I love the smell of lavender and put it in my closet, my muffins, my homemade scents and my tea. Chances are, there’s a whiff of the stuff somewhere in your home right now.
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But this most elegant of herbs, touted for an astounding number of purposes, may have mixed blessings.
I recently came across a surprising 2007 study showing that lavender had been found to cause breast growth in young boys. Of course, the next logical question is, does this mean it can help women enhance the boobular region?
Alas, there’s no evidence of that.
What the experts say
“Dr. Clifford Bloch in Denver had four patients who developed prepubertal male gynecomastia [excessive development of the breasts]. The common factor was that they were using soaps or shampoos containing tea tree or lavender oil. When Bloch had his patients stop using those, their gynecomastia went away. We then found that lavender and tea tree oil showed estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity, a kind of double whammy effect. We don’t know the potential of the activity of these compounds, if any. A lot of people use these materials, but few show this condition. The question is, what is it about these individuals that makes them more sensitive?”
KEN KORACH, director of environmental disease and medicine, National Institutes of Health, Triangle Park, North Carolina
“Lavender is good for healing wounds, viral infections and the genito-urinary system. It’s a nervous system regulator, good for aches and pains. It enhances the action of other oils and is the only oil you can use straight on your skin. It stimulates new cells. It’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and useful for treating acne, eczema, rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica. It works on the central nervous system, which helps reduce pain. It helps reduce menstrual pain and balances the menstrual cycle. It can also be used in an aromatherapy massage. It should not be used during early pregnancy or during chemotherapy.”
STEPHANIE BRANDER, holistic health facilitator, aromatherapist, Toronto
“There are two main species: Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) and Lavandula x intermedia (French lavender). Within those, there are hundreds of varieties. The hardier varieties, Hidcote or Munstead, can survive our winters. For our culinary lavender, we use a variety called Folgate because it has a beautiful bright blue colour and a nice flavour. French lavender has high camphor content so it’s very bitter. The beauty is that lavender can be sweet or savoury. I poach salmon in white wine and put lavender and lemon on top. It’s very good on chicken. Anywhere you would use rosemary, you could use lavender. You can put it in café latte, whipping cream, scones, shortbread, cheesecake, ice cream, apple crisp. It’s great sprinkled on a fresh fruit salad. Essential oils are not recommended during early pregnancy.”
JACQUELINE SUTTON, owner, Sacred Mountain Lavender, Salt Spring Island, BC
“Lavender flowers can be used in a topical skin wash for bites, scratches and wounds. Make a strong infusion of 2 teaspoons flowers to 1 cup boiled water strain. It’s a perfect little wound healer. The name is associated with the French “laver,” to wash. The smell promotes sleep and has an anti-anxiety effect. It has a long history as a moth deterrent. It’s a medicine cabinet in a bottle. We use it in tea – black, rooibos or other herbal teas. It’s a good digestive. I like the English Lavandula angustifolia. We use the oil for headaches. Sniff a little cotton ball with the oil or dab some around your hairline.”
CELINA AINSWORTH, clinical herbalist, the Herbal Clinic and Dispensary, Toronto
