Lavender: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, Precautions & More!

Introduction

Lavender is the name given to flowering plants belonging to the Lamiaceae or the mint family. Two of the most commonly used ”lavenders” are Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia. Lavandula angustifolia has other common names such as English lavender, French lavender, or true lavender. Lavandula latifolia is sometimes called a spike lavender or spike¹. 

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an aromatic herb widely used in the perfumery industry. Lavender is widely used for the essential oils derived from it. Lavender oils have many health benefits and biological properties². The lavender plant originated in the Mediterranean region. In India, the lavender plant is cultivated in the low rainfall regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh³.    

Nutritional Value of Lavender

Lavender does not contain carbohydrates, proteins and other nutrients but it has fats⁴. The nutritional information is given below:

• Carbohydrates: 0 g
• Proteins: 0 g
• Total fat: 11 g
• Total calories: 0 g 

The lavender essential oil may be helpful to manage migraine attacks. Inhaling lavender oil for a few minutes might reduce the severity of headaches¹⁴.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Properties of Lavender

Lavender exhibits health benefits and biological activities. Major constituents found in lavender are linalool, linalyl acetate, camphor, cineol, and endo-borneol⁵. The potentially beneficial properties of lavender are listed below,  

• It may have anti-inflammatory  properties
• It might show antioxidant activity    
• It might have anticonvulsant (against seizure) activity
• It may be anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties
• It might be anticholinesterase properties
• It might have antimicrobial activity⁸ 

Potential Uses of Lavender

Due to the presence of phenolic compounds, laver shows several potential health benefits some of which are as follows:

1. Potential Uses of Lavender in Psychological Health

• Potential Uses in Anxiety and Depression: Lavender oil capsules might be helpful in providing relief to patients suffering from a generalised anxiety disorder⁵. Lavender oil capsules can provide antianxiety benefits to patients⁹. Aromatherapy with lavender oils has been proven in studies to be effective in reducing the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety in women. Aromatherapy with lavender oil could also improve the mood of patient⁵.      
• Potential Uses for Insomnia: Inhalation of lavender essential oil (LEO) before sleep might be helpful in improving sleep quality in people suffering from sleep disturbances. Also, aromatherapy with LEO might help people feel more refreshed after waking up¹⁰.    
• Benefits of Mood Improvement: Lavender aromatherapy may be beneficial in improving mood as well as emotional state. Oral lavender in studies has been found to be capable of improving the quality of life and general mental health in people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder⁵. However, this claim may require more scientific proof to understand the exact risks and benefit for humans.

You must consult a qualified doctor for their advice for psychological health disorders. Never self-medicate without proper advice.

The application of lavender has been shown to improve the sleep quality of patients in specialised care. It is helpful for sound and deep sleep, which is necessary for their recovery after surgeries¹⁶.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

2. Potential Uses of Lavender for Hair

The use of lavender oil could promote hair growth in animal models. The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of lavender oil might promote healthy hair and scalp⁸. Its anti-inflammatory activity can help in scalp inflammation and dryness². Larger human studies are needed for validation of the benefits of lavender. You must consult a doctor for proper advice as per your conditions.

3. Potential Uses of Lavender in Wound Healing

The use of lavender oil on skin might have some effect on wound healing. Lavender oil can act by promoting the growth of collagen and boosting the tissue remodeling process involved in wound healing¹¹. However, we need more studies to provide scientific evidence for these benefits of lavender.

4. Other Potential Uses of Lavender in Skin Conditions

• The presence of anti-inflammatory agents like linalool and linalyl acetate may be responsible for the effect of lavender in benefitting skin conditions like psoriasis⁹.    
• Aromatherapy massage in infants can reduce the colic symptoms¹².    
• Lavender oil might be effective in reducing oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced damage in liver cells⁶.    

Although studies show the benefits of lavender in different health conditions, this information is insufficient. Hence, there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of lavender on human health. Furthermore, every person may respond differently to these herbs. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor before using lavender for any medical condition.

Also Read: Gokshura: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & Precautions

How to Use Lavender

Lavender is available in many of its forms, such as essential oil, extract, plant (flower, stem, and leaves), tea and capsules¹².  

• Lavender essential oils can be used in baths as body sprays and massage oils. It is advisable to use lavender essential oil by diluting it with other oils like coconut oil, olive oil and jojoba oil¹².    
• Lavender flowers can be used in baths, soaps, or added to teas¹².    
• Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil is helpful in providing a calming effect¹².    

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.  

Side Effects of Lavender

Using lavender essential oils directly with food or drinks can be dangerous for people. Consuming essential oils directly causes irritation to the oral mucosa, lining of the soft palate, throat, and tongue¹². 

Other side effects include constipation, headache, increased appetite and skin rash on topical use. Therefore, kindly consult a doctor and do not use it to self-medicate.

Precautions to Take with Lavender

The use of lavender on skin can lead to allergic reactions in some people. A study¹³ found a link between the use of products containing lavender and premature breast development in young children. There is little information available on the web regarding the safety of lavender oils during pregnancy, so it’s best to exercise caution and consult a doctor before using them.  

Also Read: Khadirarishta: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

Interaction with Other Drugs

• The use of lavender oil along with drugs that induce sleep, such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates, should be avoided¹⁴.  
• Lavender oil should be used along with drugs that reduce blood pressure, such as captopril and enalapril¹⁴.    

Ayurvedic preparation can interact with your ongoing medications. Ayurvedic physician’s advice is to be followed thoroughly, as their prescription is based on keeping your health condition in mind. Please ensure to disclose all medications prescribed and currently being used to your doctor at the time of consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Buckle J. Basic Plant Taxonomy, Basic Essential Oil Chemistry, Extraction, Biosynthesis, and Analysis. Clinical Aromatherapy. Published online 2015:37-72. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-5440-2.00003-6. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283914717_Basic_Plant_Taxonomy_Basic_Essential_Oil_Chemistry_Extraction_Biosynthesis_and_Analysis
2. Cardia GFE, Silva-Filho SE, Silva EL, et al. Effect of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil on Acute Inflammatory Response. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018;2018. doi:10.1155/2018/1413940. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29743918/
3. Lavender Cultivation Practices In India | Agri Farming [Internet]. www.agrifarming.in. 2018. Available from: https://www.agrifarming.in/lavender-cultivation-practices-india  
4. Lavender – FoodLink [Internet]. extension.purdue.edu. [cited 2022 Feb 4]. Available from: https://extension.purdue.edu/foodlink/food.php?food=lavender 
5. Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the Nervous System. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2013;2013. doi:10.1155/2013/681304. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23573142/
6. Kozics K, Srancikova A, Sedlackova E, et al. Antioxidant potential of essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia in in vitro and ex vivo cultured liver cells. Neoplasma. 2017;64(4):485-493. doi:10.4149/NEO_2017_401. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28485153/
7. Xu P, Wang K, Lu C, et al. The Protective Effect of Lavender Essential Oil and Its Main Component Linalool against the Cognitive Deficits Induced by D-Galactose and Aluminum Trichloride in Mice. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;2017. doi:10.1155/2017/7426538. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5424179/
8. PuÅ¡kárová A, Bučková M, Kraková L, Pangallo D, Kozics K. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of six essential oils and their cyto/genotoxicity to human HEL 12469 cells. Scientific Reports 2017 7:1. 2017;7(1):1-11. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08673-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28811611/ 
9. Yap WS, Dolzhenko A v., Jalal Z, Hadi MA, Khan TM. Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis. Scientific Reports 2019 9:1. 2019;9(1):1-11. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-54529-9. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31792285/
10. Lillehei AS, Halcon LL. A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2014;20(6):441-451. doi:10.1089/ACM.2013.0311. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24720812/ 
11. Samuelson R, Lobl M, Higgins S, Clarey D, Wysong A. The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence. 2020;26(8):680-690. doi:10.1089/ACM.2019.0286. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32589447/
12. Lavender: Health Benefits and How To Use It [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2021. Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-benefits-of-lavender/ 
13. Lavender [Internet]. NCCIH. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lavender
14. Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, Gorji A, Abbasi M, Foroughipour M. Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur Neurol. 2012;67(5):288-91. doi: 10.1159/000335249. Epub 2012 Apr 17. PMID: 22517298. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22517298/ 
15. Is it safe to use essential oils while I’m pregnant? [Internet]. BabyCentre UK. 2021. Available from: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x536449/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-while-im-pregnant
16. Yıldırım D, Kocatepe V, Can G, Sulu E, Akış H, Şahin G, Aktay E. The Effect of Lavender Oil on Sleep Quality and Vital Signs in Palliative Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Complement Med Res. 2020;27(5):328-335. English. doi: 10.1159/000507319. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32396914. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32396914/

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