Lavender’s dynamic history, from its culinary use to the military, proves that this plant has influenced more than just the name of a color shade. By studying the history of this versatile plant, you will see that it has been used for centuries without even being aware of its many beneficial properties. Read on to learn more about the uses of lavender and its benefits.
Introduction to lavender
Lavender, also known as Lavandula angustifolia, is a bright flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family. Close relatives of lavender include culinary herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, and sage. The plant reaches 1 m in height, its leaves have a silvery-green tint. Lavender has pale purple flowers, hence the name of the shade – lavender.
Lavender grows in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands. It can also be found in Asia, Russia, Australia, and America, where the climate is quite favorable for it. Lavender prefers a temperate climate with sunny summers and dry, mild winters.
This plant is very hardy and able to grow in dry conditions. It prefers sunny weather and is very sensitive to high humidity. Lavender also thrives in dry, rocky soil. The climate of the Mediterranean is ideal for growing lavender, most of the highest quality plants in the world come from this region.
History of lavender
The first mentions of lavender in manuscripts were made 2500 years ago! The ancient Egyptians used it for mummification and for aromatic purposes. Traces of lavender have even been found in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. The ancient Romans used lavender in baths and laundry for its soothing scent. These two methods of application are relevant in our time.
After the technology of steam distillation was developed, Hildegard of Bingen, Mattioli, and Paracelsus described the use of lavender essential oil as a remedy for headaches and toothache (Kroeber 1935, Madaus 1938). This isn’t the only thing lavender has been used for… lavender oil has traditionally been used to soothe children! This effect of lavender water was described in 1608 by Rembert Doduns.
The action of a high concentration of lavender was equated to a narcotic effect (Guillemain et al. 1989). The flowers and essential oil of Lavandula officinalis have been used throughout Europe for their sedative effects (Weiss & Fintelmann 1999). An example of such a phytotherapeutic use of lavender flowers was mentioned by Leclerc in France (1966).
Lavender oil has been marketed and used as a bath product since 1976. In 2009, lavender oil soft gels were approved in Germany as an official product on the market. This was preceded by a tradition of adding lavender drops to sugar (ESCOP 2009; British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983, referring to the British Pharmaceutical Code BPC 1973).
The etymology of the name lavender
The botanical name of this plant comes from the Latin word lavare, meaning “to wash”. In ancient times, people did not know about the chemical constituents of lavender. Despite this, they used it for laundry and in perfumery, particularly in the Mediterranean region where the plant was widely available. Lavender was often kept in the chests of drawers to scent clothes. The fewer people observed hygiene, the more perfumery was required and, accordingly, more lavender! According to legend, Cleopatra used the aromatic properties of lavender to seduce Mark Antony.
Lavender in Literature
In the world’s oldest book, the Gutenberg Bible, lavender is mentioned as a body fragrance. The New Testament tells how Mary applied lavender oil to Jesus’ skin. Subsequently, the same ritual was performed after his death.
Historical anecdotes from the 16th century mentioned that at the height of the Black Plague, lavender and alcohol were used to disinfect medical gloves. These same anecdotes suggest that the use of these gloves greatly reduced the wearer’s chances of contracting the disease. Other anecdotes from the same period said that lavender pickers and field workers were much less likely to get sick.
Plague healers filled their beaked masks with lavender and other aromatic herbs, hoping the scent would protect them from disease. Likewise, using fragrances for bathing, people believed that the smell of the plant could prevent illness. Much has changed in medicine since then!
Physicians in the Mediterranean region used lavender for medicinal purposes, including cleansing and healing wounds and burns. The ancient Greeks considered lavender to be a pain reliever and also used it to improve sleep.
Lavender and lavandin
Not all varieties of lavender are the same: it is important to note the difference between lavender and lavandin. The botanical name for lavender, also known as English lavender, is Lavandula angustifolia. Lavandin is a plant obtained by crossing other types of lavender. Lavandin flowers are greyish in color and produce more oil than English lavender. Its oil smells like lavender, but with a sharper, somewhat camphoric smell. Lavandin oil also differs in chemical composition and does not have the same properties as English lavender oil. The annual production of English lavender in the world is only about 200 metric tons. By comparison, the world’s annual production of lavandin is 1,000 metric tons – nearly five times that!
Lavandin
Like all hybrids, lavandin is sterile. The plant propagates by cuttings. This means that the plants are identical, their cuttings can be used to form “clones”, as opposed to the “population” of ordinary lavender.
Lavandin is grown in Bulgaria, Spain, France, Italy, the Balkans, Australia, and Tasmania. Bulgaria occupies a leading position in this list and is the main supplier of lavandin in the world. Lavandin grows best in acidic soil, while English lavender prefers alkaline soil. A lot of lavender is harvested from large commercial farms. Lavender farmers use special machinery for harvesting. The stems are first cut and then sent to a trailer that delivers them to a processing plant. This method of picking puts more stress on the plant than on picking by hand. However, one combine does the work of more than 100 people.
Growing and Harvesting Lavender
Lavender blooms in mid-summer—the perfect time to harvest. English lavender flowers are used to make the best oil, while the leaves of the plant are used to make a lower quality oil. From the flowers of English lavender, high-quality essential oil is produced, which is used in medicine and perfumery. Most of the lavender grown in France is then used in the perfume and cosmetics industries.
Once harvested, the lavender is placed in a large stainless steel container. The container is heated, and under the influence of high temperature, the flowers begin to release the oil, which rises along with the steam. Then the steam is cooled to separate the oil from it, after which the oil is poured into special containers where it is stored for several months. Some lavender growers try to speed up this process by using pressure. Despite the fact that this method requires much less time, the quality of the resulting oil will be much worse. The lowest temperature and no pressure are used to produce the highest quality lavender oil
The healing properties of lavender
As noted earlier, lavender was used for medicinal and aromatic purposes in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations. In the Middle Ages, lavender was valued for its antiseptic, soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Soon this plant became the object of interest for researchers. Although clinical studies have not provided comprehensive information, the effectiveness of herbal remedies that contain lavender oil can be considered quite likely. According to the HMPC (European Herbal Medicines Committee), there is evidence that these supplements have been used safely for at least 30 years. According to the European Medicines Agency, the intended use does not require medical supervision. Let’s take a look at some recent research on lavender.
1. Antiseptic: The historical use of lavender to heal wounds and burns.
2. Anxiety Relief: Does Lavender Help With Anxiety?
3. Lavender for relaxation
4. Lavender for sleep
5 Lavender for muscle pain
6 Antioxidant properties of lavender.
7 lavender for headaches
8. lavender is used in veterinary practice.
so the conclusion. Lavender is a gift from mother nature. wonderful plant and has been popular for thousands of years. Despite the fact that people did not have enough knowledge to use the full benefits of this fragrant plant, science is slowly revealing to us the secrets of its impressive capabilities.