Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
also known as English lavender, True lavender
Moderate (anxiety, sleep)
A Mediterranean shrub whose purple flowers carry one of the most recognizable calming scents in the herbal world. More than a fragrance — standardized lavender oil capsules have real evidence for anxiety, comparable in effect to some prescription anti-anxiety medications.
- Eases mild to moderate anxiety, with the standardized oil capsule (Silexan) showing effects comparable to lorazepam in studies
- Supports sleep, particularly when used as aromatherapy before bed
- Mildly calming through smell alone — the aromatherapy evidence is real
- Topical use eases minor burns, insect bites, and headaches
- Antimicrobial action from the essential oil
- Generally well tolerated even with daily use
Active in Linalool, Linalyl acetate, Camphor.
Topical lavender and tea tree oils have been linked to early breast development in young boys — limit prolonged direct skin exposure for prepubertal children
Use caution with sedative medications — additive calming effect
Use caution before driving or operating machinery — can cause drowsiness
Skip concentrated essential oil internally except in well-studied standardized preparations
Skip during pregnancy beyond aromatherapy use
Always dilute essential oil before skin contact
Research
- Alginate-based wound dressings loaded with natural essential oils: physicochemical characterisation and antibacterial performance.
- Integrative network pharmacology delineates dual GPCR and non-GPCR mechanisms of blended and individual Taikong Blue lavender and Pingyin rose essential oils in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
- Lavender compounds interfere with AI-2 dependent bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi without affecting LuxS signaling in Campylobacter jejuni.
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