Much hilarity ensued in the Squeaky Duck offices yesterday, after a discussion about essential oils revealed that our strapping 6ft 3in Ops Manager is terrified of bees. In his words, "if one of those things comes near me, I suddenly turn into a little girl". Disturbed by the mental image of him in pigtails and wearing a gingham dress, we asked him why he had such a phobia.
"Lavender.", he replied. "My grandma used to have huge flowerbeds full of lavender shrubs. The garden was always full of bees in the summer. I was frightened of going outside in case I got stung...they were everywhere."
I'm sure he wasn't the only child that was "traumatised" by the bee populace going about their work on this wonderfully scented plant - especially as lavender is one of the oldest medicinal herbs, having over 2500 years of recorded use.
The Phoenicians and Egyptians had basic methods of extracting the oil and used it in the mummification process. The lavender plant may have first been domesticated in Arabia and was used there as an expectorant and antispasmodic. From Arabia, it was then carried by the Greeks and Romans, who used it to cure or ward off a host of illnesses. Eventually it reached France, Spain, Italy and England where it became well established as a remedy for stomach complaints and nervousness and as a cosmetic water to benefit the skin.. It is also said to repel scorpions and is still used in parts of Europe for this purpose, where houses in the countryside will often have little bowls of lavender flowers resting on the window ledges. It was said to repel moths and to help prevent "mustiness" from mildew and it has a long history of use in sachets for drawers and closets.
Dioscorides, the famous first century Greek physician, recommended lavender for "griefs of the thorax" and also noted that it relieved headaches, indigestion and sore throats when used internally and was good for treating wounds or burns and for skin conditions when used externally.
Lavender was often cited by Hildegard of Bingen, the famous 12th century mystic. It was one of her favorite herbs and she recommended it for migraine headaches, a use which has persisted into modern times, as well as for "maintaining a pure character". Later, it was one of the major ingredients of the so-called Thieves Vinegar used in the Middle Ages during the Plague and was also considered an aphrodisiac.
By the 19th Century, doctors used lavender essential oil to treat headaches, memory loss, fainting, depression, and infertility in women.
In modern times, the benefits of lavender are well-known and well documented. The essential oils from lavender work to calm a variety of nervous disorders including excitability, nervous tension, panic, and hysteria. It emanates a mellow peacefulness and induces sleep. As such, lavender oil is a great way to battle insomnia and a small pouch of lavender flowers placed in a pillow is a great way to help the restless to fall asleep.
Scientifically, there is now evidence that lavender aromatherapy may improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift the mood of people who suffer from sleep disorders. Studies also suggest that massage with lavender essential oil may result in improved sleep quality, more stable mood, increased mental capacity, and reduced anxiety. In one recent study, participants who received massage with lavender felt less anxious and more positive than participants who received massage alone. Lavender flowers have also been approved in Germany as a tea for insomnia, restlessness, and nervous stomach irritations.
One of our top selling bath bombs is our
Lavender Seeds Bath Bomb. Made with lavender essential oils (Lavandula Angustifolia Oil) and French lavender flowers and seeds, this is a fantastic way to get a good night's sleep after a long soak in the bath. Used with our
Sleepy Lavender Soap Slices you'll be drifting off in no time!
