About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products

Scientific Name
Lavandula Angustifolia
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Common Name

Aspic, lavandin, spike lavender

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Clinical Summary

Derived from the flowering tops of the plant, lavender oil is used in aromatherapy, as a topical treatment and as an oral supplement for a wide variety of symptoms.
Lavender exhibits antibacterial effects in vitro (4). Topical application of an herbal formulation that includes lavender was shown effective in reducing otalgia in children with acute otitis media (11) and aromatherapy with lavender improved symptoms in patients with dementia (5) (15). Oral preparations of lavender were effective as adjuvant therapy for mild to moderate depression (7) and for generalized anxiety disorder (16) (18).
Essential oils containing lavender may also be beneficial in treating alopecia areata (10).

Lavender has been studied for the treatment of cancer related symptoms. Results indicate that it does not reduce anxiety during radiotherapy (6); and topical application of lavender oil does not improve long-term pain, anxiety, or quality of life in patients with advanced cancer (8).

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Purported Uses
  • Acne
  • Alopecia
  • Depression
  • GI disorders
  • Inflammation
  • Insomnia
  • Migraine treatment
  • Pain
  • Promote urination
  • Spasms
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Constituents
  • Volatile oil (1-3%): linalool, linalyl acetate chiefly. Also 1,8-cineole, borneol and camphor.
  • Hydroxycoumarins
  • Tannins (up to 12%)
  • Caffeic acid derivatives
    (1) (2) (3)
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Mechanism of Action

It is thought that the antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of lavender are due to a component of the lavender essential oil called 1,8-cineole or eucalyptol (2). Eucalyptol is also found in Eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamon (9). Lavender oil has a depressive effect on the central nervous system (3) and increases bile flow to the intestine. Perillyl alcohol, a constituent of the lavender plant, may have anticancer effects (12). In vitro studies have shown that lavender oil has weak estrogenic and antiandrogenic activities that may alter the estrogen and andgrogen signaling pathways (14).

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Pharmacokinetics

Absorption
Lavender is quickly absorbed through the skin. Components of the essential oil were found in the blood within 5-20 minutes of massage (9) (12).

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Warnings

Lavender may potentiate the sleep-inducing activity of other agents (3).

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Adverse Reactions
  • Reported (Topical): Allergic contact dermatitis (12) (17)
  • Reported (Topical): Repeated application of lavender and tea tree oils resulted in gynecomastia in prepubertal boys (14).
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Herb-Drug Interactions
  • One study suggests that lavender may increase or potentiate the CNS depressant effects of sedative or hypnotics drugs (12).
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Literature Summary and Critique

Soden K, Vincent K, Craske S, Lucas C, Ashley S. A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat.Med 2004;18:87-92.
42 subjects with advanced cancer participated in a study of aromatherapy massage and quality of life. Subjects were randomized to receive either weekly massages with lavender oil, weekly massage with inert oil or no treatment. Subjects in either massage group did not show significant long-term benefits for primary trial endpoints of pain, anxiety or quality of life. Sleep scores improved in both the massage and aromatherapy massage groups. Study indicates that lavender oil does not have long-term benefits for pain control, anxiety or quality of life.

Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H. Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. Int J Geriatr.Psychiatry 2002;17:305-8.
 Fifteen subjects with severe dementia participated in a study of lavender oil and agitated behavior. Subjects were assigned to aromatherapy using either an aroma stream of lavender oil or water on alternating days for two weeks. A blinded observer was asked to rate the subjects’ agitation using the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS). A significant improvement was seen in group median PAS scores during aromatherapy when compared with scores during placebo treatment. Researchers conclude that lavender oil shows modest efficacy in the treatment of agitation in patients with severe dementia.

Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Fotouhi A, Jarvandi S, Mobaseri M, Moin M et al. Comparison of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. tincture and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized trial. Prog.Neuropsychopharmacol.Biol Psychiatry 2003;27:123-7.
45 subjects with mild to moderate depression participated in a study of lavender tincture and imipramine in the treatment of depression. Subjects were randomized to receive either lavender tincture orally 60 drops/day plus placebo tablet, imipramine 100 mg/day plus placebo drop, or imipramine plus lavender tincture for four weeks. While lavender tincture alone was not as effective as imipramine alone, treatment with both imipramine and lavender tincture was significantly more effective than imipramine alone. Researchers conclude that lavender tincture is an effective adjuvant therapy for mild to moderate depression.

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References
  1. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics, 1998.
  2. Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Sharif B. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the leaf extracts and essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;89:67-71.
  3. Gyllenhaal C, Merritt SL, Peterson SD, Block KI, Gochenour T. Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders. Sleep Med Rev. 2000;4:229-51.
  4. Takarada K, Kimizuka R, Takahashi N, Honma K, Okuda K, Kato T. A comparison of the antibacterial efficacies of essential oils against oral pathogens. Oral Microbiol.Immunol. 2004;19:61-4.
  5. Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H. Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. Int J Geriatr.Psychiatry 2002;17:305-8.
  6. Graham PH, Browne L, Cox H, Graham J. Inhalation Aromatherapy During Radiotherapy: Results of a Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Randomized Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2003;21:2372-6.
  7. Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Fotouhi A, Jarvandi S, Mobaseri M, Moin M et al. Comparison of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. tincture and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized trial. Prog.Neuropsychopharmacol.Biol Psychiatry 2003;27:123-7.
  8. Soden K, Vincent K, Craske S, Lucas C, Ashley S. A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat.Med 2004;18:87-92.
  9. Buckle J. Use of aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for chronic pain. Altern.Ther.Health Med 1999;5:42-51.
  10. Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol 1998;134:1349-52.
  11. Sarrell EM, Cohen HA, Kahan E. Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children. Pediatrics 2003;111:e574-e579.
  12. DerMarderosian A. The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons, 1999.
  13. MICROMEDEX(R) Healthcare Series. 120. 2004. Thomson MICROMEDEX.
  14. Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, et al. Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils. N Engl J Med 2007;356(5):479-85.
  15. Jimbo D, Kimura Y, Taniguchi M, Inoue M, Urakami K. Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Psychogeriatrics. 2009 Dec;9(4):173-9.
  16. Woelk H, Schläfke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010 Feb;17(2):94-9.
  17. Goiriz R, Delgado-Jiménez Y, Sánchez-Pérez J, García-Diez A. Photoallergic contact dermatitis from lavender oil in topical ketoprofen. Contact Dermatitis. 2007 Dec;57(6):381-2.
  18. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Efficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder - evidence from clinical trials. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2010 Dec;160(21-22):547-56.
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How It Works

Bottom Line: Lavender has not been shown to treat cancer.

Laboratory studies showed that lavender oil can kill the bacteria present in the mouth. Studies in humans have shown that massage with lavender oil is beneficial in treating mild to moderate depression. Other studies point that massaging the scalp with lavender oil helps in the treatment of baldness. A formula that contains lavender and other herbs was shown to be effective in reducing ear pain in children with inflammation of the middle ear. However, it is unclear from the study if lavender alone would have a similar effect. Lavender can cause allergic contact dermatitis and may increase the effect of sedatives.

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Purported Uses
  • Acne
    This use is not supported by research.
  • Alopecia (Baldness)
    A few studies have shown that lavender oil when combined with other herbs can help in the treatment of alopecia.
  • Anxiety
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
  • Depression
    Studies have demonstrated that lavender tincture can be used to aid in the treatment of depression.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
    This claim is not backed by research.
  • Inflammation
    There are no data that support this use.
  • Insomnia
    One clinical trial showed that lavender improves sleep pattern in cancer patients.
  • Migraine treatment
    No scientific evidence supports this use.
  • Pain
    A few studies have shown that lavender oil is effective in treating chronic pain although the effects are short term.
  • Promote urination
    This claim is not backed by research.
  • Spasms
    There are no data to support this use.
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Research Evidence
Cancer:
In a recent study, 42 patients with advanced cancer were assigned to three groups. Each group received either weekly massage with lavender oil, weekly massage with an inert oil, or no treatment. Patients in either massage groups did not report any significant long-term benefits. However, the sleep pattern improved in both the groups compared to the patients in the no treatment group. Researchers concluded that although lavender oil does not relieve anxiety or improve quality of life, it does confer short-term benefits in improving sleep pattern cancer patients.

Depression:
In another study, 45 subjects with mild to moderate depression received either lavender tincture 60 drops/day plus placebo orally, imipramine (an antidepressant drug) 100 mg/day plus placebo, or imipramine plus lavender tincture for 4 weeks. Researchers found that treatment with lavender tincture and imipramine was significantly more effective than imipramine alone. This study suggests that lavender can be used to aid in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.

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Patient Warnings

Lavender may increase drowsiness effect of other drugs.

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Do Not Take If
  • You are taking sedatives or hypnotic drugs (Lavender may increase the depressant effects of such drugs).
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Side Effects
  • Allergic contact dermatitis
  • Repeated application of lavender and tea tree oils resulted in gynecomastia (excessive development of breasts) in prepubertal boys.
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Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
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Last updated: August 17, 2011