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Lavender: Beauty & Brains

Apr 02, 2025 05:42AM ● By Adrienne Crombie

Beyond her reputation for a gorgeous abundance of purple blooms that announce the high season in June, lavender is also known, less glamorously, as a workhorse and an herbal Jack of All Trades. That’s because the chemical compounds found in lavender have a remedial effect on body and mind and can be used for various remedies as well as household applications.

Linalool, for example, is a fragrant compound that gives lavender her floral scent and is a major component of lavender essential oil. Linalool has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress and may be used as an alternative to some anxiety medications. Linalool also has analgesic properties and may help relieve pain by blocking certain ion channels in sensory neurons. Some research suggests that linalool-rich lavender may also be beneficial for the immune system.

Fun fact: Linalool actually disrupts mosquitoes’ sense of smell. When you plant lavender in borders, walkways or near outdoor seating areas not only will you enjoy her beauty, she will be a very effective insect repellent. Be sure to invite her to your next picnic!

Linalyl acetate is another key compound found in lavender and is known for its floral scent and sedative effects. Additionally, there are compounds in lavender attributed with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that have potential benefits for respiratory health. 

Lavender is understandably a staple in any herbalist’s apothecary. You don’t need to be a certified herbalist to enjoy lavender’s benefits, though. You can gift yourself a spa aromatherapy session at home. Just add a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser or a cotton ball and inhale. You can spray diluted lavender oil on bedding, pillows or in the air to promote relaxation and sleep. Just add a few drops to your next hot bath for a relaxing and moisturizing soak. When applying directly to the skin be sure to always dilute lavender essential oil in a carrier oil, such as almond or grapeseed oil. The topical blend can then be used as relief for sore muscles and joints, and it can also be used to soothe insect bites, burns and sunburns. Lavender has been used since Roman times as a cleanser. Its antimicrobial properties and floral scent work wonders in homemade cleaning solutions and in sachets to keep clothes fresh and moth-free.

Be sure to avail yourself of all the superpowers of lavender this summer. If you are growing it at home, it is best to harvest the beautiful flowers before they turn brown to get the best quality and highest oil capacity. The flowers, when dried, will maintain their scent and their health-giving properties well into the winter.

Adrienne Crombie and Don Dalen are owners of Mad Lavender Farm at 452 CR 579 in Milford. For more information contact 908-310-5973, [email protected] and visit MadLavenderFarm.com. See ad, page 31.
In-Print, Green Living
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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