Overview

What is lavender?

What are lavender’s main benefits?

What are lavender’s main drawbacks?

How does lavender work?

Dosage Information

The recommended dosage of oral lavender supplements is 80 to 160 mg per day.^[1] To ensure therapeutic effectiveness, supplements should contain 25% to 46% linalyl acetate and 20% to 45% linalool.^[2]

For aromatherapy use, no specific dosage has been established.

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Examine Database: Lavender

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Insomnia	4 outcomes	1 Study
Mental Resilience	3 outcomes	19 Studies
Anxiety Disorders (Other)	5 outcomes	19 Studies
Sleep Health	1 outcome	2 Studies
Migraine Headache	1 outcome	1 Study
Menopause	3 outcomes	1 Study
Primary Dysmenorrhea	1 outcome	1 Study
Canker Sores	1 outcome	1 Study
General Cardiovascular Health	5 outcomes	1 Study
Generalized Anxiety Disorder	1 outcome	1 Study
Infant Health	2 outcomes	1 Study
Ischemic Heart Disease	1 outcome	1 Study
Mood Improvement	3 outcomes	1 Study
Neurasthenia	5 outcomes	1 Study
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	6 outcomes	1 Study
Somatization Disorder	6 outcomes	1 Study
Stress	4 outcomes	1 Study

Insomnia

4 outcomes

Mental Resilience

3 outcomes

Anxiety Disorders (Other)

5 outcomes

1 outcome

1 outcome

3 outcomes

1 outcome

1 outcome

General Cardiovascular Health

5 outcomes

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

1 outcome

Infant Health

2 outcomes

Ischemic Heart Disease

1 outcome

Mood Improvement

3 outcomes

Neurasthenia

5 outcomes

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

6 outcomes

Somatization Disorder

6 outcomes

Stress

4 outcomes

Safety InformationNew

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of lavender oils?

Can lavender reduce labor pain?

What are other names for Lavender?

Update History

September 4, 2025

Safety Information added
major

Research written by

Marina Shkayeva

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Giulia Guerrini, Katie Jantz & Louie Neri

August 25, 2025

New FAQs added
major

Research written by

Giulia Guerrini

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Thomas Solomon

November 30, 2023

Full page update
major

Research written by

Megan Michaux

Edited by

Natalka Roshak

Reviewed by

Nick Milazzo

Research Breakdown

The Examine Research Breakdown has been archived. The Examine team will be incorporating the information in this section throughout the site after a thorough review to ensure it is up to date.

References

Examine Database References

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Insomnia	4 outcomes	1 Study
Mental Resilience	3 outcomes	19 Studies
Anxiety Disorders (Other)	5 outcomes	19 Studies
Sleep Health	1 outcome	2 Studies
Migraine Headache	1 outcome	1 Study
Menopause	3 outcomes	1 Study
Primary Dysmenorrhea	1 outcome	1 Study
Canker Sores	1 outcome	1 Study
General Cardiovascular Health	5 outcomes	1 Study
Generalized Anxiety Disorder	1 outcome	1 Study
Infant Health	2 outcomes	1 Study
Ischemic Heart Disease	1 outcome	1 Study
Mood Improvement	3 outcomes	1 Study
Neurasthenia	5 outcomes	1 Study
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	6 outcomes	1 Study
Somatization Disorder	6 outcomes	1 Study
Stress	4 outcomes	1 Study

Safety InformationNew

Visit Safety Checker Page

Summary
Side Effects
Interactions
Pregnancy & Lactation
Precautions
WADA Status

Safety Summary

Lavender essential oil and lavender herb preparations are well tolerated and generally recognized as safe.
Common side effects when lavender is taken orally include burping (lavender burp), nausea, and headache.
Skin rashes have been reported when products containing lavender oil are applied topically (e.g., fragrances).
Beyond lavender aromatherapy, there is a lack of research establishing the safety of lavender taken orally during pregnancy and lactation. Avoidance is warranted.

Caution: Quality concerns

Lavender products are associated with several quality concerns and have a high risk of adulteration. One study found that the lavender supplements analyzed contained less or none of the three main marker compounds for Lavandula species (i.e., linalyl acetate, linalool, and cineole). In some cases, lavender oil was diluted with high concentrations of vegetable oils (e.g., sunflower oil, rapeseed oil) to reduce the volume of lavender oil required to fill soft gel capsules. Additionally, lavender essential oil can be substituted with lavender spike oil or lavandin oil, which are cheaper and typically used in the fragrance industry, personal care products, or hygiene products. Other essential oils, such as clary sage, rosemary, and eucalyptus, were also reported as potential adulterants.^[36] Altering a supplement’s quality and quantity does not only affect whether it will exert its desired effect or not, but it could also lead to side effects caused by other ingredients that are not declared on the label.

Side Effects

Lavender essential oil and lavender herb preparations seem to be well tolerated. The most common side effects include nausea, burping, and headache when lavender is taken orally.^[7]^[30]^[31]

In one case report, a woman developed acute eosinophilic pneumonia, a rare lung disease characterized by the accumulation of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the lungs, after starting aromatherapy using a humidifier and lavender essential oil. However, there is no evidence that the lavender oil caused the pneumonia, and the composition of the essential oil was not tested.^[41]

Effect	Details
^[6]^[7]^[29]	Route: Oral Dose: 80–160 mg a day of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Interactions

A small clinical study found that lavender essential oil does not affect the cytochrome P450 enzymes that are most commonly involved in drug metabolism and interactions.^[42]

Agent	Effect	Level of Evidence	Level of Severity
	Because lavender essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety,^[1] there is speculation that it can result in additive effects with sedative medications. However, one small study showed that taking up to 640 mg of lavender essential oil did not increase sedation or dizziness compared to a placebo.^[34] Furthermore, limited research assessing lavender herb in combination with potentially sedating medications such as citalopram and imipramine did not report additive sedative effects.^[31]^[35]	Level of Evidence: Theoretical	Level of Severity: Unknown
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Condition	Safety Information
Pregnancy Avoid	Lavender and other herbal remedies are often used by pregnant women in an attempt to avoid the negative effects associated with synthetic medications. However, safety data in pregnancy is quite limited for lavender supplements. The inhalation of lavender essential oil or massages using lavender oil in pregnant women in the third trimester or during labor appears to be safe.^[18]^[37]^[38] Although studies using placenta cell cultures have found that lavender and its active compound linalool are likely to be safe in the recommended dosages, these results have not been confirmed by human studies. In fact, most studies that didn’t observe any side effects did not assess potential harmful effects on the fetus or newborn infant. Therefore, oral lavender preparations should be avoided during pregnancy because there is no evidence on its safety.

Pregnancy

Avoid

Lavender and other herbal remedies are often used by pregnant women in an attempt to avoid the negative effects associated with synthetic medications. However, safety data in pregnancy is quite limited for lavender supplements. The inhalation of lavender essential oil or massages using lavender oil in pregnant women in the third trimester or during labor appears to be safe.^[18]^[37]^[38] Although studies using placenta cell cultures have found that lavender and its active compound linalool are likely to be safe in the recommended dosages, these results have not been confirmed by human studies. In fact, most studies that didn’t observe any side effects did not assess potential harmful effects on the fetus or newborn infant. Therefore, oral lavender preparations should be avoided during pregnancy because there is no evidence on its safety.

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

Population/Condition	Details
	Long-term topical application of lavender oil or inhalation of lavender fragrances may cause reversible gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) in boys and girls who have not yet reached puberty.^[26]^[27]^[28] Although the products used in these case reports contained lavender as well as other ingredients (e.g., tea tree oil), it is possible that lavender played a role and this should be considered if symptoms of gynecomastia occur in young children.
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

According to the 2026 WADA List of Prohibited Substances, lavender is not prohibited.

Route: Oral
Dose: 80–160 mg a day of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Because lavender essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety,^[1] there is speculation that it can result in additive effects with sedative medications. However, one small study showed that taking up to 640 mg of lavender essential oil did not increase sedation or dizziness compared to a placebo.^[34] Furthermore, limited research assessing lavender herb in combination with potentially sedating medications such as citalopram and imipramine did not report additive sedative effects.^[31]^[35]

Level of Evidence:

Theoretical

Level of Severity:

Unknown

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Condition	Safety Information
Pregnancy Avoid	Lavender and other herbal remedies are often used by pregnant women in an attempt to avoid the negative effects associated with synthetic medications. However, safety data in pregnancy is quite limited for lavender supplements. The inhalation of lavender essential oil or massages using lavender oil in pregnant women in the third trimester or during labor appears to be safe.^[18]^[37]^[38] Although studies using placenta cell cultures have found that lavender and its active compound linalool are likely to be safe in the recommended dosages, these results have not been confirmed by human studies. In fact, most studies that didn’t observe any side effects did not assess potential harmful effects on the fetus or newborn infant. Therefore, oral lavender preparations should be avoided during pregnancy because there is no evidence on its safety.

Pregnancy

Avoid

Population/Condition	Details
	Long-term topical application of lavender oil or inhalation of lavender fragrances may cause reversible gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) in boys and girls who have not yet reached puberty.^[26]^[27]^[28] Although the products used in these case reports contained lavender as well as other ingredients (e.g., tea tree oil), it is possible that lavender played a role and this should be considered if symptoms of gynecomastia occur in young children.
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Long-term topical application of lavender oil or inhalation of lavender fragrances may cause reversible gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue) in boys and girls who have not yet reached puberty.^[26]^[27]^[28] Although the products used in these case reports contained lavender as well as other ingredients (e.g., tea tree oil), it is possible that lavender played a role and this should be considered if symptoms of gynecomastia occur in young children.

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Lavender

Overview

What is lavender?

What are lavender’s main benefits?

What are lavender’s main drawbacks?

How does lavender work?

Dosage InformationMedical disclaimer

Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

Examine Database: Lavender

Safety InformationNew

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of lavender oils?

Can lavender reduce labor pain?

What are other names for Lavender?

Update History

Safety Information addedmajor

New FAQs addedmajor

Full page updatemajor

Research Breakdown

References

Examine Database References

Examine Database: Lavender

Safety InformationNew

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Dosage Information

Safety Information added
major

New FAQs added
major

Full page update
major

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited