Lavender lemonade is more than just beautiful to look at and refreshing to drink on a hot summer afternoon. The changes this humble drink can make to your overall sense of well-being will astound and surprise you. You will find that just by adding this drink to your diet you can make positive changes to your outlook and approach to life.
Lavender being used as a medicinal herb can be traced back to early civilization. Greek naturalist, Dioscorides, commended the medical attributes of lavender in the first century A.D. In contemporary times, lavender has once again achieved great popularity for its potential medical benefits.
It is now widely accepted that lavender can help reduce anxiety, elevate the symptoms of depression, and act as a sleeping aid. So if you are feeling anxious, or down, or not sleeping well, lavender lemonade may just be the solution to your problems. A closer look at some research will allow us to see the effect that lavender can have when taken orally.
Recipe: Lavender Lemonade with Lavender Essential Oil
Ingredients:
1 cup raw honey
12 cups pure water
1 drop lavender essential oil
6 lemons, peeled and juiced
Lavender springs for garnish
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.
Studies supporting the oral use of lavender to reduce symptoms of anxiety
- A study conducted by Dr. Siegfriend Kasper, Prof., MD, from the Medical University of Vienna, looks at how effective lavandula oil (silexan) may be for patients with generalized anxiety disorder and sybsyndromal anxiety. The study titled “An orally administered lavandula oil preparation (Silexan) for anxiety disorder and related conditions: an evidence based review” was published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice. Dr. Kasper concluded “Silexan had beneficial effects on typical co-morbidity symptoms of anxiety disorders, for example, disturbed sleep, somatic complaints, or decreased quality of life. Except for mild gastrointestinal symptoms, the drug was devoid of adverse effects and did not cause drug interactions or withdrawal symptoms at daily doses of 80 or 160 mg.”
- In a study conducted by Bradley BF, Et al. published in Hum psychopharmacol, 97 healthy participants were orally administered lavender capsules (100 ml and 200 ml). Film clips were then used to elicit anxiety. Various methods were used to measure the level of anxiety in the participants. Some participants were given lavender capsules, while others were given placebo capsules. They then watched a neutral film clip, an anxiety-provoking clip, and a light-hearted clip. The authors concluded that lavender helped to reduce anxiety under conditions of low anxiety. However, they were unable to draw conclusions about clinical anxiety disorders.
Other uses of lavender
- Lavender is used for a variety of digestive complaints including: meteorism (abdominal swelling from gas in the intestinal or peritoneal cavity), vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, and upset stomach.
- Lavender can also be used for pain relief for conditions including: migraines, headaches, and toothaches. It is also useful in the treatment of muscular aches, rheumatism, backaches, and tense muscles. A massage with lavender oil can also give one relief from pain in the joints.
- Lavender may be applied to the skin for hair loss (alopecia areata). Using lavender as a treatment for alopecia areata is considered possibly effective by The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCB). There is evidence that lavender can promote hair growth by up to 44 percent after 7 months of treatment.
- A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that lavender oil may be very effective in treating antifungal-resistant infections.
- According to dermatologists and aromatherapists, lavender essential oil is beneficial in the treatment of acne. Lavender oil inhibits the initial bacterial infection and can reduce signs of scarring left by the acne.
- Lavender oil is widely used for various respiratory problems including: flu, cough, throat infections, cold, sinus congestion, tonsillitis, and laryngitis. The oil can either be used in the form of vapor or applied on the skin of the chest, neck, and back.
Summation
Factoring lavender into your diet may not always be that easy, but mixing up a jug of lavender lemonade to go with an afternoon snack is quick and simple. Plus, it may prove to be very pleasurable. Making lavender lemonade a part of your routine may eliminate some of those unwanted worries and thoughts.
Featured photo credit: Working moms against guilt via workingmomsagainstguilt.com
