Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Highly aromatic perennial shrub 30-80cm, higher when in flower. Leaves sessile, opposites (2-6cm), oblong to linear. White and hairy when young and grey green as adult leaves. The flowers are borne in spikes 3-7cm long.

Family: Laminaceae

Which probiotic is it in?: Lavender is a key herb in Bio-Live Sleep.

Habit and cultivation: Originally from the Western Mediterranean, Lavender is now grown world wide for its aromatic scented flowers. Often called English Lavender as the finest, high grade oil is produced in the cooler English climate, with longer hours of daylight. Now grown commercially in many countries. Grown from seed or from heeled cuttings. Prefers open sunny soil with lime. Improved by winter cold. Drought and frost resistant. The bulk of the flowers are used in the distillation of the volatile oil and harvested in August.

Actions (known for): Caminative, anti-depressant, anti-spasmodic, rubefaciet, emmenagogue, hypotensive, anti-rheumatic, choleretic and cholagogue.

History of Lavender

Nardus was the name given to Lavender by the Greeks, from Naarda a city in Syria and commonly called Nard. Angustifolia is Latin for “narrow leaf”. Lavender derives from the Latin lavare to wash. Mentioned in the ‘Song of Solomon’ and used by the Romans to scent their baths, beds, clothes and hair. They were also responsible for the discovery of its medicinal properties. Lavender is a ‘cure-all’ to the French.

Parts used from the Lavender

Flowers.

Constituents (bio available chemicals):

Volatile oil 0.5-1% containing linalyl acetate with linalool, lavandulyl acetate, borneol, camphor, limonene, cadinene, caryophyllene, 4-butanolide, 5-pentyl-5-pentanolide. Coumarins including Umbelliferone, herniarin and coumarin. Miscellaneous: triterpenes e.g. ursolic acid, flavoniods e.g. luteolin.

Nutritional constituents:

Indications:

Colic, digestive weakness, headaches, stress, depression, menopausal symptoms, insomnia. Topically: The oil may be used as a stimulating liniment to ease the aches and pains of rheumatism.

Dosage:

Liquid extract (1:1): 15-40ml per week. Decoction: 1-4g 3 x daily.

British Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Cautions for therapeutic doses

Topically can caused dermatitis.

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