As you will be able to see below, there is much consensus on what Lavender Oil is capable of…

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Note: Middle
Family: Lamiaceae (labiatae)
Description: A colourless to pale yellow liquid. Smells sweet and floral. Smells like the lavender flower.
Country of Origin: Lavender is an evergreen perennial that is cultivated in large areas of the world although English and French lavender are the most well-known. I love lavender essential oil from Croatia!
Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation
Part of Plant used: Flowers
Chemical Constituents: Ester and Alcohols

Doterra Properties: Sedative, antihistamine, cytophylactic, hypotensive, nervine, relaxing, soothing, antibacterial, regenerative

Properties Physical:
Analgesic – pain killer (Battaglia also says Lavender helps with pain relief)
Anti-allergenic – relieve or control allergic symptoms
Anti-coagulant – prevents or prolongs clotting of the blood
Anti-inflammatory - prevents/reduces inflammation
Antispasmodic - helps with cramps and spasms
Hypotensive – lowers blood pressure
Relaxant - calming effect on nervous system, helps with stress and tension
Sedative – helps with sleep
Antifungal – works against fungus
Antiseptic – helps reduce infection

Properties Psychological:
Uplifting, helpful for anger, anxiety, fear, grief and negative thoughts.
True Lavender is a very versatile oil, with properties from soothing, calming, and relaxing, to normalizing, balancing, and healing.
Use for hysteria, hyperactivity, impatience, insomnia, insecurity, irrationality, irritability, over work, paranoia, restlessness, panic attacks, stage fright, too introvert/too extrovert.
To encourage security, gentleness, compassion, reconciliation, vitality, clarity, comfort, acceptance, awareness and emotional balance.

Properties Spiritual:
Calms and soothes an angry spirit. Helps centre those on the wrong spiritual pathway.

Uses:
MOOD AND SLEEP - Use Lavender for almost anything, reducing anxiety, stress, helping people sleep, helping people feel relaxed. For helping sleep, Lavender works on the autonomic nervous system as long as you keep taking it (Li-Wei Chien et al.). Lavender oil administered in an aroma stream shows modest efficacy in the treatment of agitated behaviour in patients with severe dementia (Holmes et al). Shirley Price and Battaglia recommend using Lavender for depression.
INFLAMMATION, PAIN and SWELLING - Shirley Price recommends Lavender for PMS and inflammation and Viv Tipper recommends using Lavender for dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) as it has antispasmodic, emmenagogue and analgesic properties. For sprains use Lavender with Rosemary, as they both have great analgesic properties, and the anti-inflammatory properties of Lavender help to reduce the swelling. Also add to blends for arthritis and rheumatism.
SKIN - Lavender is a nervine relaxant oil and rubefacient, so is good for massage (Battaglia). Lavender is brilliant for burns, but can also be used to cleanse and soothe cuts and treat skin irritations including insect bites. Lavender is good for both dry and oily skins.
RESPIRATORY - Lavender is great for colds really just because it is comforting and supports the immune system. It is also good for including in a blend for those suffering with asthma.

Doterra Uses: Sleep, stress, anxiety, teeth grinding, sunburns, burns and scars, allergies, hay fever, cuts, wounds, blisters, bug bites, hives, high blood pressure, migraines, headaches and feelings of being able to express self

Precautions: As lavender is hypotensive, don't overuse with people who have low blood pressure. However, Lavender is known to be a very safe oil.

Other Comments:
- It is pretty much the only oil which can be applied neat and is essential in the first aid kit.
- Lavender is an ‘adaptogen’, meaning it does what ever the body requires at the time.
- It takes several kilos of lavender to make one small bottle of lavender essential oil.

References:
Much of this information has come from my training and the information provided by Calming Influences in Southampton. Credit where credit is due.
Chien, L.W. et al. (2011) ‘The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Autonomic Nervous System in Midlife Women with Insomnia’. Available at: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/740813/
Holmes, C. and Ballard, C. (2004). ‘Aromatherapy in dementia’, Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 10(4), 296-300. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/aromatherapy-in-dementia/8B21114D74C15A930436306D43D150AE
Price, S. (1998) Aromatherapy Workbook. Harper Collins Publishers.
Price, S. (1999) A Complete Guide to Understanding and Using Essential Oils. Thorsons Publishers.
Viv Tipper through Calming Influences
doTERRA (2017) The Essential Life. 4th edn. USA.
Battaglia, S. (1995) Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. Perfect Potion

DISCLAIMER - Do not use aromatherapy or any other holistic therapy in isolation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your health needs are met. Please see a doctor about any health queries or difficulties you have. The information provided on this page is not a replacement for consultation and advice from a doctor. Do not use this information page to inform your blends, as safe dilution and application has not been discussed.