Lavender oil

What is lavender?

Lavender is an aromatic evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean region. Its name comes from the Latin “lavare,” to wash, and its scent is a staple of bath products, perfumes and aromatherapy. Lavender essential oil is distilled from the flowers of Lavandula angustifolia. It is promoted as an oral supplement for anxiety and stress, for aromatherapy, and in topical skin products (NCCIH).

What the research says

NCCIH says more high-quality research is needed before reliable conclusions can be drawn about lavender for any condition. Studies suggest that a specific oral lavender oil product might help anxiety, including anxiety with symptoms of depression, but the research has limits such as small samples and a lack of independent funding. Whether lavender aromatherapy helps anxiety, stress, pain or sleep is unclear (NCCIH).

For fungal infections, the evidence is limited to the laboratory. In one study, lavender essential oil reduced counts of Candida albicans yeast taken from patients, though clotrimazole acted faster; the authors said clinical studies are needed (Behmanesh et al., 2015). We found no controlled human trials of lavender oil for nail fungus. In nail and skin oils, lavender is more likely to contribute fragrance than a proven antifungal effect. Claims that lavender oil “protects nail keratin” or “fights strong fungus” on a toenail go beyond anything shown in people, and lab dish results do not tell us whether a diluted oil can reach fungus living under a thick nail plate.

How it’s used in supplements and products

Lavender appears in three main forms: oral capsules containing lavender oil, aromatherapy oils for inhaling, and topical products such as lotions, bath products and nail oils. Topical products rarely state how much lavender they contain.

NCCIH says lavender is likely safe in food amounts and that oral products may be safe short term in the amounts studied, though they can cause diarrhea, headache, nausea or burping. Aromatherapy may cause headache or coughing. Topical lavender can cause allergic skin reactions in some people, and a few cases of breast tissue swelling have been reported in children using lavender-containing products, though it is unclear whether lavender caused them. Lavender might add to the effects of sedative medicines, which matters before surgery, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding (NCCIH). Test topical products on a small area first, and talk to your doctor before using lavender if you take sedatives or other medicines.