Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
← Natural Healing: Herbs & Home Remedies (all 15 herbs)
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
- Traditional use
- A fragrant flower used for centuries in baths, sachets and teas to promote calm and sleep.
- How people take it
- Aromatherapy (smelling the oil or a diffuser), diluted oil in massage, tea, or specially prepared oral capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says small studies suggest lavender aromatherapy or certain oral lavender products may help with anxiety, and there is some preliminary work on sleep. The evidence is not strong enough for firm conclusions.
- Cautions and interactions
- Never swallow lavender essential oil, and dilute it before putting it on the skin because it can irritate. It may add to the drowsiness of sedatives and sleep medicines. Some reports have linked lavender oils to breast tissue growth in young boys, so be cautious with children. Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant.
More herbs
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
