Lavender!

Today I decided to write about Lavender.

The health benefits of Lavender are many and varied. From Medical News Today:

Lavender is an herb native to Northern Africa and the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean. The herb is highly regarded for skin and beauty and is commonly used in fragrances and shampoos to help wash and purify the skin.

And there are medicinal properties, too:

FUNGAL INFECTIONS

A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that lavender oil could be very effective in combating the incidence of antifungal-resistant infections.

Lavender oil was tested by scientists from the University of Coimbra in Portugal against a range of pathogenic fungi.  The researchers found that the oil was lethal to a whole range of skin-pathogenic strains.

ANXIETY DISORDER

Dr. Siegfried Kasper, Prof., MD, from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria wrote a Review Article in theInternational Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, titled “An orally administered lavandula oil preparation (Silexan) for anxiety disorder and related conditions: an evidence based review”.

Dr. Kasper wanted to evaluate how effective Silexan might be for patients with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and subsyndromal anxiety. Silexan is a lavender oil preparation in gelatine capsules containing 80 mg.

Kasper and colleagues reviewed data on seven clinical trials, four of which had a treatment duration of between six and ten weeks.

The team found that Silexan had an anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) effect on patients with GAD or subsyndromal anxiety within two weeks.

Dr. Kasper concluded “Silexan had beneficial effects on typical co-morbidity symptoms of anxiety disorders, for example, disturbed sleep, somatic complaints, or decreased quality of life. Except for mild gastrointestinal symptoms, the drug was devoid of adverse effects and did not cause drug interactions or withdrawal symptoms at daily doses of 80 or 160 mg.”

DENTAL ANXIETY

Lavender scent may help anxious dental patients, researchers from King’s College London found.

Co-researcher, Metaxia Kritsidima said: “A substantial number of people avoid going to dental surgeries because they are ‘scared of the dentist’, which can have a significant impact on their dental health. The anxiety experienced by these patients once they get to the dentist is stressful not only for them, but also for the dental team. Working under a state of increased tension may potentially compromise their performance, as well as lengthening appointment times. This is why finding a way of reducing dental anxiety is really important.”

The investigators measured the dental anxiety levels of 340 adult patients while they were waiting at the dentist’s waiting room for their appointment.

Half the patients were exposed to lavender scent, while the other half were not.

The team found that those exposed to lavender scent reported lower levels of anxiety compared to the other patients. The calming effect of lavender was present regardless of the type of dental appointment patients had.

Kritsidima concluded “Our findings suggest that lavender could certainly be used as an effective ‘on-the-spot’ anxiety reduction in dentists’ waiting rooms.”

PMS

Researchers from Shitennoji University, Kyoto University and the Center for Advanced Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, all in Japan, carried out a study to determine whether using lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)aromatherapy treatment might help alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms.

As background information, Tamaki Matsumoto explained in the journal Biopsychosocial Medicine that a significant proportion of reproductive-age women experience a range of symptoms in the premenstrual phase, commonly known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Even though PMS is common, no single treatment is universally recognized as effective, so many women turn to alternative therapies, including aromatherapy.

This crossover study involved 17 women, average age 20.6 years, with mild-to-moderate premenstrual symptoms. The participants spent one menstrual cycle with no lavender aromatherapy treatment, and another cycle with lavender aromatherapy.

The researchers concluded “The present study indicated that lavender aromatherapy as a potential therapeutic modality could alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms.”

AND MORE!

I know you’re asking this question: WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FLOWERS?

The answer is simple: NOTHING!

We simply love lavender flowers!

A Dozen Lavender Roses

Campanula and Gladiolas in the lavender family with a hint of yellow, pink and white

Roses and Stock in various shades of Lavender

Lavender and Purples with a little pink, Chrysanthemums, Iris, Alstroemeria, Stock, Status  and Spray Roses

A touch of Lavender Roses with Purple Stock and Yellow Sunflowers!

Green Plants get into the act with Lavender and Purple Flowers

Lavender Roses, Purple Carnations and more

Lavender Stock and Mums, Red Roses and Stargazer Lilies

 You get to vote! After all, it’s Wednesday BlogDay and You’re here, so you vote! Which one is your favorite?

a. Dozen Lavender Roses

b. Campanula and Gladiolas

c. Roses and Stock

d. Lavender and Purples with a Little Pink

e. Lavender, Purple and Sunflowers

f. Green Plants with Purple and Lavender

g. Lavender Roses, Purple Carnations

h. Lavender Stock, Mums with Red Roses

Whether you’re using Lavender for medicinal purposes, as an herb or fragrance, remember this: lavender is ONE BEAUTIFUL COLOR FOR ALL OF YOUR FLORAL NEEDS!

 

Tina On September 9, 2014   /   Flowers