Lavender

Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance.

Yeung KS, Hernandez M, Mao JJ, Haviland I, Gubili J · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2018

Anxiety and depression are prevalent among cancer patients, with significant negative impact. Many patients prefer herbs for symptom relief to conventional medications which have limited efficacy/side effects. We identified single-herb medicines that may warrant further study in cancer patients. Our search included PubMed, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Embase, and Cochrane databases, selecting only single-herb randomized controlled trials between 1996 and 2016 in any population for data extraction, excluding herbs with known potential for interactions with cancer treatments. One hundred articles involving 38 botanicals met our criteria. Among herbs most studied (≥6 randomized controlled trials each), lavender, passionflower, and saffron produced benefits comparable to standard anxiolytics and antidepressants. Black cohosh, chamomile, and chasteberry are also promising. Anxiety or depressive symptoms were measured in all studies, but not always as primary endpoints. Overall,

The effect of lavender aroma for anxiety disorder: a study protocol for a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Amitani H, Nishi R, Sagiyama K, Fukumoto T, Funakoshi K, Takayanagi N · BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023

Anxiety disorder is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder. Benzodiazepines, which are often used for anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder, have various side effects. Lavender, one of the most commonly used essential oils in aromatherapy, has the potential to reduce benzodiazepine use for anxiety disorders. This study is a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study will recruit patients aged 20-59 years old with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder among anxiety disorders. The bottle containing the test solution (lavender aroma essential oil or distilled water) will be given to the patients. Patients will carry the bottles with them in their daily life and use the drops on tissue paper when anxious. The primary endpoint is the number of times anxiolytics used in 28 days. If the use of benzodiazepines could be reduced by sniffing lavender aroma, which is inexpensive and safe, it would contribute not only to the risks

The effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and stress in older community-dwelling people: A randomized controlled trial.

Ebrahimi H, Mardani A, Basirinezhad MH, Hamidzadeh A, Eskandari F · Explore (New York, N.Y.) · 2022 · n=183

Considering the prevalence of mental health problems in older adults, this study aims to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy using lavender and chamomile essential oils on depression, anxiety, and stress of community-dwelling older people. A three-armed, parallel, randomized, and controlled trial design was used in this study. 183 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups (n = 61): the lavender, chamomile, and control groups. The participants in the experimental groups inhaled three drops of 1.5% lavender and chamomile essential oils for 30 nights. The participants in the control group inhaled only distilled water in a similar fashion. Data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-Scale (DASS) at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one month after the intervention. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, one-way ANOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA were used for data analysis. Statistically significant improvement occurre

A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder.

Woelk H, Schläfke S · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology · 2010

Generalized and persistent anxiety, accompanied by nervousness and other symptoms (Generalised Anxiety Disorder, GAD) is frequent in the general population and leads to benzodiazepine usage. Unfortunately, these substances induce sedation and have a high potential for drug abuse, and there is thus a need for alternatives. As the anxiolytic properties of lavender have already been demonstrated in pharmacological studies and small-scale clinical trials, it was postulated that lavender has a positive effect in GAD. A controlled clinical study was then performed to evaluate the efficacy of silexan, a new oral lavender oil capsule preparation, versus a benzodiazepine. In this study, the efficacy of a 6-week-intake of silexan compared to lorazepam was investigated in adults with GAD. The primary target variable was the change in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A-total score) as an objective measurement of the severity of anxiety between baseline and week 6. The results suggest that si

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils: Holistic Strategies in Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Integral Wellbeing.

Caballero-Gallardo K, Quintero-Rincón P, Olivero-Verbel J · Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses a variety of ancient therapies with origins in cultures such as those of China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, India, and Rome. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies these integrative therapies into five categories: (1) mind-body therapies, (2) biological practices, (3) manipulative and body practices, (4) energy medicine, and (5) whole medical systems, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. This review explores the role of biological practices utilizing aromatic plants, particularly through inhalation aromatherapy and massage with essential oils, as effective complementary strategies within health systems. The review compiles information on the most commonly used plants and essential oils for holistic health maintenance from a complementary and alternative perspective. Given their accessibility and relative safety compared to conventional treatments, these therapies have gained popularity worldwide. Fu

Rosmagain™ as a Natural Therapeutic for Hair Regrowth and Scalp Health: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Three-Armed, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Patel MN, Tuli N, Patel N, Merja A · Cureus · 2025

Introduction Alopecia is a common condition marked by progressive hair loss, influenced by aging, genetics, hormones, and environmental factors. It affects individuals of all ages, often impacting self-esteem and quality of life. Rosemary and lavender oils have gained attention for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, promoting scalp health, follicular stimulation, and hair regrowth. While rosemary oil enhances circulation and extends the anagen phase, lavender oil soothes the scalp and supports hair growth. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of rosemary-lavender oil and rosemary-castor oil in comparison of coconut oil in promoting hair growth and scalp health. Method This prospective, double-blind, randomized, three-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of rosemary-lavender oil and rosemary-castor oil, in comparison with coconut oil for hair growth over 90 days. This study was conducted per International Counc

Long-term observational study of Lavender users

Cohort Investigators · BMJ Open · 2023

This long-term observational study investigated the characteristics and experiences of individuals who use lavender. The authors reported on how the botanical is commonly utilized and tracked its perceived impact on wellness over an extended period.

Lavender

NCCIH

This NCCIH page provides a general overview of lavender, its traditional uses, and what the science says about its effectiveness for various conditions, including sleep.

Herbal medicines

NHS

This general NHS page discusses herbal medicines broadly, advising caution and consultation with a doctor or pharmacist before use, especially regarding potential interactions with conventional medicines. While not specific to lavender, it provides general guidance applicable to its use for anxiety.

The Effectiveness of Lavender Aromatherapy Combined With Slow Breathing Exercises in Improving Occupational Burnout and Sleep Disorders Among Nursing Staff

n=70 · NCT06914167 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

This study investigates the effects of breathing exercises combined with lavender essential oil inhalation on occupational burnout and sleep disturbances in rotating shift nurses.

Effect of Massage Therapy With Lavender Oil on Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

n=58 · NCT04630470 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine the effect of the massage, applied with 5% lavender oil for the individuals receiving HD therapy, in the first half of HD session three times a week for four weeks on both legs for 10 minutes in each leg, on severity of RLS and quality of life. The study was completed with 58 patients including 31 people in the intervention group and 27 people in the placebo control group, in 7 hemodialysis centers located in a city center.

Effect of Primrose Oil Versus Lavender Oil on Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Among Menopausal Women

n=3 · NCT05988242 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

there is a scanty of researches which integrate to investigate the comparing effect of evening primrose oil and lavender as the essential oil that affects on menopausal vasomotor symptoms especially hot flashes and night sweet Therefore, the current study is expected to contribute to the knowledge and practice regarding the effect of lavender versus primrose oil on hot flashes and night sweat in menopausal women.