Wellness to Thrive : Deanna McMahon

Lavender Spotlight

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Lavender, aka the loving grandmother of essential oils, has a scent that's a wonderful blend of fresh, floral, clean, and calm. It's this dynamic aroma that has made the plant a classic for perfumes, soaps, fresheners, and beauty products! Lavender is a great beginner oil and a must for every home. Lavender is also highly versatile -- from skin care products to relaxing routines, this oil can infuse and enhance many areas of your life!

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JUST A DROP OF LAVENDER

  • Has a fresh, floral aroma that pairs well with many other oils
  • Can help cleanse and soothe minor skin irritations
  • Can be soothing to the skin after a day in the sun
  • May help reduce the appearance of blemishes
  • Supports aging skin
  • Calms and relaxes the mind and body
  • Soothes seasonal respiratory needs
  • Creates a tranquil environment when diffused or applied topically
  • May help ease occasional nervous tension and improve sleep quality for occasional sleeplessness
  • Contains cleansing and antioxidant properties
  • Supports general wellness

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL from Courtney Critz: Lavender makes me think of a wonderful grandmother. Soft and huggable, gentle, smells like flowers, calming, and the one you want around if you are sad, tired, or need comforting. She has experience and wisdom and seems to be able to fix every problem. She is soft-spoken and makes you feel more rested the moment she's around. And she seems to have that perfect knack with any baby.

For centuries lavender has been used for sleep. It has been put into pillows and mattresses, wrapped up with clothes, added to handkerchiefs (hello, diffuser) and used in aromatherapy for relaxation. It has been added to all kinds of tonics and potions for skin and smelling salts for fragile ladies whose corsets were tied a little too tight.

Unfortunately, over the years, many "lavender" scented items became filled with synthetics and fillers which actually irritated our airways and lost all of their benefits. People even started giving lavender a bad reputation as being unsafe because of all the synthetic, chemical-laden products that had been used bearing its name. There is more lavender oil sold than grown in the world which doesn't really add up right. But, hooray!, Young Living began growing and distilling its own lavender to ensure a high quality oil, making sure that we had the real thing again. I've planted and harvested it myself in Idaho and Utah! I mean, who wants a fake grandmother? Little Red Riding Hood can tell you that is NOT a good plan.

Today we use our Young Living Lavender Oil in many similar ways. In our lotions, bath products, sleep roll-ons, diffusers, and on our precious babies. It is a gentle oil with a calming effect on everything from our respiratory systems, to our skin, to our emotions. So when you have a problem and you want something to be comforted, whether it's your irritated nose, your foot, or your baby, remember The Grandmother of all oils and give her a try.

LAVENDER BACKGROUND Did you know that lavender is part of the mint family and is one of Young Living's most popular oils? Young Living has three farms that grow lavender, located in Utah, Idaho, and France - ooh la la!! Lavender is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant, and it takes 27 square feet of lavender plants to make one 15 ml bottle of Lavender essential oil. In ancient Greece, Pedanius Dioscorides, a physician pharmacologist and botanist, praised the many qualities and uses of lavender. You can find Lavender essential oil in many Young Living blends, including Stress Away, Tranquil, RutaVaLa, Forgiveness, and Harmony.

PRODUCT DETAILS

  • Steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant
  • One of the most popular and most versatile essential oils in the world
  • Grown at the flagship St. Maries Lavender Farm and Distillery in St. Maries Idaho, the Young Living Lavender Farm and Distillery in Mona, Utah and at the Simiane-la-Rotonde Lavender Farm and Distillery in SImiane-la-Rotonde, France
  • Wonderful addition to linen sprays, body wash, body scrubs and more
  • It takes approximately 27 square feet of lavender plants to produce a 15mL bottle of lavender essential oil.
  • Lavender and Lavender Vitality are the same essential oil.

KEY CONSTITUENTS *Constituents are naturally occurring compounds in plants (and therefore essential oils) that give them specific health-supporting properties

  • Linalyl acetate: has high quality antioxidant properties and has been shown to support the cardiovascular system as well as the body's response to ischemic injury.
  • Linalool: has been shown to support the body's response to pain inflammation, may help improve sleep, and is considered to support the immune and central nervous systems

LAVENDER & EMOTIONS Lavender is great for the many common fears we are tempted to give into:

  • Fear of Abandonment, being left alone. By rubbing lavender over the abdomen and using the mantra "I embrace all life's experiences" can help us be open to self-reliance and our contentment to all things. The opposite of abandonment is not being fully self-reliant, but being connected to everything working together for our good.
  • Fear of Criticism. This one is huge, especially if you are in a line of work where you put yourself out there often (or if you have a high-maintenance toddler too!). Using Lavender as perfume while pairing it with mantras and unconditional love for ourselves can be a great practice for developing self confidence!
  • Fear of New Things, fear of moving forward. Sometimes there are big transitions in life and sometimes it seems scary to open ourselves up to change. Lavender has a beautiful way of calming the central nervous system to help us be more open to change and gaining positive momentum.

PRODUCT OPTIONS

  • Lavender Essential Oil
  • Lavender Vitality Essential Oil*
  • Lavender Bath & Shower Gel
  • Lavender Hand & Body Lotion
  • Lavender Calming Bath Bombs
  • Lavender AromaRings

*Note: Lavender and Lavender Vitality are the same essential oil. Lavender Vitality is simply labeled differently for internal use.

DAILY HABITS WITH LAVENDER Lavender is such a lovely, versatile oil that there are many ways we can use it on a daily basis - from skincare to relaxation to health to kids! You can even use Lavender Vitality in all of your cooking and baking recipes. (See the Lavender Vitality Recipes Resource linked below for more!)

Add Lavender to your relaxation routine…

  • Unwind in the evening with a calming, Lavender-infused neck or back massage. Feeling tense? Add a little Peppermint and Frankincense!
  • Use Lavender as part of a bedtime routine by rubbing it on the bottoms of your feet and diffusing it next to your bed.
  • Help little ones calm down for bedtime with gentle Lavender massage. Mix 1 Tbsp carrier oil with 5 drops Lavender and gently massage legs, arms and back.
  • Add 10 drops of Lavender to 1 cup of magnesium flakes or epsom salt to a bath to create a relaxing environment. We also love adding Peace & Calming or Frankincense to the mix!

Add Lavender to your wellness routine…

  • Reach for Lavender to release tension.
  • Head On Roller: 20 drops Peppermint, Copaiba, Lavender, 10 drops Frankincense. Fill with V-6 carrier or carrier oil of choice and roll over temples, across the forehead, on the back of the neck and shoulders.
  • Use Lavender to support the airways when air quality is less than ideal:
  • Seasons Change Roller Blend: 15 drops each Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Copaiba, then fill with carrier. Roll over the chest, wrists, just below the nostrils. This also makes a great combination for an epsom salt bath or a diffuser blend!
  • Add 5 drops each Lavender and Copaiba to 1 cup fine grain sea salt or organic salt and mineral solution and mix well. To use, dilute 1 tsp of mixture with 8-12oz distilled water to make a DIY nasal rinse solution for use in a netipot.
  • Use a drop of Lavender Vitality under the tongue or swiped on the inside of the cheek.

Use Lavender to support skin needs...

  • Make an “Owie” spray or cream (great for kiddos!):
    • 2 Tbsp solid coconut oil (for a cream) or fractionated coconut oil (for a spray)
    • 15 drops each Lavender, Frankincense, Copaiba
    • Optional: 10 drops Tea Tree for purifying needs
    • Small glass jar or 2oz glass spray bottle
    • Apply to needed area frequently to support natural healing
  • Apply Lavender diluted with coconut oil to skin after touching something hot.
  • Add Lavender to your moisturizer for oily skin needs or apply it with a cotton ball to blemishes or the t-zone as needed.
  • Make a dry scalp mask with ¼ cup organic avocado oil, 10 drops each Lavender and Tea Tree essential oil. Apply to dry spots of scalp and let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing and washing as usual. Use once a week.
  • Rub lavender and coconut oil on the skin after time in the sun or make an after-sun spray or balm!
    • ¼ cup solid coconut oil (or liquid carrier for a spray)
    • 10 drops Peppermint essential oil
    • 20 drops Lavender essential oil
    • Optional: 15 drops Tea Tree essential oil for extra red/hot skin
    • Small glass jar or 2oz glass spray bottle

DIFFUSER BLENDS WITH LAVENDER Diffusing is a wonderful health habit! Our diffusers are running 24/7 and Lavender is a great oil to diffuse!! So…. What blends well with Lavender? If there's a scent that doesn't blend well with Lavender, we haven't found it. Bold of us to say? Yes. Still true? Without a doubt!

Lavender's floral aroma is distinctive and unique, yet it mixes well with other fragrances too. Blend Lavender with other florals, and its clean, simple scent will shine. Mix it with spectacular spices or whimsical woods to soften sharp smells. Add a touch of romance to citrus perfumes or a hint of sweetness to herby aromas.

  • Sweet Dreams: 4 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce, 3 drops Tangerine, 3 drops Lavender
  • Sunkissed: 3 drops each Tangerine, Grapefruit, Lime, Lavender
  • Coastal Oasis: 3 drops each Lavender, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lime
  • Friendsgiving: 3 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Cinnamon Bark, 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Geranium
  • Herb Garden: 3 drops each Rosemary, Basil, Lemon, Lavender
  • Flower Crown: 3 drops each Clary Sage, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, 2 drops Nutmeg
  • Seasons Change: 3 drops each Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, 2 drops Tea Tree
  • Ocean Breeze: 4 drops Spearmint, 3 drops each Lime, Lavender
  • Flower Child: 4 drops each Ylang ylang, Lavender, 3 drops Geranium
  • Over the Moon: 3-4 drops each Idaho Grand Fir, Valor, Lavender
  • Adventure Awaits: 4 drops Orange, 3 drops each Lavender, Pine, 1 drop Black Pepper

COMPANION PRODUCTS

TESTIMONIES There are SO many reasons to love Lavender, but don't just take it from us. Check out these community testimonies about this versatile oil!

  • “Lavender is one of my favorite oils.. I diffuse it every night with Cedarwood to help calm my kids. A few of my favorite ways to use it is to apply it topically with a roller, add a drop or two to my mascara to help my lashes grow, add it to my baths with Epsom salts for relaxation and add it to my skin serum I make with my oils. I pretty much use it for everything!”
  • “Lavender was the oil that got me started with Young Living! I use it to support a restful night of sleep every night. It is a constant on my monthly order. I also love using 2-3 drops of lavender on wool dryer balls in a load of laundry.”
  • “I love to diffuse it when we homeschool and it just brings the whole house into a calming frame of mind.”
  • “Lavender is my 3 year old's favorite oil. When she gets an “owie” she always asks for it and a kiss. I love that it's that easy.”
  • “Lavender is a go to oil for so many things. An odd use has been rubbing this on the bridge of my nose. Why? A few years back my eyes began watering and always felt like they had tiny rocks in them. Eye drops helped but that meant the rest of my life. I discovered lavender in the bridge of my nose stops all the effects and my eye doctor was pleased.”
  • “I applied lavender on my sweet baby girl this morning as part of her wellness roller and currently it's going in our bedroom-- my firefighter husband asked for it while he napped, regaining his rest from working through the flood down here. So grateful for the sweet gift that Lavender is to our family!”
  • “I love lavender! I used mine today in my seasonal roller along with lemon, peppermint, and copaiba.”