Awaiting clinical review. This entry is sourced but has not yet been signed off by a pharmacist or clinician.
Lavender
The evidence for lavender depends almost entirely on the form. A standardised oral lavender oil capsule (Silexan, 80 mg a day) beat placebo for anxiety in several trials, but most were funded or co-authored by its manufacturer and the pooled studies are at high risk of bias. Inhaled lavender oil looks promising but is inconsistent, and lavender tea has only a traditional-use record. The main caution is that pregnancy safety is unknown.
At a glance
Last reviewed 29 September 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety: oral lavender oil capsules | Moderate | In a 10-week trial of 539 adults with generalised anxiety disorder, Silexan 80 mg and 160 mg reduced HAM-A scores by 12.8 and 14.1 points against 9.5 for placebo (both superior to placebo, p < 0.01); paroxetine did not reach significance against placebo in the main analysis. A 6-week trial found a similar fall to lorazepam (11.3 vs 11.6 points). A meta-analysis found a HAM-A difference of −2.90 points versus placebo for 80 mg daily for at least 6 weeks. The reviewers rated overall study quality low, and NCCIH points to small samples and a lack of independent funding and testing. This rating applies to the branded oral oil, not to tea or the flower.1,2,3,4,7 |
| Anxiety: inhaled or massage aromatherapy | Limited | The same meta-analysis pooled inhaled lavender trials and found a moderate reduction in anxiety scores (Hedges' g −0.73), but the studies were heterogeneous, mostly at high risk of bias, and the authors called this only an indication of an effect. Massage with lavender oil also reduced anxiety, but it is unclear whether lavender itself was responsible. NCCIH says it is unclear whether aromatherapy helps anxiety.1,7 |
| Sleep quality (aromatherapy) | Limited | A 2021 meta-analysis of 34 studies of inhaled aromatherapy for sleep problems found a benefit and reported lavender as the strongest single scent. The trials were mixed in design and outcomes, and NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender aromatherapy improves sleep quality or insomnia. Silexan trials also recorded better sleep as a secondary outcome in people with anxiety.5,4,7 |
| Mild stress and sleep (tea) | Traditional | The EU regulator lists lavender flower as a traditional herbal medicine for mild mental stress and exhaustion and to aid sleep, based on long-standing use alone. We found no trials of lavender tea for anxiety or sleep. NCCIH mentions only preliminary reports for tea and depression.8,7 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — safety not established, EU regulator advises against
- Children under 12 — not recommended, and breast swelling reported with topical use
- Before surgery or with sedatives — NCCIH notes a theoretical interaction
- Before driving — the EU monograph says it may impair ability
- Allergic skin reactions — lavender products can cause them when applied to skin
- Known hypersensitivity to lavender
Known interactions
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Questions people ask
Does lavender work for anxiety?
The best evidence is for a standardised oral oil capsule (Silexan), which beat placebo in trials, mostly involving its manufacturer. Inhaled lavender shows a benefit in pooled studies but the trials are inconsistent and at high risk of bias.
Does lavender tea have the same effect as Silexan capsules?
Not on the evidence we found. The anxiety trials used the capsule, and lavender tea is supported only by traditional use. Do not assume the tea delivers what the capsule was tested for.
Does lavender help with sleep?
Pooled trials of inhaled aromatherapy report better sleep, with lavender often the strongest single scent, but NCCIH says it is unclear whether it works. It is low risk to try, though the evidence is weak.
Is lavender safe?
Oral lavender oil appears safe in the short term, with some people reporting burping, nausea, diarrhoea or headache. A few cases of breast swelling have been reported in children using topical lavender products, though NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender was responsible. Pregnancy safety is unknown.
Sources
- Systematic review Donelli D, Antonelli M, Bellinazzi C, Gensini GF, Firenzuoli F. Effects of lavender on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2019.
- Randomised trial Woelk H, Schläfke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010.
- Randomised trial Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014.
- Review Kasper S, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Koch E, Dienel A. Silexan in anxiety disorders: clinical data and pharmacological background. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2018.
- Meta-analysis Cheong MJ, Kim S, Kim JS, et al. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the clinical effects of aroma inhalation therapy on sleep problems. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021.
- Case series Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, Bloch CA. Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils. N Engl J Med. 2007.
- Regulator/health agency NCCIH. Lavender: Usefulness and Safety. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
- Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Lavandula angustifolia Miller, flos (EMA/HMPC/734125/2010). 2012.
Last reviewed 29 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence