The many uses of Lavender Essential Oil - Part 2

In the first part of this post I introduced you to how I use lavender oil for healing, specifically a nasty open sore on my dog's ear. I suspect that it might have some type of bacterial infection although the primary cause was probably a reaction to a flea or mite bite. You can read that post here.

Now I want to talk about another great way to use essential oils - for cooking.

Not all oils are created equally

First off I need to say that you can't use all brands of essential oils topically or internally. A lot of the cheap oils you can buy are designed just to use for scent, as in for making candles or soap or whatever.

If you want to enjoy the health and healing benefits of essential oils in or on your body you need to use the best quality ones, which are classified for therapeutic use. There are a lot of companies out there selling oils, and you need to be careful about the quality of oil you are getting. A lot of oils have been mixed with other things so the actual amount of active ingredient you get could be very low. I have done a bit of research and found some companies that I trust. Some of the companies that have good quality oils are also structured as multi-level marketing entities, and that's cool if you are interested in starting a side career selling oils - which I am not.

I have personally used oils from all of these companies over the past 20 years, and though I am not getting paid anything to mention them, I do feel confident recommending them to you. These companies include Young Living and DoTerra. Other companies sell oils and you can buy what you need when you need it at comparable costs. These companies include Rocky Mountain Oil and Rose Mountain Herbs. There are also some new companies out there with high quality oils, albeit a small selection of oils that you might be interested in supporting too. Plant Therapy and Aroma Foundry.

I have also used peppermint oil from NOW foods that I bought probably 10 years ago. I just finished the bottle last week. I can honestly say it was the strongest peppermint oil I have ever used. My eyes would water when I opened the bottle. None of the other peppermint blends that I have bought from the other companies are that strong. I might buy another bottle just to compare if their oils are still as strong. Best cure for a stomach ache and gas EVER. Also good for getting rid of mice! (I will save these stories for another post)

More Benefits of Lavender

In addition to its anti-viral and antibacterial properties, Lavender also offers relief for migraines, insomnia, insect bites, skin problems, infections, stress and nervous tension A refreshing note to a tired mind - lavender has been named as one of the most useful of the essences for the relief of anxiety and stress.. One of the most commonly reported benefits is to ease breathing and calm the respiratory tract particularly with coughs, colds and the flu when lungs and sinuses are choked with phlegm. It can also boost the immune system to defend against airborne viruses.

London Fog - a mood boosting latte

Anyway, the point of this post is to share a lovely warming tea recipe for this cold time of the year. Its called London Fog - and apparently it was invented in Vancouver, BC! Way to go Canada!

This recipe combines Earl Grey tea with vanilla and you guessed it, Lavender!

You may or may not know it, but the distinctive scent of Earl Grey comes from Bergamot, which is part of the citrus family of scents (known for creating a joyful mood) Other mood boosting scents in this beverage include vanilla and lavender. So you can expect to enjoy a calming and uplifting experience while you are sipping this fragrant and flavorful tea.

Ingredients:

1 earl grey tea bag
1 cup of hot water
1/4 cup non dairy milk like coconut or almond
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 drop lavender essential oil
*to make this a latte you will need to use a blender (a vitamix if you've got one)

Preparation:

Steep the tea in the hot water for 3-4 minutes to make a strong tea and remove tea bag
Warm the milk in a small pot on the stove, add the drop of lavender oil and mix well to emulsify the oil and fat together
Pour the tea, warm milk, honey, and vanilla extract into your blender and begin to mix on high speed and continue for 1 minute until it is frothy.
Pour into your favorite tall mug and enjoy.