Lavender is hands-down one of my favorite herbs. I use the essential oil regularly for both the aromatic properties as well as a general first aid for minor burns, wound care, insect stings or bites, etc. Most of us are aware of lavender’s ability to calm and soothe in times of stress and as a sleep aid; however, I think some of the ways we can use lavender may be more obscure than others.  A few common ways to use lavender would be: dried petals in a sachet under your pillow to promote sleep, in a tea blend to aid in digestion and promote feelings of calm, blend with water in a spray bottle to spritz throughout the home or on pillows, use essential oil in a diffuser, place a drop or two on your dog(s) when they need to calm down, and many many more. Lavender has also made its way onto the culinary scene in recipes for deserts and drinks.  

While listening to a podcast by herbalist Heather Irving on Herb Rally, I heard mention of a Lavender Glycerite to help promote sleep and decided I wanted to make one myself. She described it as being a gorgeous flavor and scent gentle for all, including children and elders. If you have trouble sleeping due to anxiety, menopause related, restlessness, stomach or digestive issues, or tension in the head or neck, then this could be a good option for you.

Ingredients/Supplies:

Quart size mason jar – sterilized

Lavender Flower

16 oz Glycerine

300 ml filtered water

Instructions:

• Fill the mason jar half way with food grade lavender petals
• Mix glycerin and water in a sterilized measuring cup, poor over lavender petals in mason jar.
• Use a sterile utensil or chopsticks to muddle the mixture (get it all mixed up and activate the constituents of the lavender). Make sure the mixture is close to the top of the jar because you do not want extra space to promote mold growth.
• Secure with a tight lid, label, store in a dark location away from direct sunlight.
• Shake daily.
• After 4-6 weeks, strain using a cheesecloth or nutmilk bag ensuring no plant material remains.
• Store in amber or colored bottles.
• Label and use within 2-3 years.

Dosage:

Recommended Dosage: 20-40 drops OR 1/4 tsp, 2-3 times a day.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your doctor before starting any exercise or nutritional supplement program or before using these or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.

Resources

Gardiner, P., & Kemper, K. J. (2002). Insomnia: Herbal and dietary alternatives to counting sheep. Contemporary Pediatrics, 19(2), 69. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/206159293?accountid=158302

Heydarpour, F., Abasabadi, M., Shahpiri, Z., Vaziri, S., Nazari, H., Najafi, F., . . . Farzaei, M. (2018). Medicinal plant and their bioactive phytochemicals in the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcers: A review of clinical trials. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 12(23) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/phrev.phrev_37_17

Irvine, H. (2018, October 12). Sleep Essentials with Heather Irvine [Audio Podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.herbrally.com/podcast/episodes/sleep-essentials-91

Walls, D. (2009). Herbs and natural therapies for pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 24(2), 29-37. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/212812529?accountid=158302