Lavender: Uses, medicine, Synonyms, Effects, and Side Effects

Lavender is native to the entire Mediterranean region and is cultivated there on a larger scale. For example, the dense fields of purple lavender are a popular postcard motif in southern France. The drug material comes from Spain, France and Eastern Europe, where commercial cultivation also occurs.

Use in herbal medicine.

In herbal medicine, the dried flowers (Lavandula flos) are stripped off shortly before they bloom and are used. The essential oil (Lavandula aetheroleum) is extracted from the inflorescences shortly before flowering.

 

Lavender: Special Characteristics

Lavender is an approximately 0.5 m tall subshrub with silver-grey, small, lanceolate leaves. The leaves initially feel velvety due to the dense hairs; later, they become increasingly bare. The tiny purple flowers are arranged in spike-like inflorescences on a long stalk.

The spontaneous crossing of Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia results in the so-called Lavandin, mainly cultivated. The genus Lavandula derives from the Latin word “lavare”, meaning “to wash”. This is because people used to add lavender to washing water or baths.

Lavender flowers as medicine

The main component of the drug is the blue-grey calyxes, which have five teeth. In addition, severely shrivelled petals, which have grown into a tube, occur.

 

smell and taste of lavender

Lavender gives off a very characteristic, intensely aromatic smell. Because of its pleasant smell, lavender is used for scented sachets, for example. The sachets filled with lavender then spread their aromatic scent in wardrobes.

The taste of lavender flowers is quite bitter.

Lavender – application

Lavender flowers can be used internally and externally. Due to their calming effect, they can initially be taken for mild nervous complaints such as restlessness, anxiety, difficulty falling asleep and insomnia. Experience has shown that lavender also helps to calm infants and young children.

Lavender: Use for gastrointestinal problems

Another critical area for the internal use of lavender flowers is gastrointestinal disorders. Here, lavender helps in particular with functional upper abdominal complaints such as: 

• nervous, irritable stomach
• indigestion
• gas
• nervous intestinal problems

Lavender is also used in Roemheld syndrome. This term generally summarizes complaints that can be attributed to excessive gas accumulation in the intestines or stomach due to eating food that causes gas.

 

External use of lavender

Externally, in the form of baths, lavender has a positive effect on functional circulatory disorders. Traditionally, lavender oil is generally suitable as a bath to improve well-being in states of exhaustion. The drug is also included in soothing baths and herbal pillows for insomnia.

Folk medicinal use of lavender

Lavender was used as a nerve-strengthening, sedative and antispasmodic as early as the 16th century. In today’s folk medicine, the plant is also used as a stomachic, anti-bloating, diuretic and wound treatment.

In aromatherapy, lavender oil is used for calming – midwives use it, for example, to calm mothers during birth.

 

Lavender in homeopathy

In homoeopathy, fresh lavender blossoms are used, but only very rarely, for diseases of the central nervous system. The dried flowers are used in anthroposophic therapy.

ingredients of lavender

Lavender flowers contain at least 1.5% essential oil. The main components of the oil are the monoterpenes linalyl acetate and linalool, camphor and cineole, each in varying compositions.

In addition, the drug contains about 2-3% Lamiaceae tannins, such as chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid, flavonoids and traces of triterpenes and phytosterols.

What indication can lavender help with?

The following areas of application arise for the medicinal use of lavender:

• restlessness
• Difficulty falling asleep, insomnia, insomnia
• nervousness
• abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain
• Irritable stomach, flatulence, flatulence, Roehmheld syndrome, gastrointestinal problems, indigestion
• circulatory disorders, circulatory disorders

Lavender – dosage

Lavender flowers are available in tea form or as part of tea blends. The drug is also found in various herbal medicines in the form of dry and fluid extracts in capsules, coated tablets, tablets, drops and much more. To acquire.

Essential lavender oil is also contained in pain oils, ointments, soaps and bath additives and is used as an odour corrector.

Lavender: what dose?

Unless otherwise prescribed, the average daily dose is 1-2 teaspoons of lavender blossoms per cup of tea.

No more than 1-4 drops (about 20-80 mg) should be taken daily with lavender oil. So that the oil does not taste quite so bitter, it can also be dripped onto a piece of sugar cube.

As a bath additive, 20-100 g of lavender blossoms can be added to 20 l of water.

 

Lavender: Preparation as a tea

To prepare a lavender blossom tea, 1.5 g of the drug (1 teaspoon corresponds to around 0.8 g) is poured over with boiling water and passed through a tea strainer after 5-10 minutes.

When not to use lavender?

There are no known side effects or interactions with other agents when taking lavender. There are currently no contraindications.

 

What else needs to be considered?

Combining lavender preparations with calming agents, such as valerian root or passion flower herb, can also be helpful. Lavender flowers should be stored cool, dry and protected from light.

Lavender synonyms

German plant name: Lavender

German synonyms of the plant: However Lavender, Lavender, Kleiner Speik

Latin plant name: Lavandula angustifolia

Latin synonyms of the plant: Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula spica, Lavandula vera, Lavandula vulgaris, Lavandula angustifolia MILL.

German drug name: Lavender flowers

German synonyms of the drug: Blafendel

Latin drug name: Lavender flower

Latin synonyms of the drug: Lavender flowers, Lavender flowers, Spica flowers

English name: Lavender, Common Lavender, English Lavender, Garden Lavender, True Lavender, Lavander, Lavender Harvest

Plant family Latin: Lamiaceae

Plant family German: Lamiaceae, Lamiaceae

 

Lavender – effect

Lavender oil has been experimentally proven to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and calming effects.

The calming properties are mainly attributed to the monoterpenes, which can alter the activity of receptors and channels in biomembranes. Fat-loving (lipophilic) essential oils irritate the stomach wall, leading to increased intestinal movement and consequently promoting digestion.

Lavender: Medicinal herb with no side effects

There are no known side effects or interactions with other agents when taking lavender. There are currently no contraindications.