Lavender
Background
Lavender
is native to the Mediterranean region, the Arabian Peninsula, and
Russia. It is grown in Europe, the United States,
and Australia.
Lavender
has a long history of use to boost appetite and mood, as well as
relieve gastrointestinal problems and anxiety. It was also used in
ancient Egypt as part of the process for mummifying bodies.
Today, people use lavender as a
dietary
supplement for
anxiety, depression, intestinal problems, and pain. People also apply
it to the skin for hair loss, pain, and for improving emotional health.
People may also inhale a lavender vapor to help sleep, to reduce pain,
and for agitation related to dementia.
Tea can be made from
lavender leaves. A vapor for inhalation can be made by mixing lavender
oil (an essential oil) with boiling water. Lavender oil is used for
massage and in
baths. Lavender is also found in capsules and liquid extracts.
How Much Do We Know?
Many
studies have investigated lavender’s effectiveness for a number of
conditions, such as pain, anxiety, stress, and overall well-being, but
several were small and of poor quality.
What Have We Learned?
There is little scientific evidence of lavender’s effectiveness for
most health uses.
Studies on lavender for anxiety have shown mixed results.
Results
of a 1998 study suggested that massaging the scalp with a combination
of lavender oil and oils from other herbs may help with hair loss from
a condition called alopecia areata.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Topical
use of diluted lavender oil is generally considered safe for most
adults, but reports suggest it can cause skin irritation.
There’s not enough evidence to determine its safety when inhaled as
aromatherapy.
Some evidence suggests that some topical applications containing
lavender oil may affect sex hormone activity.
Lavender oil may be poisonous if taken by mouth.
Lavender extracts may cause stomach upset, joint pain,
or headache.
Keep in Mind
Tell
all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative
health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to
manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and
safe care.
Key References
- Dwyer
AV, Whitten DL, Hawrelak JA. Herbal
medicines, other than St. John’s wort, in the treatment of depression:
a systematic review. Alternative Medicine Review. 2011;16(1):40-49.
- Hay
IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized
trial of aromatherapy: successful treatment for alopecia areata. Archives of Dermatology. 1998;134(11):1349-1352.
- Henley
DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, et al. Prepubertal
gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356(5):479-485.
- Lavender.
Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ on April 8, 2015.
[Database subscription].
- Perry
R, Terry R, Watson LK, et al. Is
lavender an anxiolytic drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical
trials. Phytomedicine. 2012;19(8-9):825-835.
- Tirabassi
G, Giovannini L, Paggi F, et al. Possible
efficacy of lavender and tea tree oils in the treatment of young women
affected by mild idiopathic hirsutism. Journal of Endocrinological
Investigation. 2013;36(1):50-54.
-NIH
