Lavender

Family

Lamiaceae 

Chinese Medicine Name

Xun Yi Cao

Ayurvedic Name

None

Parts Used

Flowers, leaves (less common)

Actions 

Anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidepressant, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, carminative, circulatory stimulant, diuretic, hypotensive, nervine, rubefacient, sedative, stomachic, tonic

Energetics

Cooling and drying

Edible Uses

The leaves, flowering tips, and petals of the lavender plant are edible. They are often used in salads and of course, tea. Using the flowers as a garnish on desserts like ice cream, or in jams and vinegars is also common. The oil is often used as a flavoring in commercial foods.  

Native To

Mediterranean, southern Europe, northern Africa, northeast India, south Asia 

Geographic Distribution

Worldwide

Botanical Description & Identification 

Lavender commonly grows from about 1-3 feet in height. They have irregular multi-branched stem whose bark is a yellowish-grey which sheds in flakes and covered in small hairs. The leaves of the lavender plant are opposite and linear that when young are white. As they mature their color turns green with fine hairs on the top. They're fully mature when they measure about 1.5 inches long. The flowers bloom into what appears as clusters of spikes, containing 6-10 flowers per whorl (bunch).

Lavender lives in mostly dry grassy slopes and does very well in parched and rocky conditions. It prefers areas that are warm and dry. 

Key Constituents

Flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, diterpenes, vitamin C, resin volatile oils including: linalyl acetate, linalool, d-limonene, eucalyptol, camphor, and cineole 

Sustainability Issues

None known.

Harvesting Guidelines

The optimal time to harvest lavender flowers is shortly before the buds open. For the harvesting of lavender flowers it is quite critical that the flowers haven't fully opened as it can result in lower potency of the herb as well as a shorter duration of overall efficacy.  

You will know that harvesting of lavender has been performed properly if the smell of camphor, even after the flowers have dried, is present as these flowers posses the ability to maintain a long-lasting aroma and strong flavor for a good amount of time post-harvest if done right.