Also called Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus. There are 28 species of these aromatic, evergreen, shrubby, perennials, all with small, linear leaves and spikes of fragrant, usually purple or blue, two-lipped flowers.
The best-quality essential oil is from L. stoechas and L. angustifolia. Aromatic oil glands cover all aerial parts of the plants but are most concentrated in the flowers.
The flowers flavor jams, vinegar, sweets, cream, and Provençal stews, and are crystallized for decoration. Dried flowers add long-lasting fragrance to sachets and potpourri. Flower water is a skin toner useful for speeding cell renewal and is an antiseptic for acne. Flower tea treats anxiety, headaches, flatulence, nausea, dizziness, and halitosis.
The essential oil is a highly valued perfume and healer. It is antiseptic, mildly sedative, and painkilling. It is applied to insect bites, and treats burns, sore throats and headaches. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have consumed up to 10 cups of lavender water a day to relieve migraines. The oil is used for intestinal gas, migraine, and dizziness. Being antiseptic, lavender is added to healing salves. A tea of the leaf allays nausea and vomiting. Use two teaspoons per cup of water and steep for twenty minutes. The dose is one-fourth cup four times a day.
Steep lavender blossoms in white wine and strain to make a natural antidepressant beverage. Lavender and rose petal vinegar is applied to the temples and brow to ease headache. Lavender oil is added to footbaths, eases toothaches and sprains, and is used as a rub for hysteria and palsy.
Lavender is strewn into bonfires at Midsummer as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses. An ingredient of love spells, its scent is said to attract men. Lavender in the home brings peace, joy and healing. The essential oil is included in health; love; peace; and conscious mind-oriented formulas.
Use to attract love; to produce sleep by anointing your forehead and pillow; to purify by adding to baths and to promote chastity and peace. Attracts elves, burn for purification, peace. Burn at Litha as an offering. Love; Psychic Awareness; Happiness; Creative Work; Money and Business; Anointing; Exorcism; Harmony; Peace; Healing. The odor of lavender is conducive to long life and so should be smelled as often as possible.
Lavender is the extraordinary herb of Mercury and Air is known and Loved for its Calming, Restorative Effects. It is an aid in sharpening vision and clarifying thinking, which makes it an excellent herb for scholars. The scent of Lavender is powerful, and can be used in herbal sleep pillows to treat insomnia, added to soaps for a fragrant exfoliation, or to bath water to relax after a demanding day. Lavender is strongly recommended to include in any effective spells concerning Love.
Lavender is the most popular herb in the world - it is incorporated in many products for its Aphrodisiac properties. It has both stimulating and sedative properties. Drinking lavender tea or inhaling the flowers in an incense helps calm the nerves, relieve headaches, increases concentration and promotes rest. Burning Super French Lavender has been reported to help in treating depression. It is commonly used as a tea or food supplement without any negative side effects. It is also burned on charcoal as an incense.