Lavender

How to grow Lavender and its health benefits

Lavender is an amazing herb, it’s definitely one of my favorites and for good reason – it helps calm stress and anxiety, reduces insomnia too. Plus lots of other lavender health benefits and I love the sweet smell.

Growing Lavender

From seeds: Use a starting seed mix, barely cover the seeds because they need lots of light to germinate. It can take as little as fourteen days and as long as a month to start sprouting. Lavender likes full sun and well drained soil. Water infrequently, when the soil is almost dry.

Lavender is originally from the mediterranean, so it loves hot sun and dry soil – if your lavender isn’t thriving, it might be because its been over watered.

English lavender are the best varieties for cooler climates, French and Spanish varieties flourish better in hotter/warmer climates.

Buying a plant: make sure you purchase a healthy plant, select a location if you are planting it outside or maybe you are going to grow it in a pot indoors, make sure your pot is big enough. Place in a sunny place either way and water well until established. Prune back every spring – it will flower in summer every year for about several years.

Lavender doesn’t do well in acidic soil so check the pH of the compost you use.

Health benefits

• Insomnia – helps you get off to sleep and have a good restful sleep
• Anxiety and stress – calms anxiety and stress
• Depression – helps to lift the mood
• Headaches – eases tension headaches
• Lessons menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes
• Reduces blood pressure
• Treats skin blemishes
• Natural remedy for pain
• Promotes hair growth
• Combats fungus growth

Ways to use lavender

Lavender tea – drinking lavender tea can help to relax and calm after a rough day.

Aromatherapy – the fragrance from lavender essential can promote calmness and wellness, reducing anxiety and pain.

You can use lavender essential oil mixed with coconut oil, to make a mixture to use on wounds, its antibacterial, for skin conditions like eczema, dry skin or irritated skin. It helps bug bites and fungal infections too.

Always buy high quality essential oils NOT just fragrance oils or you won’t get the wonderful health benefits from the oils.

*some people may have an allergic reaction such as irritated skin – if so discontinue use*

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding please consult your healthcare provider to ensure its safe for you to use.

I do hope you enjoyed my post, has it been useful? Let me know in the comments.

Love LittleWildflower x