high blood pressure

· Antibacterial- Destroy bacteria or suppresses their growth.

· Antifungal- Have a killing action on fungi or destroys fungi. 

· Antispasmodic- Used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle.

· Carminative- Cause expulsion of gas from the stomach or bowel.

· Cholagogue- Promote the flow of bile from the gallbladder into the duodenum.

· Emmenagogue- To promote menstrual discharge.

· Nervine- Act on or relieve disorders of the nerves; soothe the nerves.

· Sedative- Provide a soothing or calming effect or induce sleep.

· Stomachic- Stimulates gastric activity and improves appetite and digestion. 

LAVENDER TEA

Calming, relaxing, refreshing is very easy to make tea.

Prepare a tea by steeping 1 teaspoon (add more for stronger flavour) of dried Lavender flowers in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes to get its health benefits & flavour.

It blends amazingly well with black tea, chamomile, and mint.

SOME OTHER WAYS OF USING LAVENDER

1. The scent of lavender is strongest when it is near a source of heat. Hang your sprig of lavender in a sunny south window or near the heat source like a lamp and fill your house with the aroma of lavender flowers.

2. Dried lavender flowers can be used for salad dressing.

3. Make birthday and wedding special by adding sprigs of dried lavender to the inside of a gift, tucked into the folds of tissue paper or sprinkle tiny bits of lavender buds into the inside of your greeting cards like great smelling confetti.

4. Hang dry flowers in a small decorative sachet on the outside of lampshade.

5. To make lavender vinegar- Add two teaspoons of dried lavender buds to two cups red vinegar, bring to a boil, remove from heat and let it sit for 15 minutes before straining. Use it in marinades and salad dressings

6. To make lavender syrup- it can be made by dissolving one cup sugar in one cup of boiling water, turn off the heat, add two teaspoons of dried lavender buds and a strip of lemon zest and let it sit for 20 minutes. Stain and refrigerate up to two weeks. It’s a nice addition to beverages like lemonade and iced tea.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The information provided is for educational purposes only. This data is not to be considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.