What is lavender good for

Get it FREE when you sign up for our newsletter. Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. An Acad Bras Cienc. Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office.

Physiol Behav. Conrad P, Adams C. The effects of clinical aromatherapy for anxiety and depression in the high-risk postpartum woman — a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. Is lavender an anxiolytic drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials.

J Altern Complement Med. Holist Nurs Pract. Setzer WN. Essential oils and anxiolytic aromatherapy. Nat Prod Commun. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Health Benefits. Side Effects. Dosage and Preparation. What to Look For. Common Questions.

Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Lavender oil is lauded for both its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it a quality contender to include in your clean skin care routine. Antioxidants are known to fight off the free radicals that can send your skin into a tizzy by impairing mitochondrial function and speeding up the process of aging.

Including a drop or two of lavender oil into your favorite lotion or face cream will give your skin a boost of antioxidant power before bed and will add a touch of soothing aromatherapy to your nighttime routine. Before hailing this floral concoction as a miracle oil, it's important to note that more rigorous clinical trials are necessary before it should be treated as a prescriptive gospel.

That being said, the work that has been done to put lavender oil to the test has generated some pretty impressive health benefits. Just as there are myriad benefits of lavender oil, there are myriad ways to use it.

It's typically used topically for skin and hair health although methods can differ based on your preferred ways of application. It's wise not to go too heavy-handed with the oil—since it's highly concentrated, two or three drops are most likely all you need. When it comes to your skin, dilution is important: The oil can be applied topically to help with irritated or inflamed skin but only if it has been diluted in a "carrier oil" or neutral, minimally processed oil such as coconut, argan, or olive.

The mixture can be used just as you would a lotion or moisturizer, once or twice daily. For hair health, you can massage a couple of drops of lavender oil into your scalp as a calming end to the day, or add two or three drops to each dollop of shampoo or conditioner you use.

If it's improving anxiety or getting a sound night's sleep that you're after, putting your oil in a diffuser is your best bet. There are a few ways to use the scent of lavender for your benefit, one of the most popular being diffusion. Essential oil diffusion consists of using a small device to disperse particles of oil into the air, allowing for easy inhalation. If you'd rather not diffuse, a few deep inhales of the scent before bed or anytime you need a moment of calm will do the trick.

You can even draw the perfect calming herbal bath using a few drops of lavender to soak your stresses away. Whenever you're purchasing an essential oil, it's important to look out for certain things on the bottle.

You can tell an oil is high-quality if it lists both the common and scientific name of the active oil s and any carrier oils, has the word "therapeutic" on the label, and comes in a dark glass bottle that keeps light from entering—which can mess with the oil's efficacy. Be sure to check the expiration date, too! It's a relatively affordable essential oil because of the way the lavender plant is extracted, so a low price isn't necessarily a red flag. If you're ready to dive into the lavender lifestyle, there are still a couple of factors to consider.

Some side effects include skin irritation or an allergic reaction, so putting a patch test on your skin before use can save you some trouble. Just as with any new supplement, chatting with a medical professional before use is recommended. Though lavender oil is safe for most individuals, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with a doctor. You are now subscribed Be on the lookout for a welcome email in your inbox! Main Navigation.

Log in Profile. Saved Articles. Contact Support. Log Out. Your cart is empty. Our online classes and training programs allow you to learn from experts from anywhere in the world. Explore Classes. Medical review by Wendie Trubow, M. Functional Medicine Gynecologist. Wendie Trubow is a functional medicine gynecologist with almost 10 years of training in the field. One that I find incredibly useful for my family is lavender—whether used topically or in a diffuser. Here are the top five reasons I reach for lavender around my house.

Make sure to consult a physician before treating yourself or your family with any essential oils and test sparingly to see how you react. Many folks ask me which essential oils they should look into when first starting out—for the reasons above and many others, I always recommend lavender! It really is the Swiss army knife of essential oils.

I like to keep a bottle handy in my purse in addition to keeping it stocked at home. How do you use lavender essential oils in your life? Her private practice as a health coach blends her experience and career as a nurse with her passion for nutrition and holistic wellness.