This beautiful herb has many uses, culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal. It can help relieve headaches, particularly when they are stress-related. Lavender may be quite effective in clearing depression, especially if used in conjunction with other remedies, and can also be used to promote natural sleep. As a gentle, strengthening nervous system tonic, it may be used to treat states of nervous debility and exhaustion. The essential oil may be applied externally as a stimulating liniment to help ease aches and pains of rheumatism. The general safety and efficacy of the essential of lavender make it widely applicable in topical formulations. David Hoffman Materia Medica