Natures Way (Holland and Barrett Lavender Pure Essential Oil)

Member Name: B2Becs

Product:	Holland and Barrett Lavender Pure Essential Oil
Date:	20/11/08 (206 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Versatile yet safe to use

Disadvantages: The pharmaceutical industry would go bust if we all learnt how to use this oil!

I can honestly say that this product should be found in everyones first aid kit at home - it is an absolute must! And Holland and Barrett have produced a wonderful product that is pure, undilluted and very reasonably priced at £3.99 for the 10ml bottle or £6.79 for the 20ml.
However, I would add that Holland and Barrett have fantastic sales and the prices of this product are greatly reduced during these promotions, giving the consumer even greater savings.

Lavender Oil is an all round, multi purpose essential oil and is probably the most well known of all the essential oils. By 'pure essential' oil I am NOT referring to room fragrance oil which is purely a fragrance and not of any medicinal benefit.

For those who know their aromatherapy it is an absolute gem of an oil that has so many functions and can be used in so many ways that, like myself, it is a permanent fixture in many a bathroom.

For those of you who don't know much about this oil, I shall give you a brief outline of its main uses:
Lavender oil can be used to treat a multitude of ailments, both physical and psychological, ranging from burns to headaches to nausea, right through to mood swings and restlessness. It is an analgesic, an anti-depressant, an antiseptic, a decongestant and sedative - to name but a few!!!

It can be added to water and placed in an oil burner to diffuse into the room - this is very helpful at night time to promote a good nights sleep.
It can be added to a bath to help relax the body both physically and mentally.
It can be added(a few drops in each case does the trick)to a tissue and inhaled directly, which often provides quite instant relief, ie with nausea.
It can be added to a carrier oil and used in massage, helping aches and pains, for instance arthritic pain.
It can be added to either a cold or hot compress, depending on the condition, for example, to help heal bruises and blisters.....and so the list goes on.

There are no cautions with this particular essential oil and it is safe for use with children, babies and even in pregnancy although as with all 'alternative' or 'complimentary' medicines you should always check first with the wholesaler or do your own research before using it.

I have been using this oil succesfully for years and it never ceases to amaze me, and more often than not I buy from Holland and Barrett as I know I can trust the authenticity of their oils.

I haven't really done this oil justice in this review, simply because to do that I would have to write an essay on its benefits.
I recommend that you look it up on the net or delve into an aromatherapy book or two and find out for yourself just how wonderful this oil is, and then put it into practice.

I'll give you a couple of examples -
I burned my hand on the top of my grill when removing something from the oven and I grabbed my bottle of lavender oil and poured a whole lot over the burn. It took the 'burning' sensation away almost immediately and it soothed it, although it was stinging a little bit. I let it soak into my skin and then repeated this an hour or so later. The burn started to heal within 24 hours and after repeating the treatment over the next couple of days my skin was back to normal. I didn't need any medical attention or any creams from the chemist!

Ive also used lavender oil very successfully to relieve anxiety, namely panic attacks. By adding three drops to a tissue at the onset of a panic attack and gently inhaling the oil I have felt my own heart rate decrease and my whole body relax.

I have studied aromatherapy at a basic level so I am knowledgable as to how to use these oils and certainly anyone can and should try them, though I would say that you must always know what you're doing as oils are strong and can affect things like blood pressure and in some cases should not be used at all.

Lavender oil is certainly a good place to start as it is the most harmless and yet most effective of them all!

Summary: A wonderful, natural essential oil with endless benefits