Most of us have heard of lavender oil, and are familiar with the smell. Up until recently, I thought of it more as a relaxing scent…in perfumes, or bubble baths…

However, after my boyfriend (Nick) was in an accident at work, I read up on the other health benefits of lavender oil. Nick’s back was very sore and we were looking for ways to relieve the pain without using additional medications. We read that lavender oil is used to treat muscle aches and sprains.

It was suggested that we use pure lavender essential oil for it to work most effectively. So, we went to Whole Foods. One of the sales people there was very helpful and suggested we mix the pure lavender essential oil with a topical pain relief cream called, Arnicare which contains Arnica Montana, a homeopathic medicine used for centuries as a pain reliever.

• We purchased a pure lavender essential oil: Aura Cacia brand for <$10 (pic below) 
  • More info here: http://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/aclearn/eo_lavender.htm

   

• And a tube of the Arnicare Cream for <$10 (pic below)
• Paraben free, all-natural
• More info here: http://www.arnicare.com/arnicare-cream/

We mixed 2 drops of the lavender oil with the Arnicare Cream and massaged onto the sprained areas. Massaging the cream/oil was relaxing in itself, and because the pure essential oil has a stronger concentration of the lavender, it also served as an aromatherapy treatment. Nick has been using this combination regularly and has found some relief! We like this homeopathic alternative…and would recommend it to anyone looking for a natural way to treat muscle aches/sprains.

 There are other known benefits of lavender oil – see below:

• Alleviates Insomnia: use the essential oil in bath water or apply topically. It will soothe tensions and quiet nerves, often leading to a better night’s sleep. The aroma tends to assists those having difficulty falling/staying asleep
• Analgesic:  thought to serve as a natural analgesic, relieving headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps and wounds. Adding a few drops of lavender oil and some Epsom salts to a bath can reduce muscle achiness. Periodic lavender oil massages may lessen joint pain; a hot compress that has had several drops of lavender oil applied may comfort menstrual cramps if laid across the lower abdomen. A cool compress given the same application of lavender oil and laid across the forehead can relieve headaches. Lavender oil gently applied to cuts and wounds may lower pain levels, avert infection and prevent scars. To soothe burned skin, run cold water on the burned area for 5 minutes then lightly rub lavender oil on the burn
• Anti-Infective: according to Diabetes Spectrum, essential oils, and lavender in particular, can improve wound outcome and help guard against chronic infection. Lavender’s anti-fungal and antibacterial properties may heal head lice and scalp infections.
• Respiratory Relief: some believe lavender offers respiratory relief to those suffering from colds, sinusitis, coughs and the flu. Adding two drops of lavender and two drops of thyme oil to a bowl of warm water, then placing a towel over the head and bowl and inhaling deeply to ease the symptoms of sinusitis. Doing so may loosen phlegm and help those with respiratory tract infections to breathe better

 My final thoughts:

• It’s worth having a bottle of pure lavender oil on hand to treat a variety of ailments
• The smell alone is relaxing and worth having around (you can put some droplets into a diffuser)
• The small bottle of the Aura Cacia lavender essential oil should last a good amount of time. You only need a couple of droplets per treatment – regardless if you are mixing it in the bath, with cream, or another ‘carrier’

Do you already use lavender oil? For what? please share!

Source/Read more: Lavendar Oil Benefits | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7195014_lavendar-oil-benefits.html#ixzz1S02kMaMs