Compound Profile
Lavender
Lavender is best framed as a calming botanical with moderate human evidence for anxiety support and relaxation, especially for oral lavender oil preparations, while sleep and aromatherapy claims should stay conservative.
Last reviewed: •2 human studies cited
B ModerateMonograph visual
Lavender
Generated profile category visual
Verdict: LavenderMaybe
Best for
- Mild-to-moderate everyday anxiety
- Restlessness with a low-risk profile
Not ideal for
- Panic or severe anxiety
- A reliable sleep sedative on its own
- Evidence confidence
- Moderate — standardized oral preparations have real trial support
- Expected onset
- 1–2 weeks
- Give it
- 4–6 weeks
Bottom line: Standardized oral lavender has surprisingly solid trials for mild anxiety and is well tolerated. Aromatherapy effects are gentler and less consistent.
On the evidence: Randomized trials of standardized oral lavender show anxiolytic effects comparable to low-dose reference agents.
How strong is the evidence?Moderate
Why not higher
- The good evidence is for one standardized oral preparation, not lavender generally
- Aromatherapy evidence is much weaker
- Most trials are short
Why not lower
- Randomized trials show a real anxiolytic effect for standardized oral lavender
- It is well tolerated with a low-risk profile
Practical takeaway: A reasonable low-risk option for mild everyday anxiety if you use a standardized oral product. Not a substitute for care in severe anxiety.
Where to go next — guides & comparisons
Start here — new to this? Begin with Best herbs for anxiety
Compare before choosing
- Beyond ashwagandha: other anxiolytics — if comparing gentle daytime calming options
Continue reading
- If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
- If you want help with anxiety or stress → Anxiety & stress guides
- If you want to browse more compounds → All compounds
Quick Stats
Evidence level
Moderate evidence
Typical onset
Varies by prep
Safety rating
Use extra caution: Safety review pending
Best for
GABA A, Autonomic Nervous System
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 & Cautions
Review before use if any apply: Known Allergy To Lavender Or Other Lamiaceae/Mint Family Plants, Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding Without Clinician Guidance For Oral Lavender Oil Preparations.
Evidence-based safety
Caution when combined
These pairings share a flagged risk mechanism. They are additive-effect cautions derived from contraindication data, not confirmed clinical interactions. Consult a clinician before combining.
Moderate Caution
68 flagged pairingsSedation / CNS depression
Moderate Caution
68 flagged pairingsSedation / CNS depression
Browse the grouped cautions below. The list scrolls inside this card when long.
Sedation / CNS depression
- American Yellow Lotus
- Artemisia Absinthium
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
- Bacopa
- Black Seed
- Black Tea
- Blue Lotus
- Calamus
- Catuba
- Celastrus Paniculatus
- Chamomile
- Chinese Skullcap
- Coriandrum Sativum
- Corydalis
- Cymbopogon Citratus
- Damiana
- California Poppy
- Eucalyptus
- Gastrodia
- Glycine
- Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
- Hops
- Hypericum Perforatum
- Jatamansi
- Jujube
- Lavender
- Lavender Extract
- Lemon balm
- Lemon Balm Extract
- Lemon Verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lobelia Inflata
- Longan
- Magnolia
- Melatonin
- Lemon Balm
- Milk Oats
- Mugwort
- Muira Puama
- Myristica Fragrans
- Nicotiana Glauca
- Nicotiana Tabacum
- Oatstraw
- Ocimum Basilicum
- Parsley
- Passionflower
- Passionflower
- Passionflower Extract
- Passionflower Extract (Standardized)
- Kava
- Polygala
- Poria
- Raspberry Leaf
- Sage
- Schisandra Berry
- Schisandra Chinensis
- Scutellaria Baicalensis
- Skullcap
- Shankhpushpi
- Sophora Flavescens
- theanine
- Valeriana officinalis
- Valerian Extract (Standardized)
- Valerian Root Extract
- Valerian
- Verbena Officinalis
- Ashwagandha
- Wormwood
Evidence Summary
B ModerateEvidence lens
Useful signal, but study design, dose, and population still matter.
ModerateModerate evidence
Human clinical evidence: Present in source signals
Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Neurotransmitter Modulation · Stress Response Modulation · Neuroprotective Activity
Research maturity: More interpretable — main contexts: GABA A · Autonomic Nervous System
Safety boundary: Safety note available — Review before use if any apply: Known Allergy To Lavender Or Other Lamiaceae/Mint Family Plants, Pregnancy Or Breastfeeding Without Clinician Guidance For Oral Lavender Oil Preparations.
This profile cites 2 human studies.
Evidence Strength
Confidence estimate based on the design quality and consistency of published clinical trials.
Lavender has a moderate evidence evidence rating.
AdaptogenSleepStress & Mood
Citation density
1.0
Sources
2
Effects
2
Research recency
Mixed recency
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.
A
Strong
Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
B
Moderate
Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
C
Preliminary / Mixed
Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
D
Traditional / Theoretical
Traditional use only; no controlled human trials
Clinical Study Summaries (2)Cited studies informing this profile. RCTs and reviews shown first.
| Study | Type | Sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
PubMed | — | — | PubMed → |
Requires manual source normalization to PMID, DOI, PMC, or authoritative URL. | — | — | — |
How Lavender Works
Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.
Mechanism Pathway — How Lavender Works
CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome
Mechanisms & Biological Pathways▼
Preclinical mechanism details from scientific profiles; these represent plausible pathways but do not guarantee clinical efficacy in humans.
Neurotransmitter ModulationStress Response ModulationNeuroprotective ActivityNeuroprotective
Condition guides
Continue exploring
Related research paths
Compare & Sourcing
Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.
Review available sources for Lavender
Independent database mapping — evaluated separately from safety and efficacy scores.
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Related alternatives
Herbs for similar conditions
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.
Compound profile context
How to interpret Lavender
Lavender dosage by use case, onset and duration, safety limits, and interactions for gaba a, graded against research. Moderate Human Evidence research evidence. Use this compound profile to understand mechanism, evidence quality, and practical safety context before comparing products or building a stack. A biochemical pathway connection can be useful for discovery, but it is not the same as proven benefit in humans.
When reviewing Lavender, separate the active molecule from the product category around it. Dose form, absorption, extract standardization, medication interactions, and individual sensitivity can change the real-world risk-benefit picture.
For supplement planning, avoid combining multiple compounds with overlapping sedating, stimulating, serotonergic, blood-pressure, anticoagulant, or liver-metabolism effects unless a qualified clinician has reviewed the context.