Lavender: Benefits and a DIY smudge stick
You probably already know that lavender has a ton of health benefits. Today I will be covering some basic facts of lavender and how to create your own lavender smudge stick.
This morning I woke up and decided to share my love of gardening and picking fresh flowers with you. #flowersofig #treatyoself I picked a few sprigs of lavender from the garden to create a smudge stick. Before I get into the tutorial on creating this lovely addition to home fragrance collection; I will be covering 3 health benefits of lavender.
1. Relieving stress and anxiety. There are plenty of ways to use lavender to get rid of stress. What I like to do it rub the leaves between my fingers to release the natural oils of the plant and take a deep breath in of the aromatic fragrance of this beautiful plant. You can also rub your temples and wrists with the natural oils of this plant and relax in a dim lit bedroom which can make your mind less anxious. Science fact: The antioxidants in lavender oil have a beneficial effect on your endocrine system which can lower levels of stress. (so so cool)
2. Helps you sleep. Lavender is seriously a natural cure-all to help me sleep. My nightly routine is lighting my Bitty Giant candle in Laven-DUH which is so incredibly soothing (shameless plug). Besides having my lit candle, I have created a little relaxation hub on my nightstand. In the picture below you can see that I have a variety of objects that help me relax at night to lull me into a good night sleep. Science fact: According to the National Sleep Foundation an adult between 26 to 64 years old should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night. (in an ideal situation) For more information about sleep go to the National Sleep Foundation website.
3. Skin and Hair health. This is something I did not know. Lavender can help with redness and acne on your face. It can also assist in hair growth. Although I have had no personal experience using lavender in preventing acne I wouldn't mind trying it out. I did find a blog post about creating your own lavender skin clearing face mist. Looks pretty cool and will be a must on my craft list this summer.
DIY Smudge Stick Tutorial
This tutorial is very simple and can be done in about 20 minutes or less. First you will need to have fresh lavender growing in your backyard or a potted planter on your patio. You can pick up a nice sized lavender plant at Home Depot for under $15. Lavender grows quickly so buying yourself a lavender plant would be a great investment if you plan to use it for your garden landscape or home fragrance uses.
Things you will need
~ fresh lavender (2-3 sprigs)
~ about 24 inches of natural string
~ scissors
~ good music
~ coffee (or tea, whatever your heart desires)
First you will need to gather a few sprigs of fresh lavender.
Next you will need to take apart the lavender sprig of flowers and leaves. Keep the stem of the lavender because this will become the base of the smudge stick. It will be easier to build on this stem rather trying to piece together the small flowers and leaves. Arrange the lavender flowers and leaves in anyway you choose. It's your smudge stick, design it however you like.
Next you will need untreated natural craft string to tie your smudge stick. Start at the base of your bunch and tie a solid knot. Hold you bundle in one hand while you wrap the string around the entire stick. Add more lavender leaves or flowers if you desire. Tie it off and snip the extra string because you don't need to be 'extra."
Voila! A lavender smudge stick. Let this air dry before you decide to burn it. Or you can keep it near your bedside and use it as a natural air freshener.
Have a lovely Friday!