The Quan Yin of essential oils: Lavender

Quan Yin is a “saint” for both Taoists and Buddhists alike (how many entities do we know that cross the great religion divide?).  She is known for her deeply empathic declaration, refusing to become immortal until all suffering in the world was alleviated, but would live on showing mercy to all.  And she does.  In China she is evident in the softness of the mountains, and the very air and earth.  Quan Yin is the quintessential icon for care and mercy.  Likewise, True Lavender’s (angustifolia Lavandula) essential chemical properties and capacity reflects a type of medicinal mercy.

There are a few other essential oils (eo) I would give a quality label like “mercy” to: Frankincense, Neroli, Angelica Immortelle to name a few.  But True Lavender… well Lavender is a kind of standout.  She is such a diverse and hardworking eo, addressing so many maladies.  She is a wound healer, an infection stopper, a histamine blocker.  She refreshes spirit and fills those flagging neurotransmitters in the brain obliterating migraines and tendencies toward depression.  She promotes relaxation, rest and sleep for the weary.  And she is generous, willing to work in concert with western medicine’s opioids to decrease pain. 

True Lavender is a pretty ordinary species, easy to grow and a well known botanical oil in Europe and the Americas.  Despite her lack of exotic allure, it can be said she is trustworthy, accountable, gentle and sublime.  In my years of practicing clinical aromatherapy, and using Lavender on probably thousands of people, I have never seen an allergy to this eo (or heard of one in my studies).  It is easily my first go-to oil in myriads of situations, alone or in combination.  When used with other oils, she doesn’t fight or overstate her delicate power.  She is pure cooperation and a team player.

It would seem more natural to pair Quan Yin with an Asian eo like Ylang Ylang rather than the very western angustifolia Lavandula.  As lovely as Ylang Ylang is, its power is not gentle nor subtle.  True Lavender like Quan Yin is the essence of femininity, and although not an Asian botanical, somehow creates a harmonious relationship with her parallel entity which calls from half way around the world.  This is not surprising as both of their abilities and purpose is about extending themselves, hero(ine)ically.