What is Lavender Extract used for?

Lavender Extract is best framed as a conservative research profile with mechanistic evidence and a focus on Sleep; Stress Response; Neurobiology. Current workbook signals support mechanistic context around Neurotransmitter Modulation; Stress Response Modulation, not treatment claims.

Lavender Extract: Effects, Dose & Safety

At a glance

From this profile's structured data

Evidence: Grade D
Safety: GI upset and sedation possible; caution with CNS depressants.
Profile context: voltage-gated calcium channels, serotonin signaling

Next stepsWhere to go next — guides & comparisons

If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
If you want help with anxiety or stress → Anxiety & stress guides
If you want sharper focus → Focus guides
If you want to browse more compounds → All compounds

Quick stats

Evidence level: Preliminary evidence
Typical onset: Varies by prep
Safety rating: Use extra caution: Use caution
Best for: Voltage Gated Calcium Channels, Serotonin Signaling
Avoid / review if: Known Allergy To Lavender Or Other Lamiaceae/Mint Family Plants, Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding Without Clinician Guidance For Oral Lavender Oil Preparations

Safety

Safety & Cautions

GI upset and sedation possible; caution with CNS depressants.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

Hormonal Activity ContextHormone-adjacent wording is present and should be interpreted carefully.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Moderate Caution

68 flagged pairings

Sedation / CNS depression

Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.

Sedation / CNS depressionCertainty: Theoretical

Data provenance recorded for 68 of 68 pairings in this mechanism group.

+56 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.

Evidence Summary

Profile-wide ·D Preliminary

Evidence lens

Early signal that needs stronger human replication before practical claims.

PreliminaryPreliminary evidence

Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Neurotransmitter Modulation · Stress Response Modulation · Serotonergic

Research maturity: Preliminary research — Early findings are not treated as established consumer benefit.

Safety boundary: Safety note available — GI upset and sedation possible; caution with CNS depressants.

This profile cites 2 human studies.

Evidence Strength

Confidence estimate based on the design quality and consistency of published clinical trials.

Preliminary evidence

Lavender Extract has a preliminary evidence rating.

AdaptogenSleepFocusStress & Mood

Citation density

1.0

Sources

Effects

Research recency

Mixed recency

Evidence Grade

Grade D: Preliminary / Theoretical Evidence

Evaluation of methodological rigor, population reach, and evidence alignment.

Design Match: Randomized controlled trial
Risk of Bias: Low
Consistency: Consistent

Strongest recorded design is a randomized controlled trial, drawn from 4 recorded studies, 3 in people. No disagreement is recorded across them.

How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong: Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate: Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed: Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical: Traditional use only; no controlled human trials

Clinical Study Summaries (2)1 human evidence source · 1 human trial · ~539 participants across 1 human evidence source with reported N · Consistency not yet classifiable

Filter by study class

Showing 2 of 2 studies.

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 2 structured sources, including 1 human evidence source; 1 is a human trial. Across 1 human evidence source with a reported sample size, the approximate participant total is 539; overlapping publications may include some of the same people.

Study	Design	N	Dose	Duration	Population	Outcome	Result & magnitude	Source
Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder--a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine PubMed · Int J Neuropsychopharmacol · 2014 Background	Randomized controlled trial Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well.	n=539	—	—	—	—	—	PubMed →
Efficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder - evidence from clinical trials PubMed · Wien Med Wochenschr · 2010 Background	Narrative review Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.	—	—	—	—	—	—	PubMed →

Study

Design

Dose

Duration

Population

Outcome

Result & magnitude

Source

Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder--a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine

PubMed · Int J Neuropsychopharmacol · 2014

Background

Randomized controlled trial

Randomly assigns participants to interventions or controls, reducing many sources of bias when the trial is conducted well.

n=539

—

PubMed →

Efficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder - evidence from clinical trials

PubMed · Wien Med Wochenschr · 2010

Background

Narrative review

Summarizes selected literature without the full prespecified search and selection methods of a systematic review.

—

PubMed →

How Lavender Extract Works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Lavender Extract Works

CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome

Dosing

Common form: oral lavender oil
No standardized dose: Our source data records the usual product form for this ingredient but no studied dose. Preparations differ widely, so follow the standardization on the product you actually have and speak to a clinician before starting.

Mechanisms & biological pathways

Preclinical mechanism details from scientific profiles; these represent plausible pathways but do not guarantee clinical efficacy in humans.

Neurotransmitter Modulation
Stress Response Modulation
Serotonergic
Anxiolytic

Guides that use Lavender Extract

Condition guides

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Related research paths

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Compounds connected by the same goals, effects, or research topics.

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Related Guides

Deeper context, comparisons, and practical research paths.

Related Safety Pages

Safety checks and cautions relevant to this decision.

Deeper context, comparisons, and practical research paths.

Best Supplements For SleepShared topic: Sleep

Compare & Sourcing

Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.

Related alternatives

Ashwagandha Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum Tenuiflorum)Lemon Balm

Herbs for similar conditions

Lavender Lemon Balm Valerian Scutellaria Baicalensis

Tradeoffs

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Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

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