Semester 3, Week 11, Day 5

I have made a good amount of progress on my paper but I still have a long way to go.  That being said, since my paper went from 4 pages to 8 pages yesterday, I decided to pick a commonly used herb and update that one. I chose lavender. I really don't know how I got a 100% on that herbarium because that entry SUCKED.  It took quite a bit of work to make it a really good entry and it is uploaded for those who are members. Again, if you want to join my sight, just comment on any post and I'll send you an invite.  The process is quite simple but I do wish they would make it available for people to sign themselves up on this level of page!  LOL  The children are awake and hungry.  Since today will be very busy, my personal comments will be short today.  Have a great day!

On to lavender!

Constituents: I literally can’t find the constituent I’m looking for but Ulbricht (2010) uses perillyl alcohol (POH) for cancer (p. 466). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (over 40 constituents, linalyl acetate, cineole, nerol, borneol) and flavonoids (p. 108). Heinerman (1996) says linalyle acetate and hydroxycoumarin (herniarin) (p. 299). Hoffman (2003) says volatile oil (linalyl acetate, linalool, lavandulyl acetate, borneol, limonene, caryophyllene); coumarins (umbelliferone, herniarin, coumarin); triterpenes (ursolic acid), flavonoids (luteolin) (p. 561).

Therapeutic Actions: Hoffman (2003) lists carminative, antispasmodic, relaxing nervine, antidepressant, rubefacient, emmenagogue and hypotensive (p. 562).  I’m making this poultice to use on burns.  Since my son likes to try to touch a stove, I think knowing how to do this would be a good thing. Demulcent is what I’m looking for but my other books that talk about burns doesn’t list therapeutic actions. Though nervine and rubefacient help here as well. Hoffman also has a long list of indications but doesn’t include burns specifically, just that it’s good for a wide range of skin issues which is very true.  One of my oil books has almost a whole page in the back to look up how to use lavender (p. 562). To back that up, Ulbricht has a whole page and a half on uses that have science to support them (p. 466-7). Chevallier (2016) says antispasmodic, relieves anxiety, antidepressant, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial (p. 108). Mills and Bone (2010) says carminative, spasmolytic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic (p. 493).

Indications: Chevallier (2016) says soothes and calms to help with sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, migraine and mild depression; soothes, indigestion, colic, gas and bloating; asthma from nerves; the oil is antiseptic and used on burns, wounds, sores, insect stings, scabies, head lice, headaches, muscle tension, tones the nervous system, and encourages sleep (p. 108). Hoffman (2003) lists headaches, particularly from stress, depression, promote sleep, nervous system tonic, exhaustion, aches and pains (p. 562).

Contraindications/Safety: None reported. This herb is actually so safe it can be used on a brand new infant.  A lot if baby lotions and bath supplies have lavender in them to calm baby or even help with skin issues.  Mills and Bone (2010) says it’s okay for use in pregnancy though most sources are more cautions on this topic.  This is an herb that isn’t used frequently so I can understand this.  They said it is okay during lactation.  It does show up in breast milk but it provides a mild carminative effect for the baby (p. 493).