LivingInPatagonia.com

Lavender; An Essential Oil Essence Growing Well in Patagonia

Written by Shanie 

Lavender…a healing, aromatic plant that helps us humans in many ways. 

We have a friend that owns a lavender farm, Meli Hue, here in Bariloche.  She is able to offer a great selection of products because of the favorable growing conditions for the hearty plant.

Lavender has many healing qualities.  Here is a list of the major attributes that the small, purple flower carries:

• Lavender is an aromatic, tonic herb with a sweet scent. It relaxes spasms, benefits the digestion, stimulates peripheral circulation and the uterus and lowers fever. It is anti-septic and has an anti-depressant effect.
• Lavender is used internally for indigestion, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, tension headaches, migraine and bronchial complaints.
• It is used externally to treat most type of burns, including sunburn, rheumatism, muscular pains, neuralgia, cold sores, insect bites, head lice, halitosis, vaginal discharge and anal fissure.
• It also has an analgesic effect on the skin, which helps with pain relief, but it is the antiseptic and stimulant properties which make it very effective for use on wounds and burns.
• It is mainly used for its antiseptic and anti-dandruff properties.
• It contains antibacterial and  spasmolytic (relieving spasms) properties and is good for local pain killing actions.
• It contains ursolic acid, which is not only antibacterial, but also active against lipid oxidation and inhibits elastase – which results in tissue degeneration as well as inflammatory processes as well as tissue degradation such as psoriasis and eczemas.
• The rosmarinic acid and polyphenolic derivatives have good antioxidant properties, which is helpful in countering aging.
• On the skin, lavender oil tones and revitalizes and it is useful for all types of skin problems, such as abscesses, acne, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis, lice, insect bites, stings.
• It also acts as an insect repellent

It is definitely not grown exclusively in this area, but is one that matures well here in Patagonia.  

Thanks to ageless.com for the in-depth information.