Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an aromatic plant promoted by mouth for anxiety and stress, and also used in aromatherapy and on the skin. NCCIH says studies suggest an oral lavender oil product might help anxiety, but the research is limited and lacks independent funding.
Also known as: Lavandula angustifolia, Silexan, lavender oil capsules.
The Silexan trials in the 2023 meta-analysis used 80 mg once a day for 10 weeks (Dold 2023). These are study protocols, not a recommendation.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.
What studies show: NCCIH says studies suggest a lavender oil product taken by mouth might help anxiety, including anxiety with symptoms of depression, but the research has limits: small studies, a lack of independent funding and testing, and little diversity among participants. A 2023 meta-analysis of 5 placebo-controlled trials (1,213 people) of Silexan, a lavender oil product, found lower anxiety scores than placebo after 10 weeks and no more side effects (Dold 2023). One author is an employee of Dr. Willmar Schwabe, which makes Silexan, and others reported fees from the company. NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender aromatherapy helps anxiety, sleep or other conditions.
Safety, per NCCIH: oral lavender might be safe short term at the amounts studied, but can cause diarrhea, headache, nausea or burping. Topical products can cause skin allergy. There are theoretical reasons it might interact with sedative drugs or herbs, which matters before surgery. Little is known about use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for lavender that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Plant extracts are mixtures of many compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
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