In his book "Aromatherapy: treating yourself with Essential Oils" , Dominique Baudoux offers numerous formulas based on Essential Oils which have a curative aim for the skin.
One of them treats wound healing, with true lavender in particular. In dermatology, the question of wound healing is indeed crucial.
A clinical study demonstrates that the use of true lavender Essential Oil is appropriate for the care and healing of post-episiotomy wounds. This reinforces our idea of adding true lavender Essential Oil to our healing preparations.
A healing formula for wounds: Dominique Baudoux, aromatologist pharmacist, gives us in his book "Aromatherapy, healing with Essential Oils" the following formula for wounds:
- CEST Ladaniferous Rockrose (cistus ladaniferus) : 1 drop;
- HECT True lavender (lavandula angustifolia) : 3 drops;
- HECT Cajeput (melaleuca cajuputii): 2 drops;
- HECT Thyme CT Thujanol or Marjoram CT Thujanol (origanum majorana CT thujanol): 2 drops
Directions for use: 3 to 4 drops of the mixture on the wound 4 times a day for 4 to 5 days.
It is obvious that this formula which uses pure Essential Oils on the skin is only suitable for superficial wounds and is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women or children under 6 years old. This formula gives pride of place to real lavender which is recommended here for its simultaneously cleansing and soothing action.
A clinical study on the benefits of lavender:
In the study "Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery" (Vakilian K, Atrha M, Bekhradi R, Chaman R, Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 Feb;17(1):50-3.) , we discover that 120 women who underwent an episiotomy during childbirth participated in a clinical study to evaluate the possible contribution of True Lavender Essential Oil to the healing process.
For this study, 60 women out of 120 were treated with olive oil dosed with 1.5% essential oil and sitz baths with 5 to 7 drops of lavender essential oil in 4 liters of water two times a day for 10 days.
The other 60 women in the control group received routine care with Povidone-iodine. On the 10th day, the study demonstrated that the group of women treated with lavender was less prone to pain, did not experience cases of edema of more than 2cm and suffered from significantly reduced redness. The difference with the control group was clear: the addition of lavender essential oil in the treatment was beneficial.
Conclusion: This case study leads us to believe that it is interesting to add True Lavender Essential Oil in the treatment of wounds, even if logically we think much more often of the astringent oils of geranium, cistus or rosewood, often combined with tea tree and chamomile.
