Lavender essential oils have been used in European hospitals, mainly France, for treating burns. But that is not the only application of lavender that has proven itself. Insomnia and anxiety relief are the most common uses aside from burns.
The herb's Latin title is Lavandula angustifolia, more commonly known as English or garden lavender. It grows abundantly in fields along the Mediterranean shores of Europe, mostly France. You may have noticed those fields as visual subjects from some famous artists.
It's commonly sold and used as an essential oil for aromatherapy or made into a tea from the lavender leaves. The oil can be applied to the skin for transdermal absorption. Actually, it can be applied to the skin, say the inner wrists, and then inhaled through the nose to maximize its use. The leaves are steeped in boiled water for 15 minutes.
One can also make or buy it as an extract. One source recommends not exceeding 60 drops of extract or tincture in a day. Making your own tincture (extract) is by far the most economical way to go if you prefer that delivery method.
Lavender availability EU,UK and USAUnfortunately, the regional origin of lavender is about to have its public access curtailed. Lavender for health and therapeutic uses may soon be by prescription only in the EU and UK, thanks to Codex Alimenterius. Might this also have something do with lavender's ability to deal with methycillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?
MRSA has become a common in hospitals as the result of staph infections becoming resistant to the overuse of antibiotics. Lab testing has demonstrated lavender's ability to destroy staph infections. But so far, lavender hasn't been used this way much if at all. (2)
But fortunately for Americans, herbal restrictions haven't started in the USA yet. It seems one company knows the USA is headed that way, making prescriptions an inevitable requirement for herbal products.
Integrative Therapeutics has concocted a proprietary blend of lavender and given it a new name. The lavender they use is the common Lavandula angustifolia, though they seem to make it out as unique.
A press release from Integrative Therapeutics, which mentions its FDA approval as a drug company, is promoting its lavender product Lavela WS 1265 as available only to "health professionals" directly from them or one of its affiliate distributors. It won't be appearing in your health food stores. (3)
Their site compares this product to Silexan, a lavender product used for insomnia and anxiety without side effects, which has favorable press from PubMed with references to clinical trials. So how is Silexan or Lavela WS 1265 essentially different than lavender? The basic difference is the delivery method.
Lavender extracts are placed into gel capsules filled with oil, enabling easy oral consumption, which is nice. But Lavela WS 1265 uses non-GMO Canola oil. (4) Canola oil is not such a good choice for putting into your body even if GMO free despite affirmations from various health societies and the FDA.
