Herbal Medicine Spotlights: Lavender

Dr. Carrie Wine at Rooted in Health will be spotlighting a new herb each week in the foyer at Sycamore Square in Bellingham (1200 Harris Ave). Come join her from 12 to 1pm each Thursday this summer to learn about the weekly herb. After the event, she will post some information about the herb here in case you missed it. Herbal medicine is just one of the tools that naturopathic doctors use to create personalized health plans.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

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Medicinal properties: used most famously for anxiety and stress relief but also used for depression, headaches, insomnia, and muscle spasms.

Safety/contraindications:  Lavender should not be used medicinally during pregnancy unless under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Ways to use the herb:

  • Use fresh or dried flowers as a tea - many herbal stress teas have lavender as a main component

  • Use essential oil in an infuser

  • Infuse into honeys and syrups - use in coffee or tea or spread on toast

References:

“Herbal Medicine: From the Heart of the Earth” - Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner

“Prescription for Herbal Healing” - Phyllis A. Balch CNC


Lavender simple syrup:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cup sugar

  • 1 cup water

  • 3 tbsp dried lavender

Instructions:

  • Place ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a boil.

  • Lower the heat setting to bring to a simmer and cook with the lid on for about 10 minutes.

  • Let cool and strain to remove flowers.

  • Use in tea, coffee, lemonade, baked goods, etc.


Salt dusted lavender-lemon cookies:

Adapted from Flourless cookbook by Nicole Spiridakis

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup rolled oats

  • ½ cup whole raw almonds

  • 3 tbsp cornstarch

  • 2 tbsp sugar

  • 2-3 tbsp dried lavender flowers

  • ½ tsp baking soda

  • ½ cup chilled unsalted butter cut into 8 pieces

  • Grated zest of 1 large lemon plus 1 tbsp lemon juice

  • 2 tbsp honey

Directions:

  • Place oats and almonds in food processor until finely ground

  • Add cornstarch, sugar, lavender, and baking soda and pulse until combined

  • Add butter and lemon zest - pulse until it forms a course meal

  • Add honey and lemon juice until it forms a soft dough

  • Form dough into a log about 2 inches in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes

  • Remove dough and slice into ¼ inch rounds and place on cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt

  • Bake at 350 F for 9-11 minutes or until brown around edges

  • Let cool 5 minutes before removing from baking sheet