Lavender
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
Lavender is a family of plants known for its anxiety-reducing properties.
Lavender is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Lavandula, or lavender, is a genus of plants used for essential oil and aromatherapy. Lavender supplementation can temporarily alleviate anxiety.
Though lavender does not have a sedative effect, lavender aromatherapy can improve sleep quality, as well as reduce insomnia. Some evidence suggests lavender can increase slow-wave sleep patterns.
Most studies use the lavender oil brand Silexan. There is some evidence to suggest lavender may offer benefits for people suffering from dementia, but it is very preliminary and much more research is needed.
Topical application of lavender can result in contact dermatitis, which is characterized by red and itchy skin.
Note that Lavender is also known as:
- Lavandula angustifolia
- Lavandula officinalis
To supplement lavender, take 80 – 160 mg of a supplement containing 25 – 46% linalool.
Accurate dosing is difficult to determine during aromatherapy, but most studies use at least 30 minutes in a well-ventilated room.
Topical application of lavender is usually done through a lavender oil massage. Topical lavender oil application is not recommended due to the possibility of skin agitation and damage.
Research FeedRead all studies
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5.^No authors listedSpecial lavender oil. New phytotherapy anxiolytic drug for sub-syndromal anxiety disordersMMW Fortschr Med.(2010 Mar 4)
6.^Doroshyenko O, Rokitta D, Zadoyan G, Klement S, Schlafke S, Dienel A, Gramatte T, Luck H, Fuhr UDrug Cocktail Interaction Study on the Effect of the Orally Administered Lavender Oil Preparation Silexan on Cytochrome P-450 Enzymes in Healthy VolunteersDrug Metab Dispos.(2013 Feb 11)
7.^Silenieks LB, Koch E, Higgins GASilexan, an essential oil from flowers of Lavandula angustifolia, is not recognized as benzodiazepine-like in rats trained to discriminate a diazepam cuePhytomedicine.(2013 Jan 15)
8.^Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Dienel A, Schläfke SEfficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder - evidence from clinical trialsWien Med Wochenschr.(2010 Dec)
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