Is it a good idea to include lavender in your sensory garden?
There are so many things to like about lavender. Lavender is a superhero in many gardens. It requires little water, is beautiful, and smells great when you walk by. However, when designing a sensory garden designed for those with epilepsy, is this mighty plant a good option?
Let's talk color first
Purple is considered a cool color in the garden. Along with shades of blue, pink, and white it provides a sense of calm and distance. For that reason, these colors are ideal for helping people with many kinds of conditions. If a person seeks peace, calm, and rest in the garden, colors such as lavender are ideal.
Many people with epilepsy have seizures that are triggered by stress. Anything that can calm stress is a great option for a sensory garden for those with epilepsy. So is the color lavender a great option for this type of garden? Yes.
What about aroma?
People have known for centuries that true lavender aroma has a relaxing effect. It has long been used to aid those who need to sleep better. Since one of the most common reasons for having seizures in people with epilepsy is a lack of sleep, lavender may be helpful.
If you do grow lavender in the sensory garden, you will be able to cut and dry the flowers, which can be placed near your bed, etc. to aid in sleep.
In fact, one of the few essential oils that may be helpful for those with epilepsy is lavender (not spike lavender) because it can help in relaxation and sleep.
The answer, as always, is it depends
One of the reasons why people who have epilepsy have epilepsy is that the brain can be difficult to figure out--just as any neurologist. What might work for one person may be harmful for another. Lavender may provide a sufficient calming effect to make adding it to the garden well worth it; however, the lavender plant may be an epileptic trigger for others.
As for myself (a person with epilepsy), I find the soothing nature of lavender an important part of my garden. In fact, I like to take velvety leaves off as I walk by, inhale the aroma, and rub them around my wrists, so I can enjoy the fragrance throughout the day.
Your goal is to design a sensory garden around an individual and not just around a condition. Find out what works for the specific person, and go on from there.
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