Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula augustfolia

Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Other Names: Common lavender, elf, garden lavender, Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula vera, nard, nardus

Description: Evergreen/perennial woody, branching shrub. Maximum 45cm-1m/18in-3ft. Pale green narrow linear leaves. Blue/violet flowers in spikes grouped in whorls June – August

Aroma: Light, floral

Native to: Mediterranean

Cultivated: Worldwide

Part Used: Flowers, leaves

Cultivation: Light, sandy, gravely soil in open sunny positions with protection from strong winds and frost. Grow from seed in April

Propagation: Root division, or cuttings

Harvesting: Flowers: just before they open June-September

Preserving: Dry-cut the stems when the lavender has flowered and hang them up to dry or lay in open trays

Flower: dried at temperatures under 35C

Actions: Analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, antiviral, bactericidal, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, decongestant, deodorant, detoxicant, diuretic, emmenagogue, fungicidal, hypotensive, insecticide, nervine, parasiticide, restorative, rubefacient, sedative, spasmolytic, splenetic, stimulant, sudorific, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary

Extraction: Steam distillation of flowering tops

Constituents: Lavandulol, terpineol, cineol, ocimene, geraniol, geranyl acetate, pinene

  Volatile oil –linalyl acetate(up to 40%), linalool, lavandulyl acetate, borneol, camphor, limonene, caryophyllene, 4 butanolide

  Coumarins –umbelliferone, herniarin, coumarin, dihydrocoumarin

  Triterpenes –ursolic acid

  Flavonoids –luteolin

  Caffeic acid derivatives –rosmarinic acid

Combines with: Bergamot, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, kola, lady’s slipper, lemon, patchouli, pine, rose, rosemary, skullcap, valerian

Note: Middle

Skin: Abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, eczema, insect bites, lice, psoriasis, sunburn, wounds

Circulatory, muscle joint: Lumbago, rheumatism, sprains

Respiratory: Asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, Halitosis, laryngitis, whooping cough

Digestive: Colic, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, indigestion

Genito-urinary: Cystitis, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea

Immune: Colds, flu

Nervous system: Nervousness, depression, headaches, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, nervous tension, stress, shock, vertigo, PMT, sciatica

Other Uses: Fragrance, soaps, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, flavourings

Repels black fly, flea beetles, fleas, greenfly, mosquitoes, moths, whitefly

Other Notes: The name comes from the Latin “lavandulus” meaning to be washed

  In Northern Europe it was dedicated to the goddess Hecate the goddess of the underworld

  It was believed to ward of the evil eye

Lavender –Cotton

Lavender – French

Lavender-Spike