Lavender Aromatherapy: Relaxing the Body and Mind

The fragrance of lavender is unforgettable and easily evoked when we close our eyes. No wonder, as this flower is the source of one of the most used essential oils in the world, present in a multitude of beauty and cleaning products, such as creams, shampoos and fabric softeners. The ancient Romans already recognized the versatility of lavender, using it for washing clothes, bathing and perfuming environments. They were also the first to take advantage of the flower's calming properties, which are still used today to control symptoms of insomnia, stress and anxiety. In addition, lavender is an ally in protecting stored clothes, as its properties keep moths away.

Lavender is known for its essence

Lavender is a typical flower of the region that extends from southern Europe to northern Africa, passing through Arabia and the Canary Islands. It prefers cool climates and is resistant to even occasional frost. With the modern techniques of genetic improvement, today it is possible to cultivate it in almost all over the country, including in regions with a tropical climate. Thanks to this improvement, varieties of lavender with white and bluish flowers appeared, in addition to the classic violet and purple ones.

Despite being a well-known flower, few people know that lavender can be used in cooking. If you've never tried this flower, you can remove the pollen grains and try the petals, which have a sweet taste and can be used to flavor honey, wine, ice cream, vinegar and biscuits. Being from the same family as rosemary, lavender can replace it in stews and meat dishes, but it is important to use it in moderation, as its scent is quite strong and can end up contaminating the entire meal. It is important to remove pollen grains, which are bitter and can cause allergies. If you grow your own lavender, you can be sure there are no pesticides in the flower.

Top ways to get lavender seedlings

French lavender is more common in Brazil than its English cousin (Lavandula angustifolia) and its flowers are a grayish lilac, with short stems and dense foliage. This sun-loving plant has a built-in mechanism to detect when the days are longer than the nights, flowering throughout the summer. For its cultivation, a more sandy soil is recommended, prepared with a mixture of sand, earth and organic compost. Once accustomed to the place, lavender is resistant to both periods of drought and frost, making it especially suitable for those who live in the south of the country and in mountainous regions.

To keep the plant looking its best, you can prune the flowers as soon as they dry, use the petals to make scented bags for clothes, and prune the foliage in early spring. If you want to make seedlings, it is important to collect the seeds or cut cuttings from the tips of the strongest branches, never from the base of the plant, to avoid damage. If you have a house with a garden, it is possible to create a path of lavender around the entire facade and, thus, dispense with the use of fabric softeners when ironing clothes.