Will Lavender Oil Ease Anxiety, Insomnia or Depression?

Aromatherapy, the use of plant materials with notable fragrance, has long been popular in Europe. It is now becoming more widely adopted in the US as well. In this approach, people utilize the essential oils of a plant, those that carry its “essence” or fragrance. They may inhale, apply or ingest these oils. One of the simplest to use is lavender oil, because usually people simply inhale it. In one study, however, the volunteers took it as capsules for depression.

Lavender Oil Against Depression

A new study in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology compared the antidepressant sertraline to a purified extract of lavender oil called silexan (Sept. 1, 2026). Researchers recruited nearly 500 people with depression and assigned them to one of three treatment groups: placebo, sertraline or silexan. The trial lasted two months. Silexan performed better than placebo and was roughly equivalent to sertraline.

The authors concluded that

“Silexan had a strong over-all antidepressant effect, with the most pronounced improvements affecting the cardinal symptoms of depression.”

Sertraline was once sold under the brand name Zoloft. Doctors still look to it as a solid choice of an antidepressant prescription. This research, if confirmed, would offer another option that might have a different profile of adverse effects. According to the investigators, sertraline reduced volunteers’ sleep, whereas silexan did not.

Silexan is available in Germany under the brand name Lasea®. Experts consider it safe, but it may provoke nausea or headache in addition to its desired effects.

Will Lavender Oil Relax You?

Most often, lavender oil is used as aromatherapy. One reader reports enjoying the fragrance of lavender oil for years.

Q. I’ve been sprinkling lavender oil on my pillow every night for years; I’ve found it very soothing and relaxing. Zero side effects.

We also used this herbal oil to help calm my late mother’s anxiety after she came home from rehabbing a broken hip. Again, zero side effects.

Fragrance Can Make a Difference

A. Studies show that aromatherapy, whether with lavender, chamomile or peppermint essential oil, can help hospitalized cancer patients sleep better (Oncology Nursing Forum, July 1, 2017).  Moreover, there is also evidence that lavender oil can help ease anxiety (Mental Health Clinician, March 26, 2018). A systematic review of 11 studies confirmed that lavender oil aromatherapy can reduce subjective and objective measures of anxiety (Healthcare, Nov. 17, 2023).

In this regard, researchers studying mice have found that the odor of lavender oil and particularly its component linalool is critical to this anti-anxiety action. Here is what we wrote about this study. Furthermore, other scientists have confirmed that linalool and the oil of Lavandula angustifolia can counteract social aversion in mice (Molecules, Oct. 19, 2018).

What about humans? Fortunately, such aromatherapy may also help women face surgery with less anxiety (Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, Sep. 2016). Finally, impartial reviewers found that lavender extract alleviated anxiety better than placebo (Advances in Therapy, March 2018).

Learn More

You can learn more about aromatherapy and essential oils in our interview with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog and Stacy Brower. It is Show 1101: How You Can Use Essential Oils for Better Health. In summary, you may want to consider sniffing some lavender oil when you are feeling anxious or having trouble sleeping.