Luscious Lavender
Lavender, oh, lavender.
I love everything about lavender. It's color, it's scent, and it's health benefits are all extraordinary in my book.
With all of the products on the market today, I'm sure you've come across at least one product that either contained lavender or, at a minimum, was lavender scented. Lavender is well-known for it's scent to be able to help soothe and relax as well a its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Many use lavender essential oils in their home diffusers when trying to go to bed.
Of course, lavender can also be used in a wide variety of recipes. The herb can be used to infuse water (and honey of course!!) and the flowers are commonly used in baking. We can't wait to make these Lavender Shortbread cookies from Barbara over at Just a Smidgen.
Much like bee balm, the lavender plant is naturally deer, bunny, and drought resistant. There are several varieties of lavender, but in our garden, like most home gardeners, we chose to use English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Even within the English Lavender variety, there are other types of lavender within the English Lavender category. This Better Homes and Gardens article provides some additional information to give every gardener to need to know before choosing lavender for your garden.
Using Lavender Medicinally
Lavender Tea
You know how much I absolutely LOVE tea. Like most herbs, lavender can be dried and used as a medicinal tea. Drinking lavender tea can help with stress and anxiety due to its calming effects.
Bath Soak
Another way to ease stress and anxiety is to use lavender as part of a bath soak. We are in the process of renovating our bathroom right now and I cannot wait to take a nice lavender soak in our new tub!! There are many DIY recipes out there for lavender bath salts, like this one from Everything Etsy. But if you're not into DIY, fear not! You can buy Lavender Bath Salts on Amazon.
Face Steam
If you've ever had a facial, you understand how soothing a facial steam can be. Often used with different aromatic herbs for each of their different medicinal purposes, a lavender face steam is both good for your skin and also helps you relax. Why pay for a face steam when you can make your own at home? If you plant lavender in your garden, you will have an endless supply of at home face steams. We've found this tutorial on at home face steams that you can use with any medicinal herbs.
We hope you enjoyed this post. How are you using lavender?
Until next time...
Be Natural. Be Honest. Be Healthy.
