Health Care – Lavender, the must have in your medicine (travel) kit!

Essential oils are one of nature’s best kept secrets with one hundred times the potency of a dried herb.  It is great for burn treatments and scalds.  Lavender oil is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative and detoxifier which promotes healing and prevents scarring.  It actually stimulates the cells of the wound to regenerate more quickly.  We just got a German Shepard puppy and while we were playing he accidentally scratched my face.  It really stung and to my horror looking in the mirror I had a three inch red angry scratch from beside the top of my nose to my mouth!  My first impulse was pour on the lavender!  Thankfully, it was the very best thing to do, one week later it is barely noticeable, I just keep applying directly to the area morning and evening.  Not only is the scent soothing to me, but all those around me.  We just finished Christmas break and I can tell you a wee bit of calming for my delightful children was appreciated as well. 

I must confess I have had a mini love affair with essential oils for quite some time as they are natural and amazingly good ways to heal what ails you without loading up on “toxic toddies” or your average over the counter medicine (otc).  If I have a headache or am having trouble falling asleep, Lavender does the trick, but it is also amazing for bee stings and insect bites.  If you had a blemish, Lavender can make it go down, it will even reduce scars, truly!  There are eight hundred essential oil properties, which means it is the “go to oil”.  The only exceptions would be for pregnant and those with low blood pressure, they should use in low dilutions due to the Narcotic-like properties.  I was told the other day to put a drop of lavender into my new mascara upon opening to keep the germs at bay that can gather in the container, what a great tip!  I find it refreshing to be able to take one ingredient and get so very many varied uses, it really is the gift that keeps giving.  If you wanted your car to smell fresh, just put a dab of Lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and stick it under your seat, you instantly have a fresh smelling car without the nasty toxins of some over the counter deodorizers.  If this is new to you, give it a try, you will be glad you did.