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Lavender helps to calm, is good for the skin, hair, among other benefits

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Often cited for its color and aroma, lavender and its essential oil can provide incredible health benefits. The name "lavender" derives from the Latin root “wash”, which literally means “to wash”. The earliest use of lavender dates back to ancient Egypt. There, lavender essential oil played a role in the mummification process.

• What are essential oils?

During later times, lavender became a bathing item in several regions, including Persia, ancient Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helped to purify the body and mind.

Since ancient times, lavender has been used to treat many different ailments, including:

• mental health problems
• anxiety
• insomnia
• depression
• headaches
• hair loss
• nausea
• acne
• toothache
• skin irritations
• cancer

aromatherapy

• What is aromatherapy and what are its benefits?

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic area in which lavender and its essential oil are most used. Its fragrance is believed to help promote calm, well-being and reduce stress, anxiety and possibly even mild pain. A study of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine concluded that topical application of lavender, in addition to sage and rose, could reduce the severity of menstrual cramps.

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Reduces side effects of cancer treatment

According to the National Cancer Institute, aromatherapy can help patients manage the side effects of cancer treatment. Smell receptors send messages to the brain that can affect mood

sleep aid

Lavender is suitable for people who suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders. Typically, you place branches of the flower or its essential oil on the pillowcase overnight.

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Aromatherapists use lavender to treat headaches and nervousness or restlessness. Massage therapists sometimes apply lavender essential oil to the skin, which can work both as a calming agent and a sleep aid. In Germany, lavender tea has been approved as a supplement to treat sleep disturbances, restlessness and stomach irritation.

Good for skin and hair

Topical use of lavender essential oil can help treat a condition called aerated alopecia, which causes a person's hair to fall out. In a study, published in Archives of Dermatology, people who rubbed essential oils of lavender, thyme, rosemary and cedar in areas where hair had fallen out showed hair growth over seven months. However, there was no way for researchers to determine which oil was responsible.

When applied to the skin, lavender essential oil has shown positive results against eczema, acne, burns and diaper rash. One way to use it is to dilute it in coconut oil.

• Coconut oil: benefits, what is it for and how to use it

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Adapted from Healthline

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