Companies such as doTERRA and Young Living are driving essential oils mainstream, the usage of these oils is more popular than ever. Using essential oils has been around for thousand’s of years with documented evidence shows ancient Egyptians used aromatic oils for beauty, cooking, spiritual wellbeing and physical wellness that dates back to as early as 4500 B.C.E. Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils used today.
Susanne Graves, owner of Nellie’s Lavender Estate in Jackson, MI has a lot to say on the usage of lavender in all its forms. While pursuing her MBA in healthcare administration, she studied the use of essential oils and an overall holistic approach to wellness. She bought the land from her grandfather and built a home with the intent for him to live with Graves, but he passed away before the house could be completed. She had always loved the land and how her grandmother, Nellie, with her kind, soft spirit always tended to the plants and named the estate after her.
“I named the farm, Nellie’s Lavender Estate, in memory of my grandmother, but with the forward vision of establishing a land trust for my son. To protect the migration of the monarch butterfly and preserve the natural prairie grasses and wildflowers native to this area. And…. to become a value-add producer of what the land produces,” Graves said.
Lavender Bliss
She studied the soil composition on the estate and compared her geographic location to wine-growing regions. The property sits along the SE Pioneer Wine Trail, which as it turns out is great for growing lavender also.
Lavender oil has many unique properties that make it great for everything from combating anxiety to soothing burns. But always test oils on a piece of skin before applying all over your body.
Graves said, “Beyond relaxation and allaying anxiety, lavender has three distinct properties, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory.
Each one of these properties can address a whole host of common ailments – from soothing sunburns, combating fungal infections, aiding in respiratory health, wound care, providing pain relief, promoting healing, repelling bugs (including lice) and even promoting overall hair growth.”
There is scientific evidence to support the claims of the use of Lavender oil and combating anxiety. According to a peer-reviewed study by Benjamin J. Malcom, published online in March 2018 for the Mental Health Clinician. Malcom cited 3 German research studies that were conducted for 6 to 10 weeks where each patient took 80 mg capsules of Lavender oil. It showed that lavender oil improved sleep and had a decrease in anxiety for patients with anxiety disorders. This was comparable to the results of patients using Lorazepam (Ativan). The capsules had a calming effect without producing sedation and the effects could be felt within two weeks. One of the few minor side effects is the possibility of gastrointestinal distress. Before taking part in any essential oil therapy, always consult with your doctor.
Charon Normand-Widmer is a holistic practitioner and she started using oils over 20 years ago for her massage therapy clients. She uses them for their antimicrobial and anti-infectious properties.
Lavender oil is the workhorse of essential oils and you can find the 80 mg capsules of Lavender oil made by Calm Aid at local pharmacies and health food stores.
Nellie’s Lavender Estate is located at 10405 Sharon Valley Rd., Jackson, Mi. She can be contacted at 1-734-355-4168. This is a private estate but is open for special events, classes and prairie walking path tours Memorial Day through Christmas.
They sell Bath and Body creams, lotions, linen sprays as well as floral waters, herbal teas. Graves uses wildflowers, herbs, roses and lavender throughout her products including in her culinary products and home and garden gifts.
Published Kudos magazine 5.3