PEACEFUL LAVENDER

Flower of happiness, blossom of peace
Calm the stress for central reset
Purify mind, body, and home
Cup of tea to celebrate

I love lavender!  By itself or in a blend.  As a tea or as a potpourri.  In my pillow or in the liniment. I love lavender!  This beautiful shrubby perennial is native to the mountains around the Mediterranean and was spread around the world by the Europeans.  This medicinal herb was beloved by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.  It was used in Medieval Europe.  It was a staple of the perfume industry in France.  The Shakers brought it with them to the Americas.

Among the oldest uses of lavender are washing, skin care, and perfumery.  Throughout the entire documented history of its use, lavender water has been used as a cleansing agent and deodorizer for the body and home.  It has been shown to have antiseptic properties that make it ideal for washing blemish prone skin, linens, and surfaces to discourage the spread of diseases.  Burning it as an incense or scattering lavender buds on the floor tends to act as a deodorizer.  This use was so wide spread that the name of The herb was derived from the Latin term for to wash or to cleanse, "lavare".

The most common modern use of lavender is for its calming effects.   It has been shown to have a calming effect on the central nervous system, the brain, and the mood.  It tends to calm anxiety, fatigue, and aid in restful sleep.  Hildegard von Bingen and Queen Victoria used lavender to relieve headaches.  The documented medicinal uses of lavender could almost fill a book all by itself.

In the middle of the summer, I often throw a couple of fresh sprigs into my tea or shrub.  Lavender is a key ingredient of one of my signature tea blends.  Lavender essential oil is an important part of Manitu's Answer to a Life of Physical Labor.
Here are the links for more information.  
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Basic Shrub article on Buy Me a Coffee

Misty Morning Tea Recipe

Manitu's Answer on Buy Me a Coffee

Ah, now we get to the fun stuff.  Lavender is a magical herb as well.  This calming herb is often used in magical blends to promote calm and rest.  This leads to its use as a dream herb, an aid to enter altered states, and opening up the third eye.  It is believed to aid in meditation and staying centered.  It is believed to aid in clarity of thought and focus.

Using lavender as an incense or as a wash is believed to be a powerful cleansing agent that is especially useful after changes or disruptions to the home.  It purifies the home and person of the negative influences and protects the home from evil.  It promotes peace, love, and harmonious relationships.  When you are ready to calm your frayed nerves, it might be time for a bit of lavender aromatherapy.

Lavender is an herb that is used to attract love and promote fidelity.  In the past it was used by both prostitutes and maiden to attract men.  Now it is seen as an herb of glamour, beauty, and love.  It is a symbol of purity, grace, and serenity.

I could keep going, but this is a good primer for this all around herb.  As with any herb, check with your herbalist or medical practitioner before starting an herbal therapy.  This is especially true of you are pregnant, nursing, or taking antidepressants.

Here are my sources for this article.  They are a wealth of information.
mountsinai.org
clevelandclinic.org
chestnutherbs.com
magickalspot.com
wiccanow.com
plentifulearth.com
20000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zac
​The Rodale Herb Book