lavender medicine
pollinators first, harvest second
Pollinators first. Harvest second. I’ve been waiting until the bees and other pollinators have had time with the lavender before gathering bundles of blooms. I saw a hummingbird visiting yesterday morning.
Now I’m starting to hang lavender to dry, have gathered bundles to share at the Summer Apothecary Retreat, and have counted every stem harvested so I can make plans for the future — I’m into the thousands.
Planting lavender at Forest & Flowers Retreat was an experiment.
Will it grow well here? We’re in the shady woods with limited sun spots on this land.
Will the deer or other animals nibble it? It’s so fragrant and wooly, they’re staying clear. I see more lavender here by next season.
Below… lavender photos taken in June, and more on the medicine of this purple beauty. Its soothing support for the skin came in handy after the day I harvested. Ironically, I got too much sun on my back and by late afternoon, I was applying the After Sun Spray recipe below on my skin. It gently released heat and redness overnight.
LAVENDER
Lavandula angustifolia | Lamiaceae family | leaf, flower
ENERGETICS: bitter, drying, cooling
TISSUE STATES: tense, moist
TASTE: aromatic, astringent, bitter
ACTIONS: sedative, bitter, anti-microbial, digestive tonic
INDICATIONS
headaches, anxiety, insomnia, irritability
depression (with rosemary, tulsi, or lemon balm), grief (with rose, hawthorn)
digestive tonic, gallbladder and liver/bile stimulant, carminative (for gas and bloating)
muscular tension, bruises (with comfrey or yarrow)
respiratory: decongestant and expectorant, use in herbal steams. as antispasmodic for coughs, asthma
skin irritations: infused oil or essential oil topically or in baths with Epsom salts, also for stress, nervousness, and anxiety
PREPARATIONS
infusion: 1 quart water : 1 Tbsp lavender flowers
tincture, vinegar, honey, glycerite, oil, syrup
AFTER SUN SPRAY
½ cup witch hazel or water
2 Tablespoons pure aloe vera gel
10 drops Lavender essential oil
10 drops Peppermint essential oil
5 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
Mix all ingredients in a 4 oz spray bottle and shake to combine.
Lavender is one of my most loved plants, and I’ve worked with the essential oil over the years. Now, having the whole plant in my hands and growing in the gardens is quite a different experience. I’m looking forward to learning more from this aromatic plant ally.
Join in the comments below with any lavender insights, stories, or medicine. Thank you for sharing.
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