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Lavender
•Last Updated: November 30, 2023
Lavender is most often used for
Last Updated:November 30, 2023
Lavender is a plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family, and various types have different chemical properties. It has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant in forms such as tea, inhalational therapies, and oils to alleviate anxiety and stress.
Lavender is primarily beneficial for treating anxiety, particularly subthreshold anxiety, and may also improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and lower stress levels. Additionally, it has potential benefits for mild depression, pain management, and dysmenorrhea symptoms, and it has generally mild side effects compared to traditional anxiety medications.
Lavender is generally safe and well tolerated, and few adverse reactions have been reported. The main drawbacks include mild and transient side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and bloating, particularly with oral supplementation.
Lavender is believed to affect the limbic system; it enhances mood and memory and also increases parasympathetic nervous system activity to reduce stress. It inhibits voltage-dependent calcium channels and blocks serotonin transporters, leading to increased serotonin levels, which may alleviate anxiety and improve mood, though its effects are less pronounced than those of traditional antidepressants.
Note that Lavender is also known as:
- Lavandula angustafolia
- Lavandula latifolia
- Lavandula stoechas
- Lavandula intermedia
- Silexan (brand name of a particular supplement)
Research FeedRead all studies
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- ^Dold M, Bartova L, Volz HP, Seifritz E, Möller HJ, Schläfke S, Kasper SEfficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2023-Jan-30)
- ^Spiess D, Winker M, Chauveau A, Abegg VF, Potterat O, Hamburger M, Gründemann C, Simões-Wüst APMedicinal Plants for the Treatment of Mental Diseases in Pregnancy: An In Vitro Safety Assessment.Planta Med.(2022-Oct)
- ^Cavanagh HM, Wilkinson JMBiological activities of lavender essential oilPhytother Res.(2002 Jun)
- ^Prusinowska et alComposition, biological properties and therapeutic effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.). A reviewHerba Polonica.(2014)
- ^Möller HJ, Volz HP, Dienel A, Schläfke S, Kasper SEfficacy of Silexan in subthreshold anxiety: meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2019-Mar)
- ^Donelli D, Antonelli M, Bellinazzi C, Gensini GF, Firenzuoli FEffects of lavender on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine.(2019 Dec)
- ^Kang HJ, Nam ES, Lee Y, Kim MHow Strong is the Evidence for the Anxiolytic Efficacy of Lavender?: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci).(2019-Dec)
- ^Roland von Känel, Siegfried Kasper, Guido Bondolfi, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler, Josef Hättenschwiler, Martin Hatzinger, Christian Imboden, Ellen Heitlinger, Erich SeifritzTherapeutic effects of Silexan on somatic symptoms and physical health in patients with anxiety disorders: A meta-analysisBrain Behav.(2021 Feb 27)
- ^Myoungsuk Kim, Eun Sook Nam, Yongmi Lee, Hyun-Ju KangEffects of Lavender on Anxiety, Depression, and Physiological Parameters: Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAsian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci).(2021 Dec)
- ^Cheong MJ, Kim S, Kim JS, Lee H, Lyu YS, Lee YR, Jeon B, Kang HWA systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the clinical effects of aroma inhalation therapy on sleep problems.Medicine (Baltimore).(2021-Mar-05)
- ^Tina Ghavami, Mohsen Kazeminia, Fatemeh RajatiThe effect of lavender on stress in individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysisComplement Ther Med.(2022 Apr 13)
- ^Firoozeei TS, Feizi A, Rezaeizadeh H, Zargaran A, Roohafza HR, Karimi MThe antidepressant effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med.(2021-Jun)
- ^Oltean H, Robbins C, van Tulder MW, Berman BM, Bombardier C, Gagnier JJHerbal medicine for low-back pain.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2014-Dec-23)
- ^Kazeminia M, Abdi A, Vaisi-Raygani A, Jalali R, Shohaimi S, Daneshkhah A, Salari N, Mohammadi MThe Effect of Lavender ( L.) on Reducing Labor Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2020)
- ^Kani et alThe Effect of Aromatherapy (with Lavender) on Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisInt J Ped.(2019)
- ^Makvandi et alAn Update on the Effect of Massage and Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lavender on Labor Pain Relief: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisJ. obstet. gynecol. cancer res..(2018)
- ^H Woelk, S SchläfkeA multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorderPhytomedicine.(2010 Feb)
- ^Yap WS, Dolzhenko AV, Jalal Z, Hadi MA, Khan TMEfficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysisSci Rep.(2019 Dec 2)
- ^Malcolm BJ, Tallian KEssential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time?Ment Health Clin.(2018 Mar 26)
- ^López V, Nielsen B, Solas M, Ramírez MJ, Jäger AKExploring Pharmacological Mechanisms of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil on Central Nervous System TargetsFront Pharmacol.(2017 May 19)
- ^Spiess D, Winker M, Dolder Behna A, Gründemann C, Simões-Wüst APAdvanced Safety Assessment of Herbal Medicines for the Treatment of Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders in Pregnancy.Front Pharmacol.(2022)
- ^Diaz A, Luque L, Badar Z, Kornic S, Danon MPrepubertal gynecomastia and chronic lavender exposure: report of three casesJ Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.(2016 Jan)
- ^Ramsey JT, Li Y, Arao Y, Naidu A, Coons LA, Diaz A, Korach KSLavender Products Associated With Premature Thelarche and Prepubertal Gynecomastia: Case Reports and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical ActivitiesJ Clin Endocrinol Metab.(2019 Nov 1)
- ^Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, Bloch CAPrepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oilsN Engl J Med.(2007 Feb 1)
- ^Kasper SAn orally administered lavandula oil preparation (Silexan) for anxiety disorder and related conditions: an evidence based review.Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract.(2013 Nov)
- ^Kamalifard M, Farshbaf-Khalili A, Namadian M, Ranjbar Y, Herizchi SComparison of the effect of lavender and bitter orange on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.Women Health.(2018-Sep)
- ^Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Fotouhi A, Jarvandi S, Mobaseri M, Moin M, Khani M, Jamshidi AH, Baghalian K, Taghizadeh MComparison of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. tincture and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized trial.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.(2003 Feb)
- ^Nasiri Lari Z, Hajimonfarednejad M, Riasatian M, Abolhassanzadeh Z, Iraji A, Vojoud M, Heydari M, Shams MEfficacy of inhaled Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Essential oil on sleep quality, quality of life and metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus type II and insomnia.J Ethnopharmacol.(2020 Apr 6)
- ^Posadzki P, Alotaibi A, Ernst EAdverse effects of aromatherapy: a systematic review of case reports and case series.Int J Risk Saf Med.(2012 Jan 1)
- ^Seifritz E, Möller HJ, Volz HP, Müller WE, Hopyan T, Wacker A, Schläfke S, Kasper SNo Abuse Potential of Silexan in Healthy Recreational Drug Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol.(2021 Mar 17)
- ^Nikfarjam M, Parvin N, Assarzadegan N, Asghari SThe Effects of Lavandula Angustifolia Mill Infusion on Depression in Patients Using Citalopram: A comparison Study.Iran Red Crescent Med J.(2013 Aug)
- ^Jalil et alPharmaceutical quality of herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements – a case study with oral solid formulations containing Lavandula speciesEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.(2025-02)
- ^Yazdkhasti M, Pirak AThe effect of aromatherapy with lavender essence on severity of labor pain and duration of labor in primiparous women.Complement Ther Clin Pract.(2016 Nov)
- ^Igarashi TPhysical and psychologic effects of aromatherapy inhalation on pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med.(2013 Oct)
- ^Lavender.Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®).(2006)
- ^Kodama T, Watanabe T, Mataki N, Kanoh S, Kichikawa YAcute eosinophilic pneumonia following aromatherapy with essential oil.Respir Med Case Rep.(2022)
- ^Oxana Doroshyenko, Dennis Rokitta, Gregor Zadoyan, Stephan Klement, Sandra Schläfke, Angelika Dienel, Thomas Gramatté, Hendrik Lück, Uwe FuhrDrug cocktail interaction study on the effect of the orally administered lavender oil preparation silexan on cytochrome P450 enzymes in healthy volunteersDrug Metab Dispos.(2013 May)
- Restlessness - B Uehleke, S Schaper, A Dienel, S Schlaefke, R StangePhase II trial on the effects of Silexan in patients with neurasthenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or somatization disorderPhytomedicine.(2012 Jun 15)
- Blood Pressure - Sayorwan W, Siripornpanich V, Piriyapunyaporn T, Hongratanaworakit T, Kotchabhakdi N, Ruangrungsi NThe effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activityJ Med Assoc Thai.(2012 Apr)
- Heart Rate Variability - Li-Wei Chien, Su Li Cheng, and Chi Feng LiuThe Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Autonomic Nervous System in Midlife Women with InsomniaEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.()
- Insomnia Signs and Symptoms - George T Lewith, Anthony Dean Godfrey, Philip PrescottA single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a treatment for mild insomniaJ Altern Complement Med.(2005 Aug)
- Sleep Quality - Inn-Sook Lee, Gyung-Joo Lee[Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students]Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi.(2006 Feb)
- Sleep Quality - Namni Goel, Hyungsoo Kim, Raymund P LaoAn olfactory stimulus modifies nighttime sleep in young men and womenChronobiol Int.(2005)
- Sleep Quality - Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Dienel A, Schläfke SSilexan, an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of 'subsyndromal' anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trialInt Clin Psychopharmacol.(2010 Sep)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Kang HJ, Nam ES, Lee Y, Kim MHow Strong is the Evidence for the Anxiolytic Efficacy of Lavender?: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci).(2019-Dec)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Möller HJ, Volz HP, Dienel A, Schläfke S, Kasper SEfficacy of Silexan in subthreshold anxiety: meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2019-Mar)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Yap WS, Dolzhenko AV, Jalal Z, Hadi MA, Khan TMEfficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysisSci Rep.(2019 Dec 2)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Dold M, Bartova L, Volz HP, Seifritz E, Möller HJ, Schläfke S, Kasper SEfficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2023-Jan-30)
- Quality of Life - Roland von Känel, Siegfried Kasper, Guido Bondolfi, Edith Holsboer-Trachsler, Josef Hättenschwiler, Martin Hatzinger, Christian Imboden, Ellen Heitlinger, Erich SeifritzTherapeutic effects of Silexan on somatic symptoms and physical health in patients with anxiety disorders: A meta-analysisBrain Behav.(2021 Feb 27)
- Anxiety Symptoms - J Lehrner, G Marwinski, S Lehr, P Johren, L DeeckeAmbient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental officePhysiol Behav.(2005 Sep 15)
- Anxiety Symptoms - Metaxia Kritsidima, Tim Newton, Koula AsimakopoulouThe effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomised-controlled trialCommunity Dent Oral Epidemiol.(2010 Feb)
- Cortisol - Tiffany Field, Tory Field, Christy Cullen, Shay Largie, Miguel Diego, Saul Schanberg, Cynthia KuhnLavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infantsEarly Hum Dev.(2008 Jun)
- Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Apay SE, Arslan S, Akpinar RB, Celebioglu AEffect of aromatherapy massage on dysmenorrhea in Turkish studentsPain Manag Nurs.(2012 Dec)
- Sleep Quality - Mahin Moeini, Maryam Khadibi, Reza Bekhradi, Seyed Ahmad Mahmoudian, Fatemeh NazariEffect of aromatherapy on the quality of sleep in ischemic heart disease patients hospitalized in intensive care units of heart hospitals of the Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIran J Nurs Midwifery Res.(Fall 2010)
- Anxiety Symptoms - H Woelk, S SchläfkeA multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorderPhytomedicine.(2010 Feb)
- Migraine Symptoms - Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, Gorji A, Abbasi M, Foroughipour MLavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trialEur Neurol.(2012)
- Canker Sores Symptoms - Altaei DTTopical lavender oil for the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcerationAm J Dent.(2012 Feb)
- Depression Symptoms - Firoozeei TS, Feizi A, Rezaeizadeh H, Zargaran A, Roohafza HR, Karimi MThe antidepressant effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med.(2021-Jun)