While lavender can be found in just about any skincare product, body spray, and even air freshener, this herb is capable of so much more. If you’ve never thought about the health benefits of lavender, you’ll want to keep reading and find out just what this wonderfully fragrant herb can do for your daily routine and even your sleeping habits.

Lavender has been in use for many years in many cultures but lately this herb has been in use mostly for its heavenly smell. But just using lavender to add a nice aroma to your house neglects its other natural-born health-related properties. In case you weren’t aware, lavender is ideal for promoting a more relaxed and calm state. This makes it great for those that experience a lot of tension, stress, or anxiety. For these purposes, lavender can be used in a soothing warm bath, as a flavorful herbal tea, or applied topically in the form of lavender oil to alleviate headaches, back pain, and even muscular tension. Additionally, lavender has also been known to reduce allergic reactions, inflammation of the throat, and is also ideal for treating bloating and gas.

As if that doesn’t make lavender amazing enough, it also has the proven ability to help you get a better night’s sleep. Because of its potent calming effects, individuals that have a difficult time falling asleep may have an easier time dozing off by inhaling the scent of lavender oil before getting into bed. Medical studies have shown that using lavender oil is more effective in achieving a better night’s sleep instead of using common products such as lavender scented candles, air fresheners or potpourri leaves. So you’ll need the actual source in order to get the best results. If you really want to enjoy your night’s rest, sprinkle some lavender oil onto your pillow so that its presence will be with you throughout the night. Just be sure to avoid allergic skin reactions by putting the drops onto your pillow first and then pulling your pillowcase over it. Another version of this sleep recipe is to place dried lavender leaves and buds inside of your pillow, although the lavender oil is much more potent.

There are a variety of lavender recipes that can be put to good use in your home. To relieve chest congestion, you can make a lavender compress, which is then placed on the chest. For best results, be sure to inhale the steam of the lavender, or you can cover your head with a regular towel and hang your head over a bowl of hot lavender tea and breathe in the vapors to improve breathing. If you want to make your own lavender tea, simply take two tablespoons of dried lavender and place it in cup of hot water. Allow the mixture to sit, covered, for about 10 minutes, rinse, and then serve.

It is important to know that lavender oil should never be placed on the skin without being diluted in water first.

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