TABLE OF CONTENTS:
FEATURE STORY
Pump Up Your Immune System

IN THE NEWS
Maximize Your Minerals

CHECKLIST
Helpful Herbs & Supplements

COOKING CORNER
Banana Berry Nog

VITAMINS & MINERALS
Zinc for Winter Wellness

HERBAL REMEDIES
Relax with Lavender

EVERYDAY ANSWERS
How Can I Keep My Family Healthy?

More Health Info & Answers

CNCA Home Page Newsletter Archive Forward To A Friend

"I have just discovered your newsletter. It is great!"
- Doreen Stevens

Your Feedback Is this useful? Yes   No  We value your comments:

More Health Info & Answers

Relax with Lavender

The fragrant flowers of lavender are used in the preparation of herbal medicines. Traditionally, herbalists used lavender for a variety of conditions of the nervous system, including depression and fatigue. It has also been used for headache and rheumatism. Due to its delightful odor, lavender has found wide application in perfumes and cosmetics throughout history.

Active constituents
The volatile oil (also called essential oil) of lavender contains many constituents, including perillyl alcohol and linalool. The oil is thought to be calming and thus can be helpful in some cases of insomnia. One study of elderly people with sleeping troubles found that inhaling lavender oil was as effective as some commonly prescribed sleep medications. Similar results were seen in another trial that included young and middle-aged people with insomnia. A large clinical trial found that lavender oil added to a bath was no more effective than a placebo for relieving perineal discomfort immediately after childbirth. However, perineal pain was reduced three to five days afterward. Lavender is recommended by the German Commission E monograph for indigestion and nervous intestinal discomfort.

How much is usually taken?
The German Commission E monograph suggests 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 grams) of the herb be taken as a tea. The tea can be made by steeping 2 teaspoons (10 grams) of leaves in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Three cups (750 ml) can be consumed each day. For internal applications, 1/2–3/4 teaspoon (2–4 ml) of tincture can be taken two or three times per day. Several drops of the oil can be added to a bath or diluted in vegetable oil for topical applications. The concentrated oil is not for internal use, except under medical supervision.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
Internal use of the volatile oil can cause severe nausea. Very small amounts should be used only under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Excessive intake (several times more than listed above) may cause drowsiness. External use in reasonable amounts is safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

In case reports, three young boys developed breast enlargement (gynecomastia) after repeated topical application of products that contained lavender oil and tea tree oil. The problem resolved after they stopped using the oils. While a cause–effect relationship was not conclusively proven, it was suggested by the fact that these oils have been found to have estrogen-like effects in test tube studies.

Table of Contents

Supplements from CNCA

Forward This Newsletter

Save 10-20% on our Monthly Special

CNCA Home Page

Newsletter Archive and Sign-up

Copyright © 2008 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Aisle7 content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Aisle7. Healthnotes Newsletter is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Aisle7 shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. AISLE7 is a registered trademark of Aisle7.

The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition, including cancer.