Lavender

(Lavandula angustifolia)

Parts Used: Flowers

Active Constituents: Volatile oil (up to 3%), containing over 40 constituents, including linalyl acetate (30-60%), cineole (10%), linalool, nerol, borneol.  Also flavonoids, tannins, coumarins

Main Actions:

• Carminative
• Anti-spasmodic
• Anti-depressant
• Rubefacient (draws redness to the surface of the skin via dilation of the blood vessels and an increase in blood circulation)

 Major Safety Issues:

• Lavender Oil should be avoided by people with gastrointestinal inflammation, peptic ulcer, liver and kidney disease.
• The essential oil should not be taken internally.
• The oil used topically can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals
• Excessive internal use of the oil can cause renal irritation and damage.