The essential oils that we know and love are derived from plants, but this does not necessarily mean that the therapeutic benefits or uses from the plant to essential oil are the same. In many cases, this does not hold true. There are many recipes online utilizing essential oils that do not honor chemistry and do not focus on safe use. Sustainability is also a massive concern as more and more people are stepping into the essential oil community every day. It is not necessary to use oils every day, or in everything. When we see a recipe shared online, we must ask ourselves if it is necessary, shifting the way we currently see these beautiful resources. From Farm to Oil: Evolution of Plant Medicine-A Spotlight on Lavender
My goal in this new series of blogs is to celebrate plants in all of their glory. I will walk you through from farm to oil. Uses, limitations, and fun recipes of each botanical will be covered. Within each article, I will discuss the herb, flower, fruit, seed, root, or bark, and finally the oil. This will be informative and most importantly, FUN!
Ode to Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
We can close our eyes and imagine fields of purple flowers in France, swaying in the breeze, intoxicating scent, therapeutically abundant. There are dozens of varieties of Lavender; this article will speak to the more common varieties, high in linalool and linalyl acetate, low in camphor.
Considered a common herb, Lavender is relatively easy to grow in the home garden. It is a perennial that does not require a whole lot of care, or too much water once established, and is used for dozens of things. Therefore, it seems like our responsibility to grow it organically and use it in the home, as it is a plant with growing sustainability concerns.
The following is the definition of sustainable according to Merriam-Webster.com:
sustainable
sus·tain·able
adjective
- Able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed
- Using methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources
- Able to last or continue for a long time
Does it surprise you to know that lavender is a concern? Perhaps this will also shock you; the essential oil market is estimated to exceed $17 billion, rising to $27 billion by 2022 [1]. This is only a rough estimate; I expect it will rise much higher than this. This poses many problems in regards to essential oil production, rising prices, and adulteration.
Dr. Pappas, a well-respected essential oil chemist, stated that Lavender essential oil is in crisis mode, read about it here. Prices will be going up due to supply and demand, and as a result, we will be finding more adulterated oils on the market than ever before.
With all of this in mind, there are a couple things that we can do. Consider growing Lavender at home in pots or in your garden, then you can dry it and use it in a large myriad of ways. Trust me when I say the essential oil is not always necessary.
Try saving the seeds from the plants you grow, so that you can have Lavender year after year, and you can share with your friends! The seeds germinate slowly, so be sure to be patient and start them inside 6-8 weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors.
I ask that all of you begin to think about where you can use the herb before reaching for the essential oil. Here are a few ideas for you.
Cooking with Lavender
Lavender flowers contain vitamin A, calcium, and iron. When cooked properly, it is simply amazing in baked goods and treats. Here is a healthful recipe for Lavender banana bread.
Ingredients
-Dried Lavender 2 tablespoons
-Melted coconut oil or organic extra virgin olive oil 6 tablespoons
-All-purpose flour (can substitute for a gluten-free flour if needed) 2 cups
-Baking soda 1 teaspoon
-Himalayan or Celtic sea salt 1/2 teaspoon
-Organic, pasture-raised eggs, room temperature 2
-Plain, organic whole-milk yogurt 6 ounces
-Sugar 1 cup
-Raw honey (be sure it is raw honey, not fake honey) ½ cup
-Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon
-Large ripe bananas, mashed 2
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a bread pan with parchment paper.
2. Ahead of time, cook the dried Lavender on med-high heat for about a minute until it begins to release it’s heavenly aroma. Then, turn the heat down to med-low and add the butter to the pan. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly (I have burned this quickly by leaving unattended). Your butter should begin to slowly brown. Once the butter is a medium caramel color, remove from heat. Strain out the lavender through a sieve (unbleached cheesecloth works great); preserve the butter in a small bowl. Reserve only 1 teaspoon of the strained lavender in a separate dish. DIscard the rest.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, yogurt, sugar, honey, infused brown butter, and vanilla. Fold in the mashed banana.
4. Pour the batter into the bread pan and sprinkle the reserved lavender on top but do not mix in, bake for 1 hour, or until a knife inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
Save a little for yourself before you share with friends and family….it will go quick!
Source: Reinvented from this recipe from Broma Bakery
Herbal Lavender uses and recipes
Lavender in its dried herbal form is very useful around the home. If you have yet to try a cup of Lavender/Chamomile tea, you are in for a treat. Add a small bit of raw honey and enjoy teatime. Lavender helps to support healthy cortisol levels when under stress, and its sedative properties will also help promote a good nights sleep. Try a cuppa if you have a headache or feel particularly wound up for soothing relief.
Lavender simple syrup
-Purified or distilled water 2 cups
-Fresh or dried Lavender flowers 3 tbsp
-Sugar 2 cups
1. Bring the water and Lavender flowers to a boil.
2. Stir in sugar and mix until fully dissolved.
3. Reduce heat to low, simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and steep for 1 hour or more.
5. Strain out the flowers.
Pour into a glass bottle and store in the refrigerator. It will store well for about a week or two.
The recipe makes a very sweet syrup and will yield just about 2 cups.
Why make simple syrup? There are many recipes online for Lavender lemonade. The issue is that the common recommendation is to use Lavender essential oil. Chemistry is not considered here, unfortunately. Remember the basic chemistry 101 lessons in school, oil and water do not mix. The Lavender essential oil (or any oil) will sit on top of the water, which could cause mouth irritation, a stomachache, possible undue stress on our liver, and oil overload when we drink it. *Remember sustainability too! With your easy to make simple syrup, you can now sweeten cocktails, iced tea, and lemonade, easily and safely.
Smashing good Lavender lemonade
In a large pitcher combine:
-Fresh lemon juice, about 8 large lemons or 12 small (3 cups)
-Simple syrup 2 cups
-Purified water 6 cups
-1-2 cups of ice
Blend well. Your friends will rave about this Lavender lemonade, tasty, healthy, and safe.
Infused Lavender Honey
Ingredients
-Dried Lavender 2 tbsp (do not use fresh here)
-Honey 1 cup or 8 ounces (I highly recommend local honey)
Equipment
-Sanitized mason jar
-Wooden spoon
-Strainer
Instructions
1. Place herbs in the bottom of the mason jar and fill the jar almost to the top with honey. Using the wooden spoon, stir to coat the herbs with honey. Top off with more honey to fill the jar. Wipe the jar rim with a clean cloth and cover tightly.
2. Let the herbs infuse for at least five days. If the herbs float to the top, turn the jar over a few times to keep them well coated (wipe lid again). For a more intense flavor, infuse for another week or longer.
3. Strain the honey into a thoroughly sanitized jar.
4. Store the honey in a tightly covered jar in a cool, dry place. As long as you use fully dried flowers, this honey will last a very long time, essentially eternally.
This infused honey is soothing in chamomile tea, over yogurt or oatmeal. It will also ease a sore throat, and if you have used local honey…it is amazing to help combat seasonal threats as well!
Soothing Lavender Face Mask
Essential oils are great for the face, but when keeping sustainability in mind, it is reassuring to know that the herbs are just as effective, and much more gentle.
Give this a try:
-French green clay 2 tablespoons (deep pore cleansing)
-Lavender flowers 1 tablespoon
-Himalayan Sea salt 1 tablespoon
Grind up in a coffee grinder, and then slowly add purified water (or hydrosol of your choice) until your desired consistency. It should resemble a slightly watered down creamy peanut butter. Apply over face and neck. Allow mixture to begin to harden, but not fully as it will begin to absorb the natural oils on the face (aim for 8-10 minutes). Rinse with cool water, and pat dry. Be sure to moisturize as usual.
When the essential oil is helpful
In applications such as a blissful bath, for example, herbs are wonderful in a muslin bag but may not be aromatic enough. Enter fresh lavender salts. Safety is really important in the bath. There are two reasons why neat oil or just oil and Epsom salts are not recommended.
1. Occluding the skin (covering it) as well as warming via warm/hot water increases absorption [2], therefore, also increases risks for skin irritation with neat or improperly emulsified essential oils.
2. Epsom salts are not an emulsifier, so just utilizing Epsom salts and oils are not the ideal way, and also risks skin irritation. Read more here and here.
Knock you out bath salts
-Epsom salts 2 cups (one for a child)
-Fragrance-free shampoo 1 tbsp
-Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 6 drops
-Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) 2 drops
(1/2 the amount of essential oils for a child)
*You can utilize carrier oil in place of shampoo, but the oils will remain on the top of the water. I prefer the shampoo to fully disperse the oils throughout the water.
Smell the Lavender
Anyone that has been lucky enough to stand amidst a Lavender field in bloom knows that it is purely intoxicating. We can add a dried Lavender wreath to the home or a muslin bag filled with dried Lavender to freshen up a drawer or closet, but if we ourselves need to really be calmed and soothed more therapeutically, Lavender essential oil is beneficial.
Aromatherapy inhalers are a great way to use essential oils on the go. You can easily add a few drops to a cotton round and place in your car’s air vent to freshen the car and soothe you if driving makes you anxious or a bit angry at times (I feel you). Here is a great diffuser blend to try when at home:
Lavender diffuser blend
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) 5 drops
Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) 3 drops
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) 2 drops
This amount of drops is suitable for a 400ml water reservoir diffuser. Adjust accordingly for your diffuser.
To this day, Lavender essential oil is the one essential oil that can calm and center me like no other can. I inhale directly from the bottle when needed.
Lastly, over the years, my children have come to me many a night, unable to fall asleep. One drop is all that is needed on a teddy bear, tissue or blanket and they are off to dreamland. Less is more. One drop works great for us all.
Closing
When we take from the earth for nutrition, sustenance, and healing, it is important that we always consider not only the impact of our use but on giving back. In an ideal world, if we all gave back a little bit more than we take, the impact would be massive. If you are looking to purchase an essential oil for a particular use, please do your research to be sure you are not purchasing a dwindling resource. Often times, many essential oils can be used for a common goal. We need to begin to shift the way we currently see these beautiful resources, for the continued future success of natural healing.
Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
References
[1] Global Essential Oil Market: Snapshot. Retrieved from https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/essential-oil-market.html
[2] Skin Barrier and Transdermal Drug Delivery. Retrieved from http://drugdelivery.chbe.gatech.edu/Papers/2012/Prausnitz%20Derm%20Book%20Chapter%202012.pdf
Resources
Sustainability Issues via NAHA https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/sustainability-issues/
The Environmental Impact of Essential Oils http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/the_environmental_impact_of_essential_oils/
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