Lavender officinalis in the world is known everywhere. Even if it does not grow in any region, it is sure to be imported there, since this plant is used both as a spice and as a medicinal or cosmetic product.
Content:
Interesting facts about lavender
Photo of lavender and tea
Lavender is a shrub no more than 0.6 m high, about 1 m in diameter. But breeders were able to breed varieties reaching a height of 2 m. The plant has a straight stem, on which the leaves are linear and bent with gray felt pubescence. Its flowering occurs in the summer months. It is at this time that the flower stalks are cut, collected in bunches and dried thoroughly.
Lavender is used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetology, perfumery and cooking (as a spice and drink). Many tea lovers prefer to make it from lavender, as it primarily has calming properties - which is so necessary for modern people.
The flowers of the plant are small, bright purple, lilac, with blue hues, they are distinguished by a strong aroma, spicy taste with a feeling of bitterness.
Composition and calories
The flowers of the plant have a very high content of essential oil - up to 3%, in the leaves - up to 0.35%, in the stems - up to 0.20%. The most valuable component of lavender essential oil is linalyl acetate (up to 50%). Scientists have proven that this substance is a powerful stimulator of regenerative functions of cells.
The plant contains such useful substances as:
1. Cineol. It is an excellent antiseptic, helps to get rid of sputum.
2. Tannin. It has a positive effect on inflammatory and infectious lesions, ulcers and burns of the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and larynx. Effective in the period of poisoning with salts of heavy metals.
3. Citral. Refers to antiseptic substances, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory processes in the eye area.
4. Ursolic acid. It has a very beneficial effect on human health due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It exhibits a cardiostimulating and anti-atherosclerotic effect, fights against tumor neoplasms.
5. Valeric acid. Needed to stimulate colonic motility.
6. Caproic acid. Helps the normal functioning of the circulatory system, enhances the detoxification function of the liver, destroys influenza viruses in the early stages.
7. Triterpene compounds. In fact, these are biologically active carbon compounds. Needed by the human body to fight against tumors, microbes and various viruses.
8. Tannins. They have a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent effect, block the influence of pathogenic flora. They contribute to the speedy healing of wounds, and also have a strengthening effect on the walls of blood vessels. They form a special film with a protective base on the gastric mucosa, thereby preventing its inflammation and damage.
9. Borneol. First of all, it is an excellent antiseptic, which has an analgesic and tonic effect, helps to get rid of stress and relieve nervous tension, tones up cardiac activity. Able to improve blood circulation, stimulate digestion.
10. Coumarin. Slows down the process of blood clotting, has a special aroma.
11. Organic acids. Their important role is manifested in metabolic processes.
12. Mineral salts. Every cell in the body needs these substances, otherwise a person may die. Actively take part in life, normalize many functions, promote hematopoiesis and tissue regeneration, maintain alkaline-acid balance.
13. Lavandulol. Obtained from essential oil. Has a bactericidal effect. Most often it is an integral component of perfumery products.
14. Bitterness. They have a tonic and restorative effect on people. They are used if it is necessary to establish the process of digestion, with exhaustion, neurasthenia or loss of strength. Stimulate and restore metabolic processes.
15. Resin. It treats skin diseases, inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract, some stomach problems, heals the intestinal microflora.
Calorie content of dried lavender - 23 kcal per 100 g. Proteins - 4 g, fats - 0.7 g, carbohydrates - 0.2 g.
Useful properties of lavender
Due to the presence of valuable substances, this plant:
1. Has a healing effect during colds and flu,
2. Normalizes blood circulation.
3. Relieves headaches, especially those associated with neurological problems and nervous exhaustion.
4. Restores strength in a short time.
5. Helps with the acute stage of rheumatism.
6. Removes bouts of irritability and anxiety.
7. Removes the feeling of fatigue, removes the state of aggressiveness.
8. Fights insomnia and treats eating disorders.
9. It has carminative qualities and increases the acidity of gastric juice.
10. Improves blood circulation and relieves bronchial spasms.
11. It is an excellent stimulator of blood circulation in the brain.
12. Removes toxic substances from the body.
13. Promotes the fastest healing of bruises or burns, purulent wounds or boils, acne and sprains.
14. Is an antihelminthic.
15. Relaxes the blood vessels and muscles located in the head, neck and around the eyes, helps to get rid of twitching of the eyelid.
Benefits of lavender tea
Tea brewed on the basis of lavender has a unique taste and a special aroma. Astringency and bitterness harmonize here, which add spice to the drink. But at the same time, there is a sweetness in the tea, which lasts for some time after preparation.
Benefits:
For women
Many women suffer from premenstrual migraines, but lavender tea will help get rid of these painful symptoms. Lavender contains a small amount of prototypes of female hormones, therefore, with gynecological diseases, it is necessary to drink such tea every day. To do this, half a teaspoon of crushed flowers pour 200 ml of boiling water, add honey, let it brew for 10 minutes. By the way, this tea is useful during a cold or as a prophylactic.
Such a drink helps many women during the onset of menopause, relieving stress and excessive irritability.
For men
The invaluable effect of lavender tea is that it benefits patients suffering from prostatitis or prostate adenoma. The fact is that the plant affects the genitourinary system, relieving pain during urination, stops inflammation. After prolonged physical exertion, a drink with lavender will help restore strength. It will be possible to make baths for tired legs - they will relieve tension and relieve muscle cramps.
During pregnancy
During the period of bearing a child, it is better not to take lavender tea, since a high content of active substances and compounds can adversely affect the development of the fetus. It has been proven that the essential oils that make up the plant provoke a contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus. This can lead to miscarriage.
When breastfeeding
Lavender tea should be taken with great care and in very small doses. It is better to refuse it in the first 3 months after childbirth, as it can cause an allergic reaction in the child. But such tea will be useful if cracks have formed on the nipples. By lubricating the affected areas with this herbal drink, you can achieve a quick healing of wounds. In lavender there is a special substance - citral, which, when applied to the skin, is not absorbed.
For kids
For children, lavender poses a certain threat. In the body of boys, the plant is able to inhibit male hormones, stimulating the activity of women, which is highly undesirable. For hyperactive children with increased excitability, baths with the addition of lavender and aromatherapy will be useful.
At the first symptoms of a cold or a viral infection, inhalations with lavender will help. But before using the plant as a medicine for children, it is always necessary to consult a doctor.
Tea with lavender in medicine
Doctors often advise using lavender tea as an effective diuretic.
The drink is often used:
1. If necessary, remove nervous tension from a person, increase endurance, performance and activity.
2. In the complex therapy of cardiovascular diseases.
3. As an adjunct to drugs for paralysis after a stroke.
4. With indigestion or bloating, intestinal ailments or colic.
There are courses of treatment developed by doctors with herbal decoctions and tea.
Harm and contraindications
Any herbal tea can cause side effects. Lavender is no exception.
1. This drink is not recommended for people with a tendency to high blood pressure, especially if they are taking medications with a significant content of iodine or iron.
2. Due to the high content of biologically active substances (and there are about 250 of them in the plant), uncontrolled addiction to lavender tea can provoke an allergic reaction. It manifests itself in the form of a rash on the skin, headache, chills, dizziness or vomiting and nausea.
3. If lavender tea is consumed frequently and in large quantities, gastrointestinal disorders, colic and abdominal cramps may occur.
Doctors warn that lavender tea should not be drunk:
• people with liver pathologies;
• pregnant women and women during lactation;
• children;
• patients with high acidity of gastric juice;
• persons with low blood pressure;
• patients undergoing surgery.
Lavender Tea Recipes
1. For tea, dry raw materials are usually used, and each housewife has her own secrets of preparation. But there is a classic recipe: 1-2 tablespoons of flowers in a glass of boiling water. For tea, it would please you with its taste and useful properties when brewed for 10-15 minutes.
2. A concentrated drink is prepared a little differently. Take 5-6 tablespoons of crushed flowers per glass of boiling water. Usually such strong tea is used if the throat is sore, and also in the form of lotions for the treatment and disinfection of wounds and burns, rinsing the hair.
3. If treatment of digestive disorders is necessary, folk healers offer the following recipe: pour one teaspoon of flowers into 200 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 5 minutes under a closed lid. It will turn out a fragrant and pleasant-tasting drink, which should be taken twice a day. To make the taste more refreshing and delicate, you can add a small amount of peppermint.
4. If a person has a cataract, it can be treated with lavender tea. To do this, you will need fennel seeds and chopped dried lavender leaves - half a teaspoon each. It is advisable to pre-heat fennel seeds in a pan until they acquire a light golden hue. Mix the ingredients and place in a container. Pour boiling water over and let steep for five minutes. When the drink is infused, it can be drunk both hot and cold.
5. Cramps in the stomach can be treated with a brewed drink: pour a teaspoon of crushed flowers with a glass of boiling water. After 10 minutes the tea is ready. Drink two glasses a day for several days.
6. For the prevention of colds or at the first symptoms, you should take lavender (several branches along with flowers), place in a liter container and pour boiling water over it. When the drink becomes warm, add a tablespoon of honey and half a teaspoon of vodka. Drink tea, lie down, take cover and sleep.
Lavender tea should be brewed in porcelain or glassware, preheating the walls with boiling water. You can use the plant repeatedly, but each time you need to increase the time of infusion.
Interesting facts about lavender
1. No wonder lavender has such a name. After all, it arose from the Latin verb "lava", which means "to wash." The ancient Romans, when bathing, added this plant to the bath, which gave the skin freshness, a healthy look and a wonderful aroma.
2. The clergy treated lavender with respect, believing that it was able to put the devil himself to flight. Therefore, Catholic priests necessarily used this plant when shaking hands, and parishioners wore crosses made from inflorescences. But this is a departure from Christianity, in which God is the Creator of everything and it is He who grants mercy through His creations to those who fulfill the commandments of love in relation to all living things.
3. Lavender tea is claimed by experts to have amazing properties: it helps self-discovery, as it calms and focuses the body's forces on natural well-being.
Today, lavender is remembered at a festival dedicated to this plant. It opens every year in many countries, but is especially popular in Provence, where there are huge farmlands and entire fields where a myriad of fragrant flowers bloom every summer. Of course, first of all, this is a commercial event: profitable deals are concluded here. But for tourists who are looking forward to the next festival, there are many surprises associated with lavender. Also, many are attracted by trips to the lavender fields. Cooks prepare various dishes with the plant - from salads to desserts and unusual sweets, as well as drinks, up to alcoholic ones. A wide range of perfumery and cosmetic products is presented.
Important: All information on the website is provided for informational purposes only. Before applying any of the recommendations, consult with a specialist. Neither the editors nor the authors are responsible for any possible harm caused by your understanding of what you have read and your own actions in relation to yourself and loved ones. Love makes everything better.