10 Life-Changing Lavender Oil Benefits & Uses You Need to Know About
There are a ton of pesky things that can crop up in the course of a day—headaches, breakouts, and nausea, just to name a few—and there are oodles of products that can help you combat each problem like a boss. But what if you could deal with many of these issues using just one product? Ladies and gents, it’s time to brush up on your knowledge of lavender oil uses.
Not only will these lavender oil benefits save you time, money, and space in your medicine cabinet, your purse will be about 25 pounds lighter.
10 Handy Lavender Oil Benefits and Uses
1. Soothe injuries
Because of its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, lavender oil can help soothe sunburns and heal dry skin, as well as minor cuts and scrapes.
- Simply add 10 drops of lavender oil per one ounce of aloe vera or coconut oil, and apply to the injured area.
- It’s also super handy to have around when you burn yourself in the kitchen (which, in my case, is every time I cook): After keeping the burn under running water for a few minutes, add a few drops of lavender oil to the burn. The lavender oil can help accelerate the healing process and soothe that uncomfortable fiery sensation.
2. Nix headaches
According to a 2012 study published in the European Journal of Neurology, people struggling with migraine headaches saw a significant reduction in pain when they inhaled lavender oil scents for 15 minutes. If you deal with chronic migraines or even the occasional tension headache, setting up an essential oil diffuser in your home or office may be just the ticket to melting the pain away.
3. Calm the eff down
While this is one of the most well-known lavender oil uses, it’s too important to ignore: Inhaling lavender is one of the best ways to calm your mind, which is especially useful when you’ve got a stressful day ahead (or just survived one). Either rub on your temples or wrists for insta-stress relief, or spritz on your bedsheets to create your own personal oasis.
4. Ditch dandruff
If your scalp constantly gives you attitude (you know, like mine), one of my favorite lavender oil uses is as an anti-dandruff cleanser. When applied to your hair and scalp, lavender oil hydrates, moisturizes, and smells incredible. Add a few drops to some warm water in a squirt bottle and shake well. Evenly coat your scalp and hair, much like you would if you were dying your strands. Rinse out after a few minutes.
5. Freshen up fabrics
The antibacterial properties in lavender oil can freshen up your clothes, bed sheets, towels, and curtains—no icky chemicals required. Just add a few drops of lavender oil to a spray bottle of water, shake well, and spritz away!
6. Treat acne
Adult acne is the worst—it’s like high school never ended! It turns out that aromatherapists use lavender extensively for treating acne, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Simply dab lavender oil on your blemishes using a cotton swab, and let its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties take care of the rest.
7. Combat cankers
According to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that applying two drops of lavender oil to a canker sore three times daily can improve the healing process, as well as reduce swelling and pain. (Cha. Ching.) Simply apply directly to your canker sore using a clean finger or a cotton ball. If you find straight lavender oil is too strong, you can blend it with a smidgen of coconut oil before applying.
8. Tone your skin
You can help keep your skin’s pH balance… well, balanced, by making your own skin toner out of apple cider vinegar and lavender oil—the vinegar is not only alkalizing, but antiseptic and antibacterial, too, while the lavender oil soothes and refreshes. Fill a bottle with half apple cider vinegar and half filtered water. Add one drop of lavender oil for every one ounce of liquid in the bottle and shake well. Apply to your face using a cotton ball or cleansing pad, or add to a spray bottle and spritz for a cooling sensation.
9. Relieve nausea
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lavender oil can help prevent nausea or motion sickness. Simply place a drop of lavender oil on the tip of your tongue, behind your ears, or under your belly button.
10. Fight free radicals
Researchers from China discovered that within 22 hours of using lavender oil, it can help your body produce three important (and powerful) antioxidants that help protect your body against damage caused by free radicals. Just run a diffuser in your home to score these ah-mazing lavender oil benefits. (Take that, toxins!)
What are your favorite lavender oil uses?
Related on Organic Authority
How to Harvest and Use Lavender Plants
How to Treat Heat Rash Naturally with a Lavender Bath
Lavender oil image via Shutterstock
Follow Organic Authority’s board Delicious Beauty – Natural Beauty Care on Pinterest.
*Up your natural beauty routine with these DIY tips, ideas and more on Pinterest.
