Discovering Serenity:
The Magic and Medicinal History of

If you ever get the chance to visit the Pacific Northwest in the summer you must take a trip to the lavender fields. The wind carries the scent of lavender and it fills your car before you’ve even reached the parking lot. Every summer I visit the Blue Mountain Lavender Fields to pick my own bouquet of these luscious, purple flowers. Lavender does not grow well in wet, humid environments because it is prone to root rot, so Florida isn’t the ideal location for a lavender field. However if you are in a dry, sandy desert like me (where the temperature is over a hundred degrees and tumbleweeds are bigger than your car) then chances are a vibrant lavender field is not too far. Lavender loves the thin sand, direct sun, and little water that the desert provides.

I hunt for flower fields of all kinds, but lavender fields have a special place in my heart. They are such a unique flower with medicinal history in several ancient cultures. In flower language lavender symbolizes serenity, cleanliness, and purification of the body and mind. Most people know that lavender is used in aromatherapy for relaxation and insomnia. This is because when we inhale lavender essential oil it calms the nervous system and lowers blood pressure. However, it also has other uses that have been forgotten in our history books, like being used alongside rosemary for helping treat acne and Alopecia (hair loss). It was even used by the ancient Greeks to clean cuts and burns. Scientists revealed that this was beneficial because lavender has properties that encourage the growth of collagen in the skin which in turn speeds up the healing process.

In the Middle Ages during the time of the plague, it was believed that lavender had the power to ward off disease. However far fetched as this may seem, it actually holds some validity. Many pests do not like the scent of lavender and keep their distance. Lice, fleas, bed bugs, ticks, and mosquitoes in particular hate lavender, which are some of the most dangerous insects for carrying diseases. By keeping lavender in their house and on their person they were sparing themselves from the infestation of these insects and as a result protecting themselves from the diseases they carry.

Speaking of disease prevention, lavender has also been studied for its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Natural skin care products use lavender to utilize this feature for acne or scars but is that its full potential? In the early 2000s, a couple of studies were conducted using lavender essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus (Staph infections) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The conclusions were inconclusive so we need more research on this topic before committing to the idea especially when there are antibiotics and ointments that are successful in treating these infections. However, since there is record of some form of effectiveness for treating skin
ailments, you can use lavender essential oil topically if you are in close contact with an individual who currently has a Staph or MRSA infection. Just remember essential oil is not a substitute for antibiotics.

I could spend all day talking about flowers and infectious diseases, but I will leave you with the remembrance of the meaning of lavender: serenity, cleanliness, and purification of the body and mind. I love how the symbolic meaning of the plant has so much history and relates so well to its unique properties. I have several bunches of lavender hanging in my house. Walking through my front door after a long day of work is heavenly. I can’t wait to make a summer potpourri with it once it’s dried.

How do you use lavender?

-Lots of love and prayers, Lexie

Lexie Larkin: Child of God, Bachelor’s in Psychology (University of Florida), Master’s in Public Health (Florida State University), World Traveler, Empowered Traditionalist