Lavender

[#1]

I have read (from reputable sources) that lavender can mimic estrogen, and should not be used on children (or adults who have had certain estrogen-related cancers) in the form of soaps, lotions, and especially oils.

It was apparently discovered when a number of pre-adolescent boys were developing breasts. (Tea-tree oil was also implicated, but probably in a different study).

I know that many people are not aware of this, so I think that a warning or mention on lavender-containing products would be helpful.

[Former_Member]

Oh good grief....I thought this rumor was dead and gone! There was ONE study put out a few years back. It involved a few children, and the use of shampoo or something. Anyhow....a few of the children apparently had an increase in the breast tissue mass. This shampoo also had several other ingredients and chemical components (at least I think it was a shampoo.) Any how.... if this was a true problem, you would know about it. I have been practicing aromatherapy for several years, and I have used lavender religiously with my children in many applications, and they are healthy and vibrant. They are both boys, and they do not have any excess breast tissue, or other symptoms. I use lavender EO daily in our home, and have for years.

I will try to find that study. It was seriously a very lame study. I will try and post it. It has been a few years since I have read it, but please.... no one panic.

[Former_Member]

mimibuggy
mimibuggy says:
I have heard this too. I found this article:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/356/5/479

Yes this is the article. If you don't understand the technical jargon, this is going to be very confusing. I am telling you from a clinical perspective....this study was very vague, and in my eyes inconclusive.

[Former_Member]

Thanks, Piprobins and Elements.
I'm certainly not versed in aromatherapy or chemistry. But I would sooner blame plastic in the children's environment, or other ingredients or the chemicals swimming around us than blame lavender EO for problems in children.
I think it's well established that children are more vulnerable to chemical influences than adults. Right?

[Former_Member]

By the way, I've never felt that lavender has any particular calming, relaxing, or soporific effect on me. Is there a percentage of the population for whom lavender just doesn't seem to work?

[Former_Member]

Absolutely. There are also so many other factors that they don't include in these studies (environmental conditions and such.) It is such a shame that these kind of things can cause such a frenzy for people just wanting to do the right thing.

I would be much more concerned about other things. It is true that some people can have an allergic reaction to lavender essential oil/ or any other. This can happen with anything though. So long as you properly label your products, I would have no worries.

Good luck everyone....and spark up that diffuser with some lavender. One of Mother Nature's most wonderful gifts to us!

[TsunamiSuds]

I use lavender almost daily and havent grown any boobs yet :)

[Former_Member]

How are you using it, and which type of lavender are you using? There are several types....Lavendula Angustifolia is the "True Lavender" It has more medicinal value than it's commonly used cousins: Spike lavender, Lavandin, English Lavender. True lavender has a very crisp scent with a slight camphor note to it. The other lavenders all smell much sweeter, and don't have much therapeutic value other than pleasing the olfactory nerve, lol.

I use lavender in blends, I don't find that it has a huge relaxing effect on it's own. Try blending it with some ylang ylang, and cedarwood!

[Former_Member]

ROFL!!! Good one Dennis!!

[Former_Member]

I have to correct myself...lol, sorry it is late. I meant to say "French Lavender" in the place of English. English Lavender is "true lavender". Oops!

[Former_Member]

Yes, I read this some time ago.

[LeafandYard]

My aromatherapy teacher brought this up and came to the same conclusions as Piprobins and ElementsOfSaffron. Lavender and Tea Tree are two of the safest EOs out there (but there are always exceptions!). When I tell people who know anything about EOs that you can get a bottle of Wintergreen at Whole Foods, most are shocked. I'd sooner worry about the toxic oils in the hands of someone who just thinks they "smell nice" than something as innocent as lavender.

[Former_Member]

Never heard of Lavendar having an issue (but then I am not as active in Natural meds as I used to be) but I heard SOY is another one that helps with the hormones. My mom takes 1 cup of soy a couple times a day for hot flashes. I have read it is suggested that boys do not drink/eat a lot of soy products.

[Former_Member]

The biggest problem with natural medicine is that it is not standardized. Take Cinnamon for instance. I read it is good for arthritis. I go buy some capsules. The label says nothing about this, it does say it is good for digestion. I go look it up, and find it is good for diabetes! Yeah, its good that it is good for so many things, but again, you are left wondering if someone that had indigestion...took cinnamon...the indigestion left, wrote that it is good for digestion. :-/ Just don't know.

[LeafandYard]

And remember too that what an herb can do is very different than what an essential oil can do. EOs are far more potent than the same plant in herb form, and there are hundreds of (naturally occurring) chemicals in EOs that have yet to be identified. Aromatherapy is only regulated in France and Canada (as far as I know), and it can be dangerous if people don't know what they're doing. For example, Wintergreen EO is on the toxic, do-not-ever-use list, but you can get it at the store. Natural does not equal safe. I once knew someone who had a list of homemade products (soaps and things for personal and home use) that included an unbelievable amount of EOs, with many contraindications. Her instructions for making the stuff stated "add oils until it smells nice." Shocking.

I have definitely heard that about soy, though.

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much - never heard this before and I am currently using lavender in my crafts. Will check out the article.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I think I am one of those who is allergic to lavender, so no worries about it in this house. If I even get a whiff of it, my throat closes up, my eyes tear up, and I feel nauseous. UGH!

[Former_Member]

I have been an avid student of herbal studies for the last 12 years. You can find a few isolated studies to scare anyone away from a variety of herbs and plants, however you can find thousands of studies dating back thousands of years showing the safety and effectiveness of herbs.

The estrogen effect of plastic, soy and hormones in milk and meat are far far more common and proven and disconcerting then a study done on three boys using lavender.

How about the fact that the European Union banned the use of 1,109 chemicals in European personal care products and the FDA has only banned 10 chemical in US personal care products.

Where are the warnings on all of the products at Walmart?

[Former_Member]

What about people selling products that contain the dirty dozen.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/personal-care/dirty-dozen/1

http://www.fitsugar.com/204330

http://www.green-organic-world.com/cosmetic-ingredients.html

http://www.organicdivas.com/dirtydozen.html

[piprobins]

I try to tell as many people as possible: JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON THE SHELVES DOESN'T MEAN IT'S SAFE.

The blind trust out there is really astounding.

[Former_Member]

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7974553
. There are also so many other factors that they don't include in these studies (environmental conditions and such.) It is such a shame that these kind of things can cause such a frenzy for people just wanting to do the right thing.

I would be much more concerned about other things. It is true that some people can have an allergic reaction to lavender essential oil/ or any other. This can happen with anything though. So long as you properly label your products, I would have no worries.

Good luck everyone....and spark up that diffuser with some lavender. One of Mother Nature's most wonderful gifts to us!
**************************************************************************************I could not agree more.

[2RavenChicks]

I don't care if I sprout wings - I'm NOT giving up my lavender ♥

*Opens brown, glass bottle of lavender EO in desk and takes a whiff - mmmmm - that's much better*

[LeafandYard]

2RavenChicks says:
I don't care if I sprout wings - I'm NOT giving up my lavender ♥
---------

LOL! If I do sprout wings, I'm flying to work tomorrow!

I'm *ehem* endowed as it is, but I'm pretty sure it's not the lavender. I'd call it genetics.

Pass the soy milk.

[Former_Member]

Hmmmmmmmmmm...

Off to buy some lavendar and tea tree oil for myself!!

:D

[Former_Member]

That's one of my favorite scent. Come to think of it I don't think lavendar is used in many baby products out there. thanks for sharing

[MerrillLand]

How strange that this is a new account with no feedback and offers no proof to back up these claims in the original post.