What is lavender good for?
Lavender is an amazing medicinal plant. It’s lovely scent is calming and relaxing for the mind. It is also anti-septic and anti-inflammatory, making it a great addition to an herbal salve. It is known for helping to heal burn and bug bites. Lavender oil can be added to the bath, lotions or diffusing. A few drops of lavender can help deter bugs and helps soothe and heal outdoor weathered skin. Little Mount Lavender farms over 10,000 plants each year.
Lemonade: Make a tea with fresh lavender leaves and hot water. Strain the water and add it to your lemonade. Put a dollop of honey infused with fresh lavender in iced tea, or put dried lavender flowers in your sugar bowl. For an unexpected surprise, add fresh lavender flowers to a very cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The wine’s fruitiness pairs well with lavender.
Grilling: Take fresh lavender and rosemary and grind onto seasoned beef, chicken or lamb.
Cooking: Add one-half teaspoon of dried lavender to your favorite sugar-cookie mix, or make fresh homemade lavender ice cream. Blend chopped lavender flowers with butter for a savory scone topping.
Carpet freshener: After the fresh lavender dries, grind it up and add it to baking soda, then sprinkle it on your carpet. When you vacuum, the whole house will smell like lavender and it’ll freshen your vacuum cleaner, too.
Dog deodorizer: Rub a clump of fresh or dried lavender into your dog’s fur.
Sleep aid: Squeeze fresh lavender flowers to release their calming oils onto your fingertips, then rub your temples. Or boil dried flowers in water and inhale the vapors.
Antiseptic: Rub lavender essential oil or fresh lavender flowers on a cut to hasten healing.
Potpourri: Mix dried lavender flowers with fresh thyme, rosemary or mint leaves, ground coriander and ground cloves for an aromatic potpourri.
Bath sachet: Place 2 tablespoons of lavender and 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in a muslin bag or cheesecloth, and tie it beneath the bath spigot so water flows through it. Rub the bag on your skin while bathing. Or add 1 pound of baking soda, 7 to 10 drops of lavender essential oil and a handful of fresh lavender blossoms to a warm bath.
Mister: Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a sprayer bottle of water for a refreshing room mister or a dog deodorizer
© Boulder County Home & Garden Magazine – 2016-2020
