Introduction of Lavender:garden lavender or broad-leafed lavender.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lavender, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Lavendula angustifolia Mill., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Lavender, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Lavender(garden lavender).
English Name: Lavender.
Latin Name: Lavendula angustifolia Mill.,sometimes referred to as Lavendula spica L.,Lavendula officinalis Chaix., or Lavendula vera DC.Other Lavendula species have been used medicinally as well,including Lavendula latifolia Medic. or Vill.and Lavendula pubescens Decne.
Common Names: Lavendula angustifolia, garden lavender, true lavender, Lavendula latifolia, aspic, broad-leafed lavender, spike lavender, lavandin.
Property and flavor: The flowers have a fresh aromatic fragrance, cool in nature, it tastes pungent.
Brief introduction: This aromatic, evergreen half-shrub features spikes of small white, blue, or purple flowers. The flowers are collected and specially treated to extract a fragrant essential oil. Both the flowers and the oil are used medicinally. Lavender is indigenous to the Mediterranean region.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Lavender as the flowers and oil of the species (1).Lavendula angustifolia Mill. It is a plant species of the Lavandula Linn genus, the Lamiaceae family (Labiatae, mint family). The flowers and oil are used medicinally. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Lavendula angustifolia Mill.
Botanical description: Lavendula angustifolia Mill is a subshrub or dwarf shrub. Branches, stellate tomentose, dense in young parts; The old branches are dark brown, the cortex strips off, with long flower branches and short renewal stalks. The leaves are linear or needle-thread-shaped. The leaves on the flower branches are large, 3~5 cm long, and 0.3~0.5 cm wide, with dense or sparse gray stellate hairs. The leaves on the renewal branches are small, and clustered, with a length of no more than 1.7 cm and a width of about 0.2 cm. They are densely covered with gray-white hairs, all of which are blunt at the apex, tapered into a very short stalk at the base, entire, and curled at the edge.
Inflorescences, usually with 6~10 flowers, grow into intermittent or nearly continuous spikes about 3~5 cm at the top of branches, and the peduncle is about 3 times as long as the inflorescence itself, densely covered with stellate hairs; Bracts are rhombic-ovoid, stellate tomentose; Flowers are short-pedunculate, blue, densely covered with gray, branched or unbranched tomentose; Calyx is egg-shaped tubular or nearly tubular, 4~5 mm long, with 13 veins, 5 teeth, bilabiate, 1 tooth on the upper lip is wider and longer, and 4 teeth on the lower lip; The corolla is about twice as long as the calyx, with 13 veins. The inner face of the corolla is covered with glandular hairs at the throat and crown brim, the middle part is piliferous, the upper lip is straight, 2-lobed, the lobes are large and round, and they overlap each other. The lower lip is spread, 3-lobed and the lobes are small, 4. The front pair of stamens are long, round, overlapping each other, with the lower lip spreading, 3-lobed and smaller lobes; 4 Stamens, long anterior pair, flat filaments, glabrous, anther coat; Ovary 4-lobed; Style is indumentum, compressed at apex, ovoid; Disk is 4-lobed, lobes are opposite to ovary lobes. Nuts 4, smooth. Its flowering period is in June.
Ecological environment: Lavendula angustifolia is native to the Mediterranean coast, Europe, and Oceania islands, such as Provence, a small town in southern France, it was widely planted in the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia, Tennessee in USA (the United States of America), and the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain in Xinjiang, China.
Growth characteristics: Lavendula angustifolia has a well-developed root system and likes the fertile soil with deep, loose, good ventilation and rich silicon and calcium. Soil with strong acidity or alkalinity and land with heavy viscosity, poor drainage, or high groundwater level is not suitable for planting. Lavender prefers long sunshine, which requires sufficient sunshine in its growth and development period, and the sunshine hours are more than 2,000 hours throughout the year. If the plant is in a damp environment, it will be stunted and will age faster.
Characters of herbs: Lavender flower is the dried flower of Lavandula angustifolia, gathered shortly before fully unfolding, as well as its preparations. Flowering shoots are harvested when the middle section of the spike is flowering; it is cut 10 cm beneath the insertion of the spike. The most valuable part is the receptacle.
Lavender flowers contain 0.5~1.5% highly aromatic volatile oil, it functions as sedative and antispasmodic in humans.
Lavender oil benefits insomniacs, and aid sleeping. Lavender is effective to treat functional circulation disorders. Lavender components astringent tannins have antimicrobial actions, lavender oil has shown promise against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium, lavender oil has been shown to have in vitro antifungal activity against the human pathogens Malassezia furfur, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichosporon beigelii. Lavender oil lowers blood sugar levels in rats with normal blood sugar levels.
Lavender oil active antineoplastic agents are thought to be attributed to monoterpenes such as d-limonene and perillyl alcohol. Perillyl alcohol is hydrogenated d-limonene, limonene has antitumor activity against rodent mammary, liver, lung, pancreatic, stomach, prostate, and skin.
Lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reactions. Lavender oil, in concentrations of 1% or more, showed anti-inflammatory action in mouse inflammation models.
Lavender components D-limonene and perillyl alcohol mildly reduce cholesterol.
Medicinal efficacy: Lavender is used for centuries as a perfume component as well as a general tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, diuretic, digestive aid, and gas remedy. It was used in sleep pillows and in sleep aids and sedatives and formulas for nervousness, depression, emotional upset, stress, headache, psoriasis, and other skin problems, delayed menstruation, cancer, diabetes, digestive system upset due to bile or gallbladder problems. Steamed flowers have been used to treat colds, lavender is also used in special tonics and nerve pain baths and rubs. In Europe, the herb lavender is approved for loss of appetite, nervousness, and insomnia, circulatory disorders, dyspeptic complaints. Internally, lavender is used for mood disturbances such as restlessness or insomnia, and functional abdominal complaints, externally lavender is used for the treatment of functional circulatory disorders. In folk medicine, lavender is used for migraine, cramps, and bronchial asthma. Externally, it is used for rheumatic conditions, as a sedative in cases of tension, and exhaustion, for poorly healing wounds, and for sleep as aromatherapy.
Essential oil is used in aromatherapy for sleep problems, fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, and poor mental functioning. It is still used in perfumes, potpourris, sachets, and herbal formulas. Lavender spike extract is used in insect and moth repellents. The herb and its oil are used to flavor teas and foods.
Administration of Lavender (garden lavender):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Lavender (garden lavender)
Herbal classic books:
Dosage: A tea is prepared using 1 to 2 teaspoons of lavender flowers per cup of water and is drunk several times per day, especially before bedtime. One to four drops of the oil on a sugar cube are taken internally. For external use, one to five drops of oil are added to bathwater. An infusion is prepared by adding 5 to 10 ml of herb per cup of hot water, drawing for 10 minutes, and straining. For external use as a bath additive, 100 grams of the herb is scalded or boiled with 2 liters of water and added to the bath. A tea prepared as indicated above can be administered 1 cup three times daily.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Lavender and its oil are not likely to sensitize or irritate human skin, but there are reported allergic skin reactions. Teas and other internal formulations have not been associated with serious adverse reactions. Avoid ingesting or applying large doses of the oil, given the risk of contact dermatitis or even reactions similar to narcotic poisoning.
Article Links.
URL QR code:
References:
1.Introduction of Lavender:garden lavender or broad-leafed lavender.