Lavender 
Lavendula sp
Lamiaceae 
© Anne Calzada Herbalist

This plant is one of my favorites. The calming and stabilizing vibration of Lavender matches really well with my constitution. Its volatile oils are intoxicating to me. Not only do I feel its calming vibes, I also feel wrapped up in its immune stimulating properties. This plant is a common garden flower that will grow bright in the fullness of the Sun. Bees, butterflies and wildlife love Lavender, help them out and plant some if you can! As with all common plants, so much power and beauty resides within each one, just like people!

Lavender is

Cooling

Drying

Pungent

Sweet

Aromatic

Antimicrobial

Antifungal

Antiseptic

Antidepressant

Analgesic

Antiinflammatory

Antispasmodic

Antidepressant

Carminative

Immune Stimulating

Nervine

Lavender is completely edible. Enjoy some Lavender infused water. Add Lavender to salads or dips. Add the flowers to cookies or pancakes! Make Lavender vinegar! Make Lavender ice cubes! Blueberry/Lavender smoothie? Make Lavender honey! Make Lavender jam or syrup. Lavender chocolate anything?!! Make Lavender Sun tea when you need more Yang energy and make Lavender Moon tea when you feel like you need the Yin vibrations.

The essential oil is invaluable to have on hand. It is one of the most commonly used and available essential oils in the world! For headaches, insect bites, insomnia, lung and sinus congestion, athlete's foot, menstrual cramps, back aches, scrapes, cuts and wounds. In beauty, it has been used for years to enhance loveliness. Containing cellular regenerating properties, it helps to heal wrinkles, scars, burns and stretch marks. Due to its high antiseptic properties, it is used for acne or boils. It has an infinity for both oily and dry skin.

Taking a bath with the fresh flowers is incredible and so is taking a bath with the dried flowers or essential oil! Had a rough day? Physical or emotional? No matter, treat yourself to a Lavender bath and you will never be disappointed! This plant is definitely a friend of the ladies, calming premenstrual cramps.
 Children love Lavender! Make a spritzer for them and spray their pillow before they go to sleep. Let them soak in a bath. Children also love dream pillows! Consider sewing up some Lavender into a dream pillow for the kids or for yourself. You will have the sweetest slumber! ...and speaking of sewing some up for the kids...
Insects do NOT like Lavender. Maybe you will get into the mood to make some sachets to keep the insects out! Lavender is and has been used in different ceremonial smudges and incenses to clear negativity and sickness from a room. Fresh bundles are placed in the room of the sick or dying to bring comfort and purity to the energetics of the room. Lavender flower essence is soothing and calming to the mental psyche, eases emotional difficulty and transition. 

Fortify your Spirit with Lavender!

                               

 Lavender Spritzer

Add 40 drops of Lavender essential oil to a 4 oz. spritzer bottle, fill with spring or distilled water. Shake and spritz! 

Lavender Facial Spritzer
Instead of water, make it special. Add Aloe Vera Juice! Mist your complexion for beauty and energy! 

Calming Tea Blend
1 Part Chamomile
1 Part Lemon Balm
1/2 Part Lavender 
For when you need to chill...

Lavender Bath Soak
2 Cup
 Epsom Salts
1/4 Cup Lavender Flowers
50 Drops Of Lavender Essential Oil
Blend and add as desired to your bath!

Lavender Whipped Cream
Add a drop of essential oil to heavy cream, whip up and use in hot cocoa, on cakes, in tea or dip with fruit! 
 

I hope this inspires you to explore this beauty...

Viva La Lavender!!!