Lavender oil has so many uses. For instance, when it’s warm outside, ants and other bugs tend to come inside. However, insects don’t like the smell of lavender. So this clean-smelling essential oil works very well as a non-toxic bug repellent. (Bugs have a similar distaste for other aromatics.)
Lavender Essential Oil Cleaning Properties
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In my house, I’ve used both peppermint and lavender essential oil to keep ants away. I often put a few drops of essential oil on the kitchen sponge I use to wipe down my counters. You can also very easily make DIY bug sprays with essential oils and other natural ingredients.
Lavender Essential Oil Uses and Benefits
Lavender oil is also great in the winter. In cold climates, the bugs have gone away, but the house is sealed shut. Any toxins released in the air will stay trapped, which is why you may not want to use a chemical-based air freshener.
But, if you want your house to smell heavenly, you can put a few drops of lavender oil in an essential oil diffuser. Within minutes, your room will be bathed with the refreshing scent of lavender.
Lavender has also earned a reputation as a natural disinfectant and cleaning agent, which is why many people use lavender oil to make their own DIY cleaning solutions.
Oh, and there’s another big reason to keep lavender oil around the house. It has a multitude of uses as a health and beauty aid. Mixed with carrier oil, I like to use lavender oil on my skin as a natural wrinkle fighter and sunburn soother.
Lavender Oil For Your Health
If I had to choose between just a couple of essential oils to own, lavender oil would definitely make the cut. Besides the fact that is smells so sweet, it’s believed to contain germ-fighting compounds. That’s why it’s often recommended for closed wounds to keep infection from setting in.
Lavender oil can also fight muscle pain and spasms. It also works as a natural sedative. That’s why so many people use it to help them get a good night’s sleep. Essential oils have been so helpful in managing my long-standing insomnia. Now, I go to bed knowing that I’ll drift off to sleep inhaling lavender or another essential oil.
One easy natural insomnia remedy is to sprinkle a couple of drops of lavender essential oil on a cloth, and place it near your pillow. (If the smell is too strong, you can move it further away.)
Lavender and Epsom Salt Foot Soak
Many people use lavender in the bathtub to help them relax and to pull toxins out of their body. Or, you can use it as a foot soak for the same reasons. Here’s what to do.
Fill a small basin with hot, but not scalding water.
Add a quarter cup of baking soda.
Add two tablespoons of Epsom salt. If you don’t own any Epsom salt, regular sea salt will also work.
Add five drops of lavender essential oil (It’s available here)
Soak your feet in this mixture for 15 minutes.
In addition to pulling out toxins from the pores of your feet, this mixture also softens your skin.
Lavender essential oil can also be diluted with a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, and applied to the soles of your feet. Since lavender oil apparently contains natural tranquilizing compounds, using it as a foot massage at the end of the day is a great way to unwind.
Finding Real Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is not that expensive. However, some unscrupulous suppliers don’t sell the real deal. Instead, they use an oil known as lavendin, made from a related plant. Because it smells different than real lavender, sometimes artificial perfumes are used to mask the scent.
Pure lavendin oil that hasn’t been cut with chemicals is not dangerous. It even has medicinal properties of its own. But it’s still a less expensive knock off. At the very least, it should be labeled as such, and not confused with lavender.
Real lavender oil comes from a flowering plant known as Lavandula officinalis. It has a distinct smell. The organic lavender oil I’m using now is made by Plant Therapy, a company known for its high standards, which sells its oils directly to the consumer, instead of through a multi-level marketing channel.
DIY Non-Toxic Pesticide With Lavender Oil
This mixture is easy to make. Here’s how to do it.
- Take a clean plastic spray bottle and fill it 3/4 full with warm water.
- Fill the remainder of the bottle with natural Castile soap.
- Add 20 drops of pure, organic lavender essential oil. (It’s available here)
You can also use the this mixture as a safe and effective all-purpose cleaner. Or, you can use white vinegar instead of Castile soap.
Since I’ve started using essential oils for pest control, I’ve definitely add fewer ants in my house. Non-toxic pest control seems to be every bit as effective as a commercial pesticide, without the added burden of hazardous chemicals.
Lavender Oil for Bug Bites
Lavender oil is often used for wounds of all kinds, including insect bites. Last summer I was stung by a bee. Lavender essential oil quickly solved the problem. This caused swelling, which was quickly resolved by putting lavender oil on the affected area. This was a good home remedy for me, but not for someone with an allergy to bee stings, who’d need immediate emergency medical care.
DIY Lavender Oil Recipes
There are literally countless ways to use lavender oil for household projects and for personal care. You can read about some of my favorite lavender oil recipes here.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless under the direction of a health care professional.
