Autumn & Lavender: In Celebration of Lavender
09/11/11 15:38 Filed in: Chinese Medicine | Herbal Remedies
Happy Autumn!
Autumn is a contemplative time as we transition out of Late Summer and move toward Winter. In Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with one of the Five Elements. Autumn is the time of Metal. Metal is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, the breath, the ability to let go, grief, and our connection to Spirit.
Having recently returned from an amazing visit to Europe, I have been contemplating how significant herbal medicine is (and has been for many centuries) in European culture. Many apothecaries that carry herbs and now also pharmaceuticals have been operating since the 13th century, often in the same location. It was so wonderful to be able to visit the apothecaries and consult with the trained professionals and procure herbs, homeopathics, and/or pharmaceuticals depending on the presenting condition.
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is an herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean. It is grown abundantly in the Provence region of France. Being among the lavender fields was an incredibly delightful sensory experience, as the concentration of lavender perfuming the air was so stimulating. It has a very uplifting, mind opening quality, and to smell it in such mass quantities was incredible.
Lavender is a highly medicinal herb. The part of the plant distilled for medicinal essential oil is the flowers. The flowers themselves are great to enjoy in baths and sachets. The essential oil is considered to me a middle note with a balancing influence, meaning it stimulates or relaxes according to individual needs, as in, it is adaptagenic.
From a western perspective, lavender essential oil regulates the central nervous system. It is helpful for abscesses, acne, anxiety, athlete’s foot, boils, burns, colds, coughs, cuts, cystitis, dandruff, depression, earache, eczema, fainting, flatulence, fluctuating moods, head lice, high blood pressure, infectious illness, insect bites and stings, insomnia, laryngitis, menstrual irregularities, migraine, muscular aches and pains, nervous tension, and skin care.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, lavender’s nature is cooling, its taste is spicy and sweet, and its channel affinities are the Lungs, Liver, and Pericardium.
It has four main functions:
1-Release Wind Heat: chills and fever, sinus infections, sore throat
2-Promote smooth flow of Liver Qi: headaches, muscle spasms and tightness, dysmenorrheal, scanty menses
3-Calm the shen (spirit): palpitations, irritability, insomnia, restlessness, high blood pressure
4-Diffuse Lung Qi: chest tightness
Topical applications:
1-Apply directly for insect bites, burns/sun-damaged skin
2-Reduce scarring
3-Diffuse for calming effect, or place on pillows
Additionally, lavender can normalize blood sugar levels.
Lavender is clearly a very versatile herb with a lot of healing properties. It is nice to incorporate the essential oil of lavender into our preventive health care at this time because of its direct relationship with the Lungs whose time is Autumn, and specifically its ability to diffuse Lung Qi is relevant. This helps us to engage with our breath and transform our emotions so that we can let go.
Autumn is a contemplative time as we transition out of Late Summer and move toward Winter. In Chinese Medicine, each season is associated with one of the Five Elements. Autumn is the time of Metal. Metal is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, the breath, the ability to let go, grief, and our connection to Spirit.
Having recently returned from an amazing visit to Europe, I have been contemplating how significant herbal medicine is (and has been for many centuries) in European culture. Many apothecaries that carry herbs and now also pharmaceuticals have been operating since the 13th century, often in the same location. It was so wonderful to be able to visit the apothecaries and consult with the trained professionals and procure herbs, homeopathics, and/or pharmaceuticals depending on the presenting condition.
Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, is an herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean. It is grown abundantly in the Provence region of France. Being among the lavender fields was an incredibly delightful sensory experience, as the concentration of lavender perfuming the air was so stimulating. It has a very uplifting, mind opening quality, and to smell it in such mass quantities was incredible.
Lavender is a highly medicinal herb. The part of the plant distilled for medicinal essential oil is the flowers. The flowers themselves are great to enjoy in baths and sachets. The essential oil is considered to me a middle note with a balancing influence, meaning it stimulates or relaxes according to individual needs, as in, it is adaptagenic.
From a western perspective, lavender essential oil regulates the central nervous system. It is helpful for abscesses, acne, anxiety, athlete’s foot, boils, burns, colds, coughs, cuts, cystitis, dandruff, depression, earache, eczema, fainting, flatulence, fluctuating moods, head lice, high blood pressure, infectious illness, insect bites and stings, insomnia, laryngitis, menstrual irregularities, migraine, muscular aches and pains, nervous tension, and skin care.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, lavender’s nature is cooling, its taste is spicy and sweet, and its channel affinities are the Lungs, Liver, and Pericardium.
It has four main functions:
1-Release Wind Heat: chills and fever, sinus infections, sore throat
2-Promote smooth flow of Liver Qi: headaches, muscle spasms and tightness, dysmenorrheal, scanty menses
3-Calm the shen (spirit): palpitations, irritability, insomnia, restlessness, high blood pressure
4-Diffuse Lung Qi: chest tightness
Topical applications:
1-Apply directly for insect bites, burns/sun-damaged skin
2-Reduce scarring
3-Diffuse for calming effect, or place on pillows
Additionally, lavender can normalize blood sugar levels.
Lavender is clearly a very versatile herb with a lot of healing properties. It is nice to incorporate the essential oil of lavender into our preventive health care at this time because of its direct relationship with the Lungs whose time is Autumn, and specifically its ability to diffuse Lung Qi is relevant. This helps us to engage with our breath and transform our emotions so that we can let go.