Lavender Flower
The medicinal effects of lavender, whose beneficial effects on health have been known and used for a long time, and the methods of using them:
Lavender
Lavender is from the Lamiaceae family. Lavandula genus, which is native to the Mediterranean basin, is the common name of about 20 species of perennial plants with a bushy appearance that do not shed their leaves in winter. Some of these species also grow in our country. We will first discuss the two related to our subject, English lavender (L. angustifolia-L. spica=L. vera=L. officinalis) and then in a separate section, Blackhead lavender (L. stoechas).
English lavender, or lavender for short, can grow up to 1m. Its trunk is square-sectioned, green in colour and pleasantly scented. However, the trunk becomes woody in the second year of the plant. It has greyish green, thin, long and pleasantly scented leaves; and very scented blue flowers that bloom in summer months, forming sparse spikes at the end of long stems.
The plant's trunk, leaves, stems and flowers are given their special scent by the small star-like hairs on them. Each of the small fruits of lavender that ripen in autumn contains four hazelnut-shaped seeds. It likes sunny and open areas, sandy soils with good drainage and lime, and is propagated by seeds, stem cuttings taken in autumn or by dividing the plant base.
It contains volatile oil containing organic acids, as well as substances such as glycosides, alkaloids and tannins. Lavender essence (lavender oil), obtained by distillation of this volatile oil, is used as an important raw material in the perfumery industry. In addition, traditionally, lavender leaves and flowers are placed in potpourri dishes that give our rooms a nice scent, and in fragrance bags in our bedrooms. Lavender essence is sprinkled on bed linens.
The medicinal effects of lavender, whose beneficial effects on health have been known and used for a long time, and the methods of using them:
Chemical Composition: (It contains linalyl acetate, l-linalool, nerol, graniol, borneol, citral, cineole, a-pinene, ocimene, a-flaudren, kanfen, aB- cariophyllene, coumarin, furfurol etc. ink essential oil, tanning agents, saponins, glycosides and bitter substances etc.
In Which Diseases Is It Used?: The plant has a calming effect on the nerves, relieving pain and disinfecting. It has a refreshing and diuretic effect. It is used against neurasthenia, migraine, hysteria, nervous heart diseases. It is also recommended for use against intestinal pain, insomnia, gastritis, and gas accumulation in the intestines.
Lavender flower is used by folk medicine for headaches, schizophrenia, dizziness, and externally for stomach aches, feces and rheumatism. It is used against moths by sprinkling it between clothes instead of naphthalene. The essential oil dissolved in spirits can be used because it has a very good effect against rheumatic pains. Lavender flower is also used in perfumery and the alcohol industry.
