I have always loved plants. I should say, my mom has always loved plants, and so I grew up around them and they became a part of my life; I learned their names from a young age, I learned which ones were good to cut and dry, I learned about the times of year each ones blossomed, and I also knew which ones came from certain places: the lily of the valley from my great-grandparents' lake house, the shrub that my parents bought when they were first married. Each plant had a special story. And each one had a special time of year when it grew, blossomed, turned a different color, and died. I grew up knowing this, and I think appreciating each plant's life cycle helped me appreciate each month of the year just a little bit more.
As an avid reader - and a reader of historical fiction at that - I frequently came across stories written by authors who incorporated traditional, medicinal uses of herbs and plants into their stories. One of my favorite childhood television series, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," even peppered its medical storylines with knowledge of the traditional herbal remedies of the Cheyenne people, who were often included in the fictional show's storylines. My favorite book series of all time, Outlander, generously incorporated the uses of plants and herbs in its storylines, as the heroine, Claire, had vast knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants.
It wasn't until I was an adult, however, when I learned that many plants, herbs, tinctures and oils are still frequently used as medicines and remedies. Even though it is becoming a more mainstream interest - and thus more common - to find herbal remedies incorporated into our everyday, 21st century life, I first realized that herbal tinctures, oils and teas are still very much a daily part of many peoples' lives when I was staying for an extended period of time in a remote part of Chile years ago. On a weekend trip into the highlands of the Andes mountains in Northern Chile, I walked through a pre-Columbian village where I noticed many homes had generous backyard gardens filled with plants, trees and flowers. When we talked to one of the village's pharmacists about them, he said most people in the town turned to their traditional medicine for simple, everyday, common ailments before even thinking to inquire about modern-day remedies. A few weeks later, I started to use some lavender essential oil for a few minor issues I was having (I didn't have access to healthcare during this time, and between that and the pervasive use of herbal remedies in the area, it seemed like the perfect time to dabble in it), to good success.
Everyday Uses
Lavender is still one of my favorite plants, herbs, and essential oils to incorporate into a daily routine.
It is well known that lavender is a wonderful scent for relaxation. It has a calming effect. Just this summer, my mom grew a bountiful lavender plant and filled a sachet with the dried flowers. I took it home with me after enjoying it for several days, and now keep it at my bedside. Just smelling it is enough to inspire relaxation at the end of the day!
One of my favorite uses of lavender is putting a few drops in my diffuser; it's an amazing smell and definitely helps me feel calm. (Adding a bit of cedarwood takes it to the next level).
When mixed with a carrier oil (I like olive oil or almond oil), it is also lovely in the bath.
I also mixed it with a few other essential oils and used it in a mosquito repellent spray. When in tropical countries, I rely on it in my anti-mosquito mixture, and as an added bonus, I also find it soothing after a bite.
It's said to be antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, which means its uses are really quite vast...
A few years ago, it became popular in the culinary scene; everywhere you looked, there was a recipe for a lavender cocktail, or a lavender latte, or culinary-grade lavender sprinkled on cupcakes. I can't say that this is my favorite use of the herb - I find it a little too astringent to use in food - but I do find it fascinating that it is so versatile.
Growing Lavender
Okay, I have to admit, I have had less luck with growing lavender than with using it.
I think where I live the soil is too heavy, rich and tends to be soggy most of the summer. We have long, wet, hot, humid summers, and from what I understand, lavender likes... well, pretty much the opposite of that. When I took a trip to Argentina one year in May (which was towards the end of their autumn), I found the largest, most beautiful and fragrant lavender plants I had ever seen in my life in a dry, arid area at the foothills of the Andes mountains, growing with a cluster of olive trees. They seemed to like sandy, relatively dry soil and clear, cool conditions. I was surprised that they were still full of blossoms there, even in late autumn.
In Quebec during the Canadian summer, it starts to blossom in mid-July. I visited a lavender farm where many plants were growing. The proprietor explained to me that they like to be planted on a little mound of fast-draining, sandy/gravel-filled soil, and they like to stay dry. Duly noted.
Although I can't seem to manage to grow lavender very well where I live, I think I'll keep trying, even if I have to haul in bags of gravel and sand for it to be planted in.
Historical Uses of Lavender
In one of my favorite book series, Outlander, lavender was used by its main character, Claire, mixed with mint and poppy syrup to help a character sleep (from "Dragonfly in Amber."). But the uses of lavender, a plant that is native to the Mediterranean, extend well before the 18th century: it was widely used in the ancient world.
There is some confusion as to whether it was lavender oil that was used by Mary to anoint Jesus' feet in the Bible, or if the oil she used was actually what we would now call spikenard (source). The confusion stems from the use of the word "nard," which was the name for lavender used by the Greeks, and a similar word was used in Sanskrit (source). Although spikenard and lavender are different plants, their scent is similar. Either way, lavender certainly has a long and storied history.
We do know that the Greeks used in in perfumes, and in Egypt it seemed to have been used both in embalming and in cosmetics. The Arabs, Romans and Greeks were aware of its antiseptic and healing qualities. In the Middle Ages, it was common in England, experiencing a great deal of popularity in Tudor England. There, it was thought to keep vermin from clothes and maintain the chastity of the wearer (source), along with inducing sleep and assisting with medical ailments (uses that are probably more familiar to us today!). In Renaissance France, it was also considered to be an important medicinal ingredient. Lavender is believed to have been one of the earliest plants brought to North America by early colonists, and became a staple in colonists' gardens.
Today, lavender is grown in many parts of the world and is a mainstay in many essential oil collections, mine included. It was one of the first essential oils I ever bought and I have incorporated it into many of my oil blends for both medicinal purposes and my own personal enjoyment - I love the scent. It is one that is best mixed with a carrier oil, I've found, just to be on the safe side, as it can be a bit astringent. I feel like it is an "accessible" herb and oil to work with, though. It smells nice, it is versatile, and is reasonably easy to work with. I just need to learn how to do a better job growing it! Maybe next year...
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