Lavandula (common name Lavender) is a genus of 39 species of flowering plants in the in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found from Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia to southeast India. Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as ornamental plants for garden and landscape use, for use as culinary herbs and also commercially for the extraction of essential oils. The most widely cultivated species, Lavandula angustifolia is often referred to as lavender, and there is a color named for the shade of the flowers of this species.
The genus includes annual or short-lived herbaceous perennial plants and suffrutescent perennials, sub shrubs or small shrubs.
Leaf shape is diverse across the genus. They are simple in some commonly cultivated species in others they are pinnate, sometimes multiple pinnate and dissected. In most species the leaves are covered in fine hairs or indumentums which normally contain the essential oils.
Flowers are borne in whorls, held on spikes rising above the foliage, the spikes being branched in some species. Some species produce colored bracts at the apices. The flowers may be blue, violet or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish.
Although this essential oil is sometimes confused with its cousin, lavender, it really is a wonderful oil and helps you feel more relaxed, easing sore muscles and joints, relieving muscle stiffness, clearing the lungs and sinuses from phlegm and for wound healing and dermatitis. It is really a very good oil to include in a massage blend and although not as well known and used as lavender, it is a very popular and effective ingredient for massage blends.
Lavandin in an important essential oil in its own right and is extremely useful for the soap maker when blending scents. It has many beneficial qualities and in many respects is similar to Lavender but should not be used interchangeably as the issue with treatment for burns points out. Here are links to the three soaps that we use Lavandin for.
Uses:
Lavandin smells very similar to lavender, although the smell is a little stronger and the plant is woodier than true lavender. Lava din oil is extracted using steam distillation and is often used in place of true lavender. Lava din oil is an essential oil used widely in cosmetic and therapeutic products today. The main therapeutic properties of lavandin oil are analgesic, anti-depressive sedative, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anti-toxic, and diuretic among others. Lavandin oil is also used as a fragrance in soap, body lotions, massage oils, candles and other scented products. Lavandin oil blends well with the essential oils such as clove, thyme, rosemary, sage and citrus oils like bergamot and lime.
Lavandin essential oils are a known stimulant. Mainly it is used to stimulate appetite and suppress nausea and weakness. Lava din has proved effective in the curing of indigestion, flatulence, and colic. It also helps to provide sufficient relief from coughs and colds. Lava din oil benefits contribute to it being the primary ingredient in many topical analgesics. This oil is also used to restore lost energy at moments when you are fainting, or feel tired and giddy. Muscular aches and stiff joints pain that result from injury and rheumatism can also be cured using this oil in massage and aromatherapy. The essential oil proves admirably restorative against faintness, palpitations of the heart, weakness and giddiness, spasms and colic.
Lavandin also has aromatherapy uses similar to true lavender but it is more penetrating. It has a stronger scent and is considered beneficial for inflammation, respiratory and circulatory conditions. It is also thought to be very helpful in fighting germs. Feel free to reach for the lavandin to help with sore muscles and joint pain, aid in clearing sinuses and symptoms of colds and flu and flushing toxins from your system. It does have many of the same actions as true lavender. One benefit it does not share with lavender is the ability to help heal burns. Apparently due to its higher camphor content it can actually make the burns worse.