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Lavender is a “soothing” color,

which makes you want to roll over

and go back to sleep.

fresh, relaxing scent and flavor. In the United States, both lavender syrup and Lavender oil with a high percentage of
Though it has many other traditional uses dried lavender buds are used to make laven- linalool and linalyl acetate, in the form
in southern France, lavender is not used der scones and marshmallows. of capsules, was generally well toler-
in traditional southern French cooking. It ated. It showed meaningful efficacy in
does not appear at all in the best-known Medical uses alleviating anxiety and related sleep
compendium of Provençal cooking, J.- The essential oil was used in hospitals during disturbances. Lavender is known to be
B. Reboul’s Cuisinière Provençale In World War I to disinfect floors and walls. a natural sleep aid as well as a remedy
the 1970s, a herb blend called herbes de Lavender is used extensively with herbs and for anxiety, fatigue and alopecia. While
Provence usually including lavender was aromatherapy. According to folk wisdom, adding lavender to cup cakes most
invented by spice wholesalers,and lav- lavender has many uses. Infusions of laven- likely won’t help you sleep, but it adds
ender has more recently become popular der are believed to soothe insect bites, burns, a nice flavor. In this recipe lavender ex-
in cookery. and headaches. Bunches of lavender repel tract was used. The Herb Pharm brand
Lavender lends a floral and slightly sweet insects. In pillows, lavender seeds and flow- is easily to find at Whole Foods and
flavor to most dishes, and is sometimes ers aid sleep and relaxation. An infusion of prepares their extract from actual lav-
paired with sheep’s-milk and goat’s-milk flowerheads added to a cup of boiling water is ender plants native to Provence, France
cheeses. For most cooking applications used to sooth and relax at bedtime Lavender (merci beaucoup!).
the dried buds (also referred to as flow- oil (or extract of Lavender) is used to treat
ers) are used, though some chefs experi- acne when diluted 1:10 with water, rosewater, Wishing you a fragrant kitchen
ment with the leaves as well. Only the or witch hazel; it also treats skin burns and and blissful sleep.
buds contain the essential oil of laven- inflammatory conditions.
der, from which the scent and flavor of A recent clinical study investigated anxio-
lavender are best derived. lytic effects and influence on sleep quality.
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