(12/5/25) Lavender
Lavender, a flowering herb well known for its purple flowers, is one of 39 species in the mint family. Lavendar contains many biologically active compounds, components of essential oil, including phenolic compounds, triterpenes, and sterols. The oil from the plant is commonly used for its fragrance in essential oils, candles, and body care products.
Health Benefits Include:
- Anti-inflammatory when used topically
- May improve migraine symptom severity when inhaled
- May help improve anxiety and mood
- May help improve sleep
- May help improve perception and symptoms of pain when inhaled or used topically
Tips:
This perennial plant is easy to grow both indoors and outdoors and can easily be dried and made into essential oil. The quality of store- bought essential oils varies based on the compounds in the oil.
*Note lavender is NOT a replacement for medications- please consult your healthcare provider.
*Only use culinary lavender when cooking and/or consuming
*Do not ingest essential oils
Recipe: Lavender Tea
(Recipe from: https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2021/01/lavender-tea.html)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
- 4 cups fresh, filtered water
- 1 lemon
- honey to taste
Instructions:
- Place dried lavender flowers into a loose tea strainer, directly into a teapot, or saucepan.
- Bring the water to a boil using a tea kettle or heat in a small saucepan on the stove.
- Pour the hot water over the lavender flowers and cover the pot.
- Let steep for about 5-10 minutes, until it reaches your desired strength.
- Strain the lavender tea through a fine mesh sieve if the flowers were directly in the pot or remove the strainer if the flowers were in a strainer ball or basket.
- Serve right away, adding lemon juice and honey to taste, if desired.
*Notes:
- If using fresh lavender, be sure to use an unsprayed culinary variety. Double the amount of fresh flowers.
- Optional additions: add ½ cup fresh mint leaves to tea.
