Lavender and Cedarwood for Sleep
Here I am again trying to get a good night’s sleep but it seems impossible goal when you’re wide awake. But you have much more control over the quality of your sleep than you probably realize. Just as the way you feel during your waking hours often hinges on how well you sleep at night, so the cure for sleep difficulties can often be found in your daily routine. And if you think of the first step to that routine is to use something that will make you calm, something to put on like a lavender and cedarwood lotion; lavender and cedarwood bath and body works and lavender and cedarwood perfume.
Using these products and buying from a different store but not easy to find Lavender and cedarwood essential oils together in one product. But did you know that you can make your homemade lotion from scratch?
First let us learn what are these two essential oils, where they came from and what are their benefits.
What is Cedarwood essential oil?
It is a substance derived from the needles, leaves, bark, and berries of cedar trees. The woodsy scent of cedarwood is so calming, that many find it works better for them than lavender! This essential oil can be extracted via several techniques, including steam distillation, carbon dioxide distillation, and cold pressing. While it can be purchased on its own, it’s also used as an ingredient in products like lotion, perfume, insect repellent, cologne, shampoo, and deodorant.
What are the uses of Cedarwood essential oil?
Antiseptic-which can assist in treating minor wounds and skin damage. It prevents infection and toxins from entering the body.
Anti-inflammatory– the oil is often used to treat the stiffness and pains of the joints associated with arthritis and rheumatism.
Anti-congestant- efficiently reduces coughs and discharges phlegm from the lungs and respiratory tract, thereby relieving congestion. Furthermore, the oil can help to relieve other symptoms of a cold such as a headache and watery eyes. lavender and cedarwood perfume can help.
Diuretic-is a natural diuretic and can improve several ailments including hypertension, high blood pressure, urinary tract infections and the collection of toxins in the blood. Being a diuretic, it enhances the frequency of urination which works as a medium for removal of excess water, and toxin like uric acid, and fat from the body. Toxins and extra water accumulated in the body are the main causes behind the above-mentioned illnesses.
Emmenagogue-which means it stimulates and brings about menstruation. To keep you on a regular schedule, massage cedarwood oil into your abdomen when you are due to menstruate each month.
Antispasmodic– which can help to relieve spasmodic conditions such as asthma.
Improve Focus, Memory, and Symptoms of ADHD-In recent studies, cedarwood essential oil has been shown to improve focus and reduce symptoms of ADHD in children.
Seborrhoeic Eczema- is a common scalp disease caused by the malfunction of the skin’s sebaceous glands. The increase of sebum production causes an infection of the epidermal cells which causes raised, inflamed, itchy and flaking rashes.
Cedarwood essential oil can aid in the treatment of seborrhoeic eczema due to its healing, antiseborrheic and anti-inflammatory properties. While Cedarwood helps to treat seborrhoeic eczema, it can reduce the symptoms, as well. And lavender and cedarwood bath and body works the product that suits here.
Anti-acne– protect and heal your skin against unsightly acne. It inhibits the clogging of pores and protects it from invasion by toxic particles and bacteria.
Insect repellant– we may use lavender cedarwood candle to drive away insects.
Anti-stress and anxiety
Antifungal and Antibacterial so it’s ideal for treating fungal infections such as athlete’s foot and toenail infections.
What is Lavender essential oil?
The lavender essential oil is extracted from the flowers of the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia), primarily through steam distillation. Lavender flowers are known for their calming fragrance and have been used for making potpourri for centuries. [1] The Latin name of lavender is Lavare, which means “to wash”. This is because lavender flowers and lavender essential oil have been used since ancient times by the Romans, Persians, Greeks, and Egyptians as a bath additive and perfume.
The lavender essential oil is pure oil and differs from certain commercial lavender oils which may be diluted and are often sold as perfumes. [2] Lavender perfume and body sprays are popular due to their fresh and floral scent. On the other hand, the pure lavender essential oil is frequently used in various forms including as an aromatherapy oil, in gels, infusions, lotions, soaps, baby products, and candles. It is also used to make tea, lemonades, syrups, aromatic beverages, and baked dishes.
What are the uses of Lavender essential oil?
Hair loss (alopecia areata). There is some evidence that applying lavender oil in combination with oils from thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood might improve hair growth by as much as 44% after 7 months of treatment.
Anxiety– Some research shows that taking 80-160 mg of a lavender oil product (Silexan, Dr Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG) by mouth for 6-10 weeks improves anxiety and sleep and prevents anxiety recurrence in people with mild to severe anxiety. Taking 500 mg of powdered dried lavender flowers twice daily for 10 days also seems to improve anxiety in older women. It is unclear if using lavender oil as aromatherapy improves anxiety, as results from research are conflicting.
Canker sores– Research shows that applying 2 drops of lavender oil to the affected area three times daily can reduce canker sore swelling and pain and shorten the time it takes for canker sores to heal.
Depression. Most research suggests that lavender oil can help improve depression in people with depression. Taking lavender by mouth for 6 weeks seems to improve depression. A tincture of lavender appears to be slightly less effective than the medication imipramine (Tofranil) for treating depression. But taking the two in combination might improve the antidepressant effects of imipramine. Most research also shows that lavender aromatherapy reduces depression, especially in older adults or after childbirth in some women. But lavender oil aromatherapy doesn’t seem to reduce depression in people with advanced cancer.
Menstrual pain. Lavender oil aromatherapy massages reduce pain associated with menstruation in some young women better than regular massages. Also, inhaling lavender oil for the first 3 days of menstruation seems to reduce stomach pain and backache in women with menstrual pain.
Fall prevention. There is some evidence that attaching a pad with lavender oil (Aromaseal Lavender, Hakujuji Co.) onto the neckline of clothing reduces the risk of falling by 43% in nursing home residents.
Pain after surgery. Some research shows that inhaling lavender essence while receiving pain killers intravenously (by IV) can help reduce pain in women after a C-section. Other research shows that inhaling lavender for 3 minutes every 6 hours can lessen pain and reduce the need to use acetaminophen after tonsillectomy in children 6-12 years old.
Lavender and Cedarwood Essential Oils
Together, they are unstoppable! A base note, and appropriately grounding! It can help to shut off the brain and bring peace to those who have overactive conversations with themselves at night.
Lavender and Cedarwood essential oil for sleep
When used as an aromatherapy treatment, cedarwood may have sedative qualities. Trusted Source, making it beneficial for alleviating occasional insomnia.
A 2018 study published in Holistic Nursing Practice confirms lavender’s effect on sleep. In this study of 30 residents of a nursing home, lavender aromatherapy was found to improve sleep onset, quality, and duration in an elderly population.
Try using lavender and cedarwood oil as an aromatherapy treatment or add a few drops to a hot bath prior to going to bed.
There are some studies also using cedarwood essential oils in patients with coronary heart disease in February 2019
What to look for:
- Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA and do not have to meet any purity standards. When purchasing essential oils, look for a supplier who either distills their own material or deals directly with reputable distillers and uses gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to analyze the quality of the product.
- When buying pure lavender essential oil, check the label for its Latin name, Lavandula angustifolia and Cedrus for cedarwood essential oil.
- Essential oils should be packaged in a dark amber or cobalt bottle and stored out of sunlight.
- Always dilute essential oils in a carrier before applying topically. Do a patch test before using the oil to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
Cedarwood oil can be dangerous if ingested. While there are some studies that ingesting Lavender oil may help relieve anxiety. In a report published in Phytomedicine in 2012, for instance, scientists analyzed 15 previously published clinical trials and concluded that dietary supplements containing lavender oil may have some therapeutic effects on patients struggling with anxiety and/or stress.
DIY Lotion Bars with Lavender & Cedarwood Essential Oils
- ¼ almond oil
- ¼ cup beeswax
- ¼ shea butter
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender (optional)
- 6 drops lavender essential oil (or essential oil of choice)
- 12 drops cedarwood essential oil (or essential oil of choice)
- Silicone mold of choice
Directions:
1) Measure and prep all the ingredients (except the essential oils)
2) Combine in a glass jar and place jar into a small pot of water. Bring to a rolling boil.
3) Heat until all ingredients are completely melted, whisking often.
4) Remove from heat, let sit for one minute then whisk in the essential oils.
5) Pour mixture into the silicone molds and let sit on the counter for twenty-four hours to firm up.
Yield: Makes 4 large molds
Recipe Note: This recipe leaves lavender flowers in the lotion. If you wish to have a smoother lotion, strain the flowers out by using a small, metal strainer prior to adding the essential oils. This is also a good idea if your beeswax is unfiltered.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other post about:
Lavender Body Lotion Wohdgnderful Aromatic and Medicinal Properties
A little about Me:
Hi, I’m Jodie Celso. mother of two wonderful boys and an advocate of health and wellness mostly in children and the elderly.
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