Get Healthy: Uses for Lavender

Photo by Dirtbag Darling

This post originally appeared as a guest blog for Free People.

Lavender is hands down my favorite scent—it's light, pretty, natural and calming. Plus, it has so many practical uses!

1. Insect Repellant
Lavender fends off both moths and mosquitoes. Stuff a satchel of dried lavender in your closet or mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with aloe vera and rub on your skin before heading out on your hike.

2. Ease Headaches and Stress
There's a reason baby lotions are starting to smell like lavender—it's a soothing, calming scent that helps your body relax. Aroma therapists use it for inhalation therapy, but you can do it right at home. Just mix five drops of essential oil with boiling water and inhale.

3. Treat Sunburn
Vinegar can help ease the pain of a burn, but it smells terrible. Opt for this recipe instead: Mix a few drops of essential oil with water and spray onto sunburned skin.

4. Grow Your Hair
Massage a few drops of essential oil onto your scalp every few nights and in a few months, you'll see hair regrowth.

5. Disinfect Your Kitchen
Nurses used lavender to disinfect some hospitals during World War II. Fill a spray bottle with baking soda, lavender oil and water and store under your sink.

Read the whole article at blog.freepeople.com!