Lavender: 50 Self-Care Recipes and Projects for Natural Wellness

Lavender has wafted its way around the world and throughthe pages of recorded history. Like an amulet, the herb wasdangled to chase away demons, moths, and disease, and itsoil was prescribed for headaches, hysteria, and gas. WhenEurope was ravaged by plagues, lavender was stuffed into thebeaks of bird-shaped masks to ward off the Black Death—adisease that people thought was transmitted by scent.Hidden within many myths are buds of truth, and so itis with lavender. The clean, powerful scent of the herb didindeed protect some from plagues as it fragranced the air,but not because it banished the evil smell of disease. Sciencehas shown that those diseases were often carried by fleason rats, and the scent of lavender repelled both rodents andbiting insects. Thanks to modern science we also know thatlavender essential oil does indeed contain some disinfecting,soothing, relaxing, and pain-relieving properties.Lavender continues to scent our modern world, appearingin culinary seasonings, household cleaners, and aromatherapy.But with one significant change. Lavender’s resurgence isnow fueled by science instead of superstition, and by delightinstead of desperation.Read on, and you’ll discover numerous practical ways youcan harness the calming and healing properties of lavender inyour garden, home, kitchen, body, mind, and life. This timelessherb has truly earned its place in today’s society as a potentand delectable ingredient for wellness.