Lavender (oral lavender oil)
Summary
Oral lavender oil, studied mainly as the standardized preparation Silexan, lowered anxiety scores more than placebo in five 10-week trials of 1,213 adults. In generalized anxiety disorder, 80 and 160 mg/day beat placebo. Adverse events were similar to placebo. Evidence comes from one preparation, largely in manufacturer-run trials, so results may not apply to other lavender products.
Key facts
- An essential oil produced from Lavandula angustifolia; the trial preparation is a standardized capsule (Silexan)[1]
- 5 placebo-controlled trials (1,213 adults): 80 mg/day for 10 weeks lowered anxiety scores; responder rate 1.34 times placebo[1]
- In 539 adults, Silexan 160 and 80 mg/day both beat placebo over 10 weeks[2]
- No significant differences from placebo in adverse events or withdrawals due to adverse events[1]
- A trial analysis reported no withdrawal symptoms even after abrupt discontinuation[4]
- Silexan is made by Dr. Willmar Schwabe; company staff co-authored the main GAD trial and the 2023 pooled analysis of all five trials. An independent network meta-analysis put the 160 mg advantage over placebo at 2.2 HAMA points, with a confidence interval that crossed zero[2][1][3]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedLavender oil is a mixture of aromatic compounds; how the oral oil lowers anxiety in people has not been established.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety (HAMA) in subthreshold anxiety, mixed anxiety-depression and GAD | Improved | Grade B | Meta-analysis · n = 1,213 · 2023 Adult outpatients in 5 placebo-controlled trials Form: Silexan (standardized lavender oil capsules) · Dose: 80 mg/day · Duration: 10 weeks Anxiety scores fell more than with placebo; responders (≥50% drop) were 1.34 times as common and adverse events did not differ from placebo. | 36717399 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Anxiety (HAMA) in generalized anxiety disorder | Improved | Grade B | RCT · n = 539 · 2014 Adults with generalized anxiety disorder (HAMA ≥18) Form: Silexan · Dose: 160 mg/day or 80 mg/day (versus paroxetine 20 mg/day or placebo) · Duration: 10 weeks HAMA fell 14.1 points on 160 mg and 12.8 on 80 mg versus 9.5 on placebo (both significant); 60% responded on 160 mg versus 38% on placebo. | 24456909 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standardized oral lavender oil (Silexan) | Varies | No head-to-head human absorption data in the sources cited here. | Adverse events similar to placebo in pooled trials.[1] | All anxiety trials cited here |
| Inhaled lavender (aromatherapy) | Varies | Not covered by the oral trials cited here. | Not covered by the sources cited here. | Not covered on this page |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 80 mg to 160 mg of standardized lavender oil per day for 10 weeks.[1][2]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Using a different lavender product
- The evidence is for one standardized preparation; other oils differ in composition and are untested.[1]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Not studied in the trials cited here.[1]
- Diagnosed anxiety disorders
- Trials compared lavender oil with placebo and paroxetine under medical supervision; changing prescribed treatment belongs with a clinician.[2]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Frequently asked questions
Do lavender capsules help anxiety?
In 5 trials of 1,213 adults, 80 mg/day of a standardized lavender oil lowered anxiety scores more than placebo over 10 weeks.[1]
How does lavender compare with paroxetine?
In one 10-week trial, both lavender oil doses beat placebo while paroxetine showed only a trend in the main analysis.[2]
Is oral lavender oil habit-forming?
A trial analysis found no withdrawal symptoms after abrupt stopping.[4]
Does any lavender product work?
The trials used one standardized preparation; other lavender oils have different compositions and are untested.[1]
Sources
- [1]Efficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2023. meta-analysis
- [2]Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder--a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 2014. RCT
- [3]Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis. Sci Rep, 2019. meta-analysis
- [4]Silexan does not cause withdrawal symptoms even when abruptly discontinued. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract, 2017. RCT
What changed
- New monograph. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, journal and year from the PubMed record); each evidence row written from its abstract; intake and safety facts from the cited fact sheets.
- Review: added a funding note (manufacturer-run trials) and an independent network meta-analysis; pooled-trial grade lowered from A to B for single-sponsor evidence.