Lavender is sometimes called Lavandula officinalis, Aspic, Spike lavende, Lavandin, or its scientific name Lavandula angustifolia. This beautiful herbaceous perennial grows between 2 and 3 feet tall and has purple clusters of flower buds and green-grey leaves (1). This gorgeous plant is native to Europe and has been used throughout history for its many benefits.

Research-Backed Health Benefits of Lavender

Lavender has been used in herbal preparations for its many medicinal purposes; some people even cook with it to achieve benefits like:

Antioxidant Properties

Antioxidants can help fight damage from harmful free radicals. The buildup of free radicals has been linked to chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease (). Lavender is recognized as a medicinal raw material because it contains phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, resulting in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (3). One study found lavender extract exhibited significant and concentration-dependent DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and iron-chelating activities (4).

Antimicrobial Properties

An antimicrobial property occurs when a substance, or in this case, an herb, can kill or suppress the spread of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi (5). One study found lavender essential oil had antibacterial activity against MRSA strains alone and combined with octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), a commonly used antiseptic (6). Another study concluded:

“Lemon essential oil (LEO) appears to have antimicrobial effect on some strains of S. aureus and MRSA. While multiple studies have observed an antimicrobial effect on S. aureus when LEO is used alone, the ranges and circumstances of its effectiveness varies, with some studies showing negligible effectiveness and others showing significant effectiveness. Therefore, the exact parameters of when LEO on its own exhibits and antimicrobial effect appears to vary (7).”

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Due to the pain-relieving and numbing effect lavender oil can have, lavender oil is an effective way to combat inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked with many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and certain cancers (8). One study found lavender essential oil successfully decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pretreatment (9). Another study found lavender oil significantly reduced inflammation, ulcer size, and healing time of recurrent aphthous ulcers (10).

May Promote Wound Healing

Thanks to lavender’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it may also help support wound healing. Wound healing is the complex and dynamic process of restoring damaged tissue structure as closely as possible to its normal state (11). According to one study, when applied topically to a burn, cut, scrape, or other wound, lavender helps speed up the process (12). Another animal study found lavender oil also stimulated tissue repair on healed wounds/scars (13).

May Promote Skin Health

Lavender contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help with many skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin (14). One study found that lavender oil can kill Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that may cause eczema (15).

Lavender can also help acne, which occurs when the hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and oil (16). Research has found that lavender oil’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can prevent future acne breakouts (17). Additionally, lavender oil’s antioxidants can help tackle free radicals, which may reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots (18).

May Reduce Anxiety

Lavender is most often used for anxiety relief as it has a sedative-like effect. Studies have shown that lavender oil can positively affect symptoms associated with anxiety. One study found that lavender oil was equivalent to the starting dose of lorazepam (a common sedative medication) in patients with subsyndromal anxiety (19). Another study found the inhalation of lavender oil positively influenced vital signs and anxiety (20).

May Provide Migraine & Headache Relief

Roughly 35 million Americans experience migraine headaches, making them the third most prevalent and sixth most disabling illness worldwide (21). Due to its pain-relieving and numbing effect, lavender effectively combats inflammation, which can also trigger headaches and migraines (22).

Studies have found that breathing in the scent of lavender essential oil can help manage acute migraine attacks. One study found that people reported a significant reduction in pain after only 15 minutes of inhaling lavender oil (23). In a study of 129 headache-attack participants, 92 responded entirely or partially to lavender (24).

May Promote Sleep & Relaxation

It’s said that 70 million adults in the United States experience sleep disorder symptoms; more than half of them experience insomnia, with another 10 to 15 percent being chronic (25). Thankfully, simply inhaling lavender essential oil has proven to improve sleep quality in people with mild sleep disturbances (26). One study noted that participants who used a lavender patch experienced better sleep quality than participants who only practiced good sleep hygiene (27). Another study found lavender had a beneficial influence on the quality and duration of sleep while improving the mental and physical health of participants with anxiety disorders without causing unwanted side effects (28).

Safety Information, Contraindications & Interactions

There is a lot of controversy surrounding lavender, especially lavender essential oil. Many people believe lavender is unsafe for pre-pubertal boys. This argument simply holds no merit and is based on the 2007 study that examined three boys (and three boys alone). The study found that the boys were using various products containing lavender and/or tea tree ingredients and experienced gynecomastia (an increase in breast gland tissue). When they stopped using the products, the condition resolved (9).

Of course, no attempt was made to look for other potential causes, and they didn’t test any other ingredients in the products. Plenty of other ingredients cause endocrine disruption, including fragrance, which was in said products (30). Additionally, the boys had typical hormone profiles.

Even if the lavender was related in these cases, this sample size is too small to extend caution for the entire population. The boys could have had early life exposure or genetic differences that caused them to be extra sensitive to certain chemical constituents. As per trusted herbalist Richard Whelan, lavender is exceptionally safe for all ages (31).

Aside from the precaution to never use lavender essential oil internally or undiluted, trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins doesn’t indicate any special precautions when using Lavender Essential Oil (32). Still, I recommend a topical dilution of 2-5% for ultimate essential oil safety. Finally, lavender essential oil is safe for children and while pregnant and breastfeeding.

How to Use Lavender & Product Recommendations

I try to buy herbs locally when I make herbal remedies. When buying locally isn’t an option, I typically purchase from one of the following brands I trust:

• Anthony’s Goods
• Frontier Co-op
• Starwest Botanicals

Looking for additional herbal suppliers? Check out my post, 3 Ways to Source Herbs.

I haven’t had the opportunity to make herbal remedies with lavender, but I recommend a few herbal products, including:

• MaryRuth’s Adrenal & Focus for Adults is formulated to combat adrenal exhaustion, help your body handle stress, calm the nervous system, and support your ability to focus.
• MaryRuth’s Focus & Attention for Kids contains herbs to assist your child’s mind and body by helping the body better manage stressors, calm the nervous system, and support cognition, allowing for focus, attention, and relaxation.
• MaryRuth’s Organic Women’s Wellness & Menstrual Support is a robust herbal blend for menstruating bodies. These vegan liquid drops contain raspberry leaf, eleuthero root, chaste tree berry, dong quai root, and 11 other herbs.
• Plant Therapy’s Lavender Essential Oil and Organic Lavender Essential Oil are renowned for their many beneficial properties, including promoting relaxation and relieving nervous tension. They can also be added to a carrier oil to help reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles and soothe alterations in skin integrity, such as during sun exposure or a minor cooking burn.
• Plant Therapy’s Lavender Pre-Diluted Roll-On and Organic Lavender Pre-Diluted Roll-On are world-renowned as the world’s most popular and versatile oils, and for good reason! Lavender has an incredibly sweet, floral, herbal scent and is highly prized for its many therapeutic properties.
• The Brother’s Apothecary’s Organic Lavender CBD Honey is the perfect combination of aromatic herbs and the rich, complex notes of maple to create a delicious and delicate natural sweetener.
• The Brother’s Apothecary’s Sensualitea inspires heightened feelings of passion, warmth, and sweetness in men and women. This blissfully crafted CBD love brew is light and floral, delicately sweet, and with a pinch of Ginger spice to raise the eyebrow.

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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