Halloween and Lavender! Herbs Through the Ages. The end of summer signified an important spiritual time throughout history. On October 31, traditionally, in Europe, simple people honored loved ones and then on November 1, they visited cemeteries and brought offerings and flowers to dead relatives. This is where the tradition of ghosts and witches originated. Superstition reigned supreme throughout the middle ages, and it was believed that on All Hallows Eve, the un-dead or unhappy spirits roamed their old haunts. Lavender was used to ward off these evil spirits and to cleanse the air in the home. Lavender has been cleansing floors and masking bad smells for thousands of years, and it was only found in this century that it actually does have strong antiseptic properties. What goes around comes around, it seems. During the Great Plague of 1665, people wore sprigs of lavender on their clothes, thinking this would give them immunity to the fatal virus. They burned it in the streets and strew the herbs over the floors of their houses...and now it's been found that it actually may have saved thousands of lives...because of it's bacterial and anti-viral properties! The leather glove makers in Grasse, France (the perfume capital of the world for hundreds of years,) soaked their leather in Lavender oil to remove the scent of leather and to give them a lovely fragrance. What they didn't know was that they were probably instrumental in saving many lives as well. The lavender actually kept the bacteria from harboring on their hands...the biggest spreader of disease in any era. Ancient Egyptians have 4500 year old papyrus records telling how their essential oils were used for beautifying skin, for religious ceremonial offerings to the Gods, as medicine and to embalm their dead...and we all know how long mummies have survived (well, in body, at least.) In Olde England, priests threw huge bushes of Lavender onto Midsummer Night bonfires as a special offering to their gods and goddesses. I don't know if these Gods were living or imaginary, but the lavender was also supposed to attract men to young women. Or repel them as one would repel the plague - depending on point of view, of course. It was even used to maintain chastity and was known as an "anaphrodisiac" the opposite of aphrodisiac but I'm wondering where they actually placed the lavender for that purpose...hmmm? Of course, if it's a relaxant....it might be soooo relaxing...who knows? We've all heard about love potions, and you can be sure that Lavender was one of the ingredients. Seems very contradictory, but who are we to argue? Must have been in the quantity used! Those Druids (Priests) and their people certainly loved that Lavender! They even burned it in the birthing room to give the prospective mother and her baby tranquility during a difficult time, and they burned it at the baptism as well. But when it came to pleasure, the Romans were way out in front. They used Lavender to cure pain, bathed in it for hours, and were massaged with it every day. Nero, who, we all know, was into debauchery and orgies, kept it on hand at all times...so that he could keep on carousing without hangovers or ill effects. If you are at all interested in aromatherapy or healthful regimens, try a bit of Lavender oil for intestinal gas, (a drop of oil in juice) migraine headaches, or to heal wounds (added to a salve for spreading.) It's volatile properties helps with nausea and vomiting when taken in a tea made with leaves and flowers. For an antidepressant, steep leaves and flowers in white wine for two weeks to make a tincture and take it in small mouthfuls over several weeks. In this way it can even be used for toothaches and and mouth sores as well as sprains. This versatile herb also relieves stress and depression. I have a very simple recipe for a Lavender Salve to get you through the hair-raising Halloween festivities and to keep you (and your families) free of ghosts and vampires. I swear by it....I've never seen either! Lavender Salve/Cream/Scent Small bunch of lavender flowers and stalks (or 25 to 50 drops of Lavender Essential Oil depending on number of vampires lurking) Two cups good olive oil(depending on size of lavender bunch) 1/2 cup golden beeswax (new) Melt beeswax slowly (on low) in one saucepan just till it's liquid. Warm the lavender in olive oil in another pot till it reaches the boiling point, and simmer for 20 minutes on low. Oil should cover the lavender in the pot. Then pour the warm beeswax into the oil after removing the lavender branches and any bits and pieces. If you use tincture, just heat the oil and add the tincture at the same time as the beeswax. Pour into a wide mouth jar with a tight fitting lid and use as a hand cream in the kitchen or to smooth on the body after a long relaxing bath. No unknown entity will come near you! Happy Halloween and Happy Health! Back to the Writing Index