Lavender oil improves a feeling of well being.

Ever hear of dopamine? Dopamine is a chemical compound released in the brain in response to positive experiences such as food, sex, friendship, drugs, which gives one a feeling of reward and well being. Lavender has proven to affect dopamine release, creating that positive feeling.


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The results indicate that altered dopamine D3 receptor subtype homeostasis in the olfactory bulb may contribute to lavender oil-induced behavioral change.

Keimyung University ^{, a}Department of Public Health, Keimyung University, Taegu 704-701, Republic of Korea, 26 June 2009.

Sonoma Lavender product recommendations for well being:

Elevate your mood with Sonoma Lavender spray mist. Helps cranky kids, too.

Travel with lavender-filled travel pillow, sleep mask or accessories.

Heat or chill a lavender neck pillow.

Give yourself a handmassage with lavender hand creme.

The ambient odor of lavender reduces anxiety and improves mood.

A recent medical study proved that lavender reduces anxiety and improves one’s mood. Heady findings. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of lavender on anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness in dental patients. Two hundred patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years (half women, half men) were assigned to four independent groups. Patients were stimulated with the ambient odor of lavender. These conditions were compared to a music condition and a control condition (no odor, no music).

Anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness were assessed while patients waited for dental treatment. Statistical analyses revealed that compared to control condition lavender reduced anxiety and improved mood in patients waiting for dental treatment. These findings support the previous opinion that odors are capable of altering emotional states and may indicate that the use of odors is helpful in reducing anxiety in dental patients.
J. Lehrner^a, , G. Marwinski^c, S. Lehr^b, PJohren^d and L. Deecke^{a a}University Clinic of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Department of Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Austria, University Witten Herdecke,Germany 10 August 2005.
For more information, go to SCIENCEDIRECT.COM

Recommended Sonoma Lavender products to reduce anxiety and improve mood:

Lavender Eye Pillow or Sleepmask: Relax with a lavender eye pillow or sleepmask.. The aromatherapy of the lavender relaxes while you shut out the light and relax your eyes.

Lavender stuffed animal- great for any age. The scent of lavender soothes and relaxes.

Lavender diffuser- the scent of lavender wafts through the air.

Lavender neckpillow, heatwrap or spa mask- heat for extra aromatherapy.

SONOMA LAVENDER FESTIVAL

For immediate release:

Contact: shelli@sonomalavender.com

707-523-4411 ext 2#

Photos available.

Eleventh annual Sonoma Lavender Festival

Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26

Tiny green bushes will soon push purple stalks to the sky in preparation for the eleventh annual Sonoma Lavender Festival, Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, in Kenwood, California. This annual festival features a five acre lavender farm in full bloom. Lavender lovers can wander the fields and cut fresh bouquets from the three types of lavender grown there, as well as study the 32 varieties grown in the specimen garden.

The hundreds of ways to use Lavender are explored at the festival with free seminars. Robert Kourik, master gardener and author of The Lavender Garden will speak on Growing Lavender. Mary Bergin, executive chef of Sur La Table and cookbook author, will provide a lavender cooking demonstration and tasting. Gary Erwin of Silveyville farms will discuss beekeeping and honey production. Sonoma Lavender owners, Gary and Rebecca Rosenberg will give hourly seminars on the Benefits of Lavender and Lavender Style.

Lavender cuisine by Lisa Hemmenway of FRESH! and wines by Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood Winery and BR Cohn will be available for purchase in a new olive grove. Profits will support the Education for the Arts program at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts subsidizing performances for 30,000 children a year.

The Lavender Marketplace is expanding to provide free services to experience lavender products. Hundreds of lavender products, which sell in 4,000 boutiques and spas across the country, will be 20-60% off for the festival only: lavender plants, bath and body products, diffusers, candles, lavender gifts, pillows, sachets, hot/cold therapy wraps and more. New additions include the BUBBLE ROOM with free moisturizing hand treatments and serving “bubbly”, CHILL-OUT LOUNGE with chilled body wraps, EUCALYPTUS GROOVE to invigorate mind and body. Also new is the PASSPORT TO BLISS. Collect stamps for a free lavender gift. Other activities: Massage Envy massages, Portraits by Rebecca Gosselin, Paintings by Barbara Greensweig, Face painting and Purple Nails by Beauty Sanctuary, and a crafting tent featuring wreath making, lavender wands and crafts.

           

$5 per person/ Children under 12 free. Sonoma Lavender Barn is located at 8537 Sonoma Highway (Hwy 12), Kenwood, CA. Turn East at Chateau St. Jean winery and follow the signs. http: www.sonomalavender.com/festival.html  or 707-523-4411 ext 2#

           

Why bathe in lavender?

When you are feeling tired or your muscles are achy, try soaking in a sea salt bath infused with lavender essential oil. Sea salt will loosen tight muscles and draw the toxins from your body, which build up when your muscles are sore. Sea salt also helps reduce pain and infection. Lavender essential oil relaxes the muscles and helps them release the pent up strain. Both lavender and sea salt are known for healthy rejuvenation of the cells.

A lavender sea salt bath can help relax your muscles, reduce inflammation, minimize pain, heal bruising, aid digestion, relieve stress and tension, and detoxify your body.

LAVENDER BATH SALT RECIPE

20 drops of lavender essential oil

1/2 cup Epsom salt

1/2 cup sea salt

Mix together and add while running a very warm bath.

 Optional additions:

5 drops of eucalyptus oil to invigorate muscles, or 5 drops of orange to elevate your mood.


Do you have any lavender beauty recipes to share?

Purchase Sonoma Lavender Bath Salts 

http://sonomalavendershop.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68&products_id=547

Lift your mood with lavender.

According to researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine, USA, aromatherapy can have a significant affect on your brain (EEG) activity, our sense of alertness, and our moods.

Forty adults were given just three minutes of aromatherapy using lavender essential oil (considered a relaxing odor). The participants were given simple math computations before and after the therapy. The participants showed increased beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness; they had less depressed moods, reported feeling more relaxed and performed the math computations faster and more accurately following the aromatherapy.

Int J Neurosci, 96: 217-24, 1998 Dec Aromatherapy Positively Affects Mood, EEG Patterns of Alertness and Math Computations, Diego MA

Need a lift? Try these special touches and feel the difference they make.

Rub your temples with a drop of Sonoma Lavender Essential Oil.

Spray your office chair with Sonoma Lavender Spray Mist.

Moisturize your hands, arms and legs with Sonoma Lavender Body Lotion.

Squeeze a beautiful lavender sachet and inhale the deeply refreshing scent of lavender flower buds and feel anxiety lifting from your shoulders.


Do you have a story about lavender lifting your mood? Please share it with us!

Lavender is Lucky

“… there are some things I know for certain…plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”
Practical Magic (1998)

On Saint Patrick’s Day every year, I think about luck. About how we make our own luck with the choices we make. One thing I know for certain, Lavender is Lucky.

I’m a strong believer that we make our own luck in this world, and we can use all the help we can get. That’s where lavender comes in.

How is it lucky?

The smell of lavender enters the nose and permeates the brain, immediately elevating your mood. When you meet the world in a good mood, doors open, people smile back at you, new opportunities abound.

Recent medical research has proven what tradition and experience has said for centuries. Lavender reduces anxiety. Lavender improves one’s mood. And Lavender is anti-conflict.

It’s easy to bring a little lavender luck into your life.

• Tuck a lavender sachet in your car, for a soothing ride home.
• Take a ten minute break with a lavender filled sleepmask.
• End your day with a lavender bubble bath.

Now that would be lucky.

For more information regarding the research about lavender’s beneficial affects, see Current Lavender Research, or Sciencedirect.com

Photo by Rebecca Gosselin http://celebrations.rebeccagosselin.com/

Lavender Festival 2011

Enjoy the fleeting beauty of the lavender fields, in bloom only once a year! Saturday & Sunday, June 25 & 26, 2011 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm ... Sonoma Lavender Food & Wine Festival