Lavender

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Lavender Oil: For muscle cramps and rheumatic symptoms, combine 15 drops of lavender oil; rub into the affected parts. If you suffer from bad headaches and migraines, massage 1 drop of oil into your temples. Or mix 5 drops of oil in 1-2 cups hot or cold water. Dip a washcloth into water, wring it out; then place it on the back of the neck for 2-10 min. For fast relief from a headache, you can also just breathe in the scent of lavender blossoms. I keep a bundle of lavender in every room of the house as well as in my car. I suffer from sinus headaches due to an air-born mold allergy, and this works immediately.

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In a bath: For poor circulation and low blood pressure: Bring 1 tbsp. of flowers to a boil in 1 pt. of water. Strain after 10 min. and add to bathwater. Or, simply add 5 drops of oil directly into the bathwater, you can also use an emulsifier to help the oil blend well with the bathwater. Mix 5 drops of lavender oil with 1 cup of heavy cream or 1 tsp. of honey and add it to the tub.

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Care: Plant lavender in well-drained soil - the shrub will not tolerate water buildup. Loosen the soil regularly, and keep it free of weeds. To ensure abundant growth, add compost in early spring. If temperatures in your area routinely drop below freezing, cover more tender lavender varieties with spruce bundles or leaves in the fall, removing the covering in early spring. Lavender's aroma is loved by bees. When planted in vegetable gardens and orchards, the shrub enhances pollination. Harvesting and processing: To harvest and dry flowers, cut off stalk tips just before full blooming, preferably at midday, when the oil content is highest. Tie them into bundles and hang them upside down in a shaded, well-ventilated place to dry. When dried, separate flowers from leaves. Leaves are used dried for seasoning. Keep dried leaves and flowers in separate airtight containers. The essential oil is extracted using steam distillation. Guide to Cultivation: Lavender plants are readily available and grow equally well in the garden and in containers, as long as they have full sun. They can winter in pots placed in a warm window with at least 8 hours of sunlight. You can also grow lavender from seed. There are many varieties; for sprouting from seed,

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