Who isn’t familiar with lavender flowers? This purple ornamental plant remains a favorite for beautifying home gardens.
Not only do they enhance the appearance of your yard, but lavender, or Lavandula, is also widely used in body care products, perfumes, and aromatherapy.
Indeed, lavender flowers are rich in benefits. If you’re looking for an ornamental plant that’s not only beautiful but also useful, lavender is an excellent choice.
Getting to Know Lavender Flowers
Lavender flowers belong to the genus Lavandula, part of the Lamiaceae family, and consist of 25–30 species. True to its genus, lavender is classified as a herbaceous plant or a small shrub.
Lavender is widely found in Europe, especially France, North and East Africa, as well as the Canary Islands. With its charming purple hue, this flower symbolizes elegance and purity.
Benefits of Lavender Flowers
As previously mentioned, lavender flowers are known for their numerous benefits. Here’s a detailed look!
Promotes a Sense of Calm
Many aromatherapy and perfume products use lavender oil as their main ingredient.
Not only does it smell wonderful, but inhaling the scent of lavender can also induce feelings of calm and reduce anxiety.
In fact, essential oil derived from lavender flowers can help improve mood. If you’re experiencing anxiety, try inhaling this flower’s soothing aroma.
Repels Mosquito Bites
Many mosquito-repellent lotions incorporate lavender flower extracts as their primary ingredient.
Studies have shown that applying lavender oil to the skin can prevent mosquito bites for up to eight hours.
Reduces Headaches
Lavender flowers can also help alleviate headaches.
Research has demonstrated that inhaling lavender essential oil for 15 minutes can reduce headache discomfort.
However, since this research is still on a small scale, further studies are needed. Nevertheless, it’s worth a try!
Helps Relieve Insomnia
Some studies suggest that lavender flowers can help produce melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleepiness.
For centuries, lavender has been used to improve sleep quality. Simply place one or two sprigs of lavender inside your pillow.
Today, there are many products containing lavender oil, such as body lotions, perfumes, and aromatherapy candles.
Using these products can provide a calming effect and enhance your sleep quality.
Alleviates Asthma Symptoms
Few people know that lavender flowers can help relieve asthma symptoms. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, lavender can ease symptoms of bronchial asthma.
A study revealed that the anti-inflammatory compounds in this plant can reduce inflammation and excessive mucus production.
However, using lavender oil for asthma relief should always follow a doctor’s advice, especially for pregnant women and children.
Eases Menstrual Pain
Do you often experience menstrual pain? One of lavender’s remarkable benefits is its ability to ease discomfort during menstruation.
Simply inhaling the aroma of lavender flowers for 15 minutes can reduce menstrual pain. The relaxing effect can help loosen tense muscles, including those in the uterus.
You might want to try this method before resorting to medical pain relievers. What do you think? Interested in giving it a try?
