Lavender: Health benefits and uses

Many people use lavender in aromatherapy for its presumed calming properties. People have traditionally used it to treat some medical issues, keep insects away, and wash in. Researchers are even studying it for its potential in cancer prevention and treatment.

The herb is also highly regarded for its skin and beauty benefits. Manufacturers commonly use it in fragrances and shampoos to help purify the skin.

It can be purchased over-the-counter (OTC) from drugstores, and some versions are used to add flavor to baked goods and foods.

There are many potential medicinal properties associated with lavender.

People have traditionally used lavender to aid sleep because of its supposed calming effects, and some research suggests that it may benefit sleep.

A 2020 study also found lavender oil improved sleep in people receiving palliative or end-of-life care.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aromatherapy can be a good option as an additional therapy for people with cancer, alongside expert-recommended treatments.

They report that patients undergoing chemotherapy found that inhaling essential oils, including lavender, improved their sleep quality over 3 weeks.

However, experts need to do more research before recommending a safe and effective dosage of lavender for sleep.

According to a 2022 review, lavender essential oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The reviewers concluded that lavender essential oil could be valuable for use in dentistry to help prevent infection.

However, more research is needed into the medicinal properties of lavender.

A 2020 study examined the effect of lavender on deep wound healing. The researchers found that an ointment containing lavender essential oil and licorice extract promoted wound healing in different stages of wound closure.

Additionally, according to a 2020 review, current studies suggest lavender essential oil may benefit wound healing.

However, the review authors noted that clinical practitioners have no standardization or safety protocols for using lavender essential oil.

Experts need to perform more high quality human studies before they fully understand the effects and risks of lavender for wound healing.

Lavender is possibly effective as an alternative treatment for hair loss. A 2020 systematic review found that some essential oil mixes containing lavender oil helped hair growth in people with alopecia.

The review described how an older 2015 study found significant hair growth in up to 75% of patients who used a combination of thyme, rosemary, lavender, Cedrus atlantica (a type of cedarwood oil), and evening primrose oil.

In a 2016 study, researchers found that applying lavender oil to the backs of mice helped to promote hair growth over the course of 4 weeks.

However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits. According to the NIH, lavender essential oils may have some hormone-like effects, so it is best to contact a doctor before using it for period-related symptoms.

Due to its alleged calming properties, lavender may be a good alternative treatment for anxiety.

A 2023 systematic review found lavender essential oil inhalation to be a safe and effective treatment for anxiety, and studies showed decreased anxiety levels regardless of the lavender species they used.

However, the review authors noted that experts need to do more research in this area before formally recommending lavender for anxiety.

The authors concluded that aromatherapy with essential oils reduces both physical and psychological symptoms of PMS, with a few of the included studies using lavender essential oil.

For example, the review looked at a 2018 study in which 87 students with PMS inhaled lavender essential oil five times for each of their cycles over 3 months.

The study found that, compared with the control group, those who used lavender aromatherapy reported improvements in symptoms of anxiety, depression, nervousness, pain, and bloating.

However, more research is needed to fully assess the risks and benefits of lavender for PMS symptoms.

There are a few possible risks of taking lavender oil and essential oils more generally.

According to the NIH, most essential oil products are safe and have very few risks when people use them as the manufacturers direct.

However, any essential oils, including lavender, could potentially cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. It is important to always mix an essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or almond oil, before applying it to the skin.

A person should also always conduct a patch test of any new substance by putting a small amount on a patch of skin and assessing its effects after 24 hours. If any irritation occurs, they should stop using the product.

The NIH also warns against swallowing large amounts of essential oils. It is generally not a good idea to consume essential oils orally.

Additionally, lavender essential oil may have effects similar to estrogen and may block or decrease the effect of androgens, which are male sex hormones.

The NIH stated that one study linked the long-term use of lavender essential oil to breast growth in boys who had not yet reached puberty.

It is important for a person to consult a doctor before using lavender essential oil and to inform them of any other medications they are taking.