Weekly Tip-Off! The Many Uses for Lavender Essential Oil

20 Ways to Use Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is one of the oils I will not go without in the house. It can be used for sooooo many things! It is extremely versatile and most commonly known for it's relaxing effects on the body. You can use it to cleanse cuts, help with burns, as a sleep-aid, and so much more! Remember, like with any essential oils skin sensitivities vary between different people. Whenever using essential oils on children, always dilute with a carrier oil. For adults, you may want to dilute as well depending on your skin sensitivities. Lavender is one of the oils you can apply neat (with no dilution) when used topically. However, this will depend on your individual skin sensitivity, so it's always good to apply a small amount to begin with and test in small areas.

For easy access, you can premix lavender and fractionated coconut oil in a jar or a roller bottle.

Here is a list to give you an idea of the many ways in which you can use lavender at home! (These are in no particular order)

1. Stay Calm! Lavender oil can help to calm nerves and cure anxiety. Rub 2-3 drops of lavender in your palms, rub your palms together, cup palms around nose/mouth area and inhale deeply! You can also rub on the feet, temples, wrists (or anywhere) for an immediate calming effect on the body. Great to use as a preventative before entering a stressful or crowded environment.

2. Nite Nite! Put a drop or 2 of Lavender on your feet before bed....I do this every night and swear by it! You can also diffuse lavender and/or put a few drops on your pillow. I have a spray I've made out of water, frankincense, and lavender that I spray on our pillows every night before bed. The combination creates a very relaxing environment for me and my husband and helps us get a good night's sleep!

3. Bye Bye Burns: For minor burns, put 2-3 drops of lavender directly on a minor burn to decrease pain and help the burn go away quickly. I discovered how well this works after burning my hand directly on the oven. I had heard that lavender helps with burns, so I thought "why not?" I put a couple drops on the burn. Immediately, it relieved the pain, and the next day I had very little redness, no swelling, and hardly any pain. It was one of those types of burns I was positive I would get blisters from, so I was very impressed with the results!

4. Insect Bites and Bee Stings: You can put a drop of lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching and reduce swelling.

5. Clean out Cuts: Drop Lavender oil on cut to stop bleeding, clean wound, and kill bacteria.

6. Eczema: Mix several drops of Lavender oil with a carrier oil (I always use fractionated coconut oil) and use topically on eczema. You can read more about carrier oils HERE. If you make homemade body butter, you can also mix lavender in with the body butter!

7. Nausea and Motion Sickness: To help with nausea or motion sickness, place a drop of lavender oil on the end of tongue, behind the ears, or around the naval. You can also spray some lavender oil on your skin and clothes as many people find the scent of lavender to be soothing to the stomach . Another option is to apply a couple drops of lavender to a cloth or your hands and inhale deeply. Or you can make a massage blend by mixing 4 drops of ginger essential oil, 4 drops of lavender, 3 drops of peppermint, and 5 teaspoons of a carrier oil in a non-reactive bowl...then massage this mixture onto the abdomen in a circular motion.

8. After Sun Spray: Because lavender oil helps with burns, it is great to use after being in the sun...especially if you stayed out a bit too long! I personally just have lavender oil mixed with water in a spray bottle I use. However, there is a great DIY Recipe HERE!

9. Goodbye Stress! Add lavender essential oil to your bath water to soak away stress or apply to temples and the back of the neck to help you wind down after a long, stressful day. You can also drop lavender oil into a diffuser to promote balance and relaxation.

10. Dry or Chapped Skin: Rub lavender oil on dry or chapped skin.

11. Hay Fever: Rub a few drops of lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help alleviate the symptoms of hay fever. You can also diffuse lavender to help with this.

12. Dandruff: Mix a few drops in with your favorite shampoo or rub several drops of lavender oil directly into the scalp to help eliminate dandruff

13. Cold Sores: Put a drop of lavender on your cold sore to help with outbreaks and healing.

14. Flavor Booster! Add a few drops of lavender to any recipe you want to enhance. You can add to your water or tea (especially sparkling!), brownies, cookies, dessert recipes, raw chocolate or salad dressings! Lavender oil is edible, but make sure to add very small amounts until the flavor is to your liking as the flavor is very powerful!

15. Alleviate Your Headache: Combine lavender essential oil with peppermint essential oil and rub on the back of your neck and your temples. You can also use the inhalation method to inhale these oils (Rub on your palms and breathe in deeply).

16. Natural Perfume: Add lavender oil directly to skin or combine with water for a more subtle scent. Also try combining with some other essential oils to create your own scent! I personally like lavender and cedar wood combined!

17. Lip Balm: Lavender oil is great for preventing sunburns and healing chapped lips, which is why I always use it in my homemade lip balms. If you don't want to make your own lip balm at home, try adding it to shea butter, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, or another carrier oil of your choice and then rub on your lips for protection.

18. Insect Repellent: Lavender is a natural bug repellent as many insects dislike the smell of lavender. This makes it a safe alternative to other topical bug sprays. You can simply spray lavender mixed with water on your skin, or you can check out some great DIY sprays HERE!

19. Natural Deodorizer: Add lavender oil to your laundry to kill odor-causing bacteria during the wash cycle. Sprinkle lavender oil on drier sheets to add a pleasant floral aroma to clothes, bedding, curtains, towels, etc.

20. Facial Routine: Use 1 to 2 drops lavender oil with your daily face wash to help with existing acne and help prevent future breakouts.

****The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.