As Summer sets in you’ll spot many a variety of lavender in gardens across the UK.  This popular plant is famous for its musky fragrance and its pale, purple petals.  Lavender pouches have long been used to fragrance clothes drawers and keep the moths at bay and these days is grown commercially to make lavender oil for antiseptic purposes and for use in aromatherapy treatments.  In addition to this you’ll find lavender honey, lavender sugar and even lavender tea available.

Medicinally lavender has been used for centuries by herbalists.   As an essential oil, Lavender is a powerful antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory qualities.  In the First World War nurses used lavender oil to disinfect wards and surfaces.

Lavender oil and infusions are widely used to soothe insect stings and bites.  It is also believed that potted lavender can help to ward off insects although your common bumble bee will love the stuff!  It is also a great tonic for headaches and migraine.  Dabbed on the temples it can soothe away the pain.

Lavender is perhaps most famous for its calming properties.  It is often used to induce relaxtion and sleep.  You can either add seeds of lavender to your pillow or put a couple of drops of lavender oil on your pillow case.  An infusion of lavender using about three flowers heads in a cup of hot water is a great bedtime drink to soothe away the stresses of the day.

It is also believed to restore acne ridden skin when diluted 1 part to 10 parts of rosewater, witch hazel or water.  It is a great oil to have to hand in the kitchen as it effectively treats minor skin burns and inflammation.