The Healing Power of
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
BY DR . MICHELLE SCHOFFRO COOK
Soon after I moved to British Columbia , Canada , I went for a leisurely drive to a town about an hour away , down a winding , scenic lakeside road with stunning vineyards scattered across the countryside . As I neared the end of the road , the intensely fragrant scent of lavender filled my senses , long before I could even see the flowers . I drove down a side road and traveled about a half mile through the rolling hillside before finally spotting the source of the heavenly aroma : the stunning silvery-green and violet-colored plants at a lavender farm . I felt immediately transported to a peaceful , relaxed state . How much was linked to the actual aromatic effects of lavender or the natural beauty of it in this lovely environment , I ’ ll never know . Either way , it was an experience that I won ’ t forget .
Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) has been in use for at least 2,500 years , including for mummification and perfumery by the ancient Egyptians , Phoenicians , and Arabs . The flowers were infused in water in Roman baths , which led to the modern name for lavender ( from the Latin lavare , which means “ to wash ”). Ancient Romans are also believed to have used lavender for cooking and for scenting the air . In ancient Rome , lavender flowers were so highly prized that a single pound was sold for the equivalent of a month of a farm worker ’ s wages . During the