lavender essential oil

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies w/ variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

alopecia areata

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply massage oil topically qd; Info: product containing lavender oil; used w/ thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood

anxiety

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 80-160 mg lavender oil PO qd; Alt: 500-1500 mg powdered flower PO bid; 2-5 gtt (2-100% lavender essence or oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x3-30min qd; 2-5 gtt (2-100% lavender essence or oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy 2-3x/wk; Info: used w/ or w/o standard tx

aphthous ulcer (canker sores)

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 2 gtt lavender oil topically tid

burns, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.5 mL lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x15min; Info: place gauze pad 20 cm away from nostrils

CABG

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2-3 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qhs; Alt: 5 gtt (20% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x30min

colic

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply diluted lavender oil topically to belly for aromatherapy massage x5-15min in pts 2-6 wk old; Alt: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x4-6h qd in pts 4-8 wk old

COVID-19

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 9 mL syrup PO bid; Info: syrup prepared w/ 100 g lavender

dementia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x20-120min qd-bid

depression

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 80-160 mg lavender oil PO qd; Alt: 500-1500 mg powdered flower PO bid; lavender tea PO qd-bid; 1-2 g powdered leaves PO qd; lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy or applied topically for aromatherapy massage 2x/wk; lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy tid; 60 gtt (1:5 lavender tincture) PO qd; 1.5 g lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qhs; Info: used w/ or w/o standard tx

diabetic neuropathy

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 3% lavender oil topically for aromatherapy foot massage x10min qhs; Info: used w/ sunflower oil

dysmenorrhea

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 3 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5-30min qd-qid on days 1-3 of menstrual cycle; Alt: apply lavender oil topically to abdomen for aromatherapy massage x15min

fall prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qd

fatigue, cardiac dz-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 3 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x20min qhs

fatigue, multiple sclerosis-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 600 mg PO tid; Alt: 3 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qhs

fatigue, renal failure-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 5% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x15-20min bid; Alt: 7% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x2min; apply lavender oil topically for aromatherapy foot massage x10-20min 3x/wk; 2-3 gtt (2-7% lavender essence or oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x10-30min 2-3x/wk x4wk; 2-5 gtt (5-100% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x15-30min qd-bid x2-4wk

HTN

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 0.3% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x2h

insomnia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x20min qhs; Alt: apply 1.5% lavender oil topically for aromatherapy foot massage; apply 55 mcL lavender oil patch topically to chest; 1.5 g lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qhs

lice

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply lavender oil topically 3x/wk; Info: used w/ tea tree oil

menopausal sx

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5-20min qhs

migraine, acute

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 2-3 gtt lavender oil topically to upper lip for inhaled aromatherapy

nausea/vomiting, postop

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5min; Alt: apply 100% lavender oil patch topically for inhaled aromatherapy x1h before surgery, then q12h x2 days

osteoarthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5 mL (3% lavender oil) topically for aromatherapy massage 3x/wk

otitis media, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 5 gtt in ear(s) tid; Info: solution containing lavender oil; for pts 5-18 yo

pain, acute, adult pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: 5 gtt (10% lavender essence or oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5-15min; Alt: apply 0.15-0.3 mL (100% lavender oil) topically for inhaled aromatherapy x5min; 2 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x15min; 3-5 gtt (10% diluted lavender essence or oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x3-5min; Info: 10% diluted essence or oil prepared w/ lavender essence or oil:sweet almond oil (1:10 ratio)

pain, acute, peds pts

[Possibly Effective]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy qhs; Alt: 6 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x3min before and 0.5min after procedure; 1 gtt lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy starting 2min before and during procedure; 0.5% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x1min; lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5min before and 2min after procedure

pain, labor-related

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy or applied topically for aromatherapy massage

periop anxiety

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 20 gtt (100% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy q20min until procedure, then 3 gtt (100% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5min tid; Start: before procedure

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 250 mg PO bid

postdural puncture headache

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x15min

post-herpetic neuralgia

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1 mL (1% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5min

postop pain, adult pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 2-3 gtt (2% lavender oil) diffused for inhaled aromatherapy; Alt: apply 100% lavender oil patch topically for inhaled aromatherapy x1h before surgery, then q12h x2 days

postop pain, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply lavender oil topically to palms for inhaled aromatherapy x3min q6h prn; Info: for pts 6-12 yo

postpartum complications

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil sitz bath qd; Alt: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x10-15min tid on day 1 postpartum

postpartum depression

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 3 gtt lavender oil topically to palms for inhaled aromatherapy tid; Alt: apply lavender oil to hands for aromatherapy massage via M technique x15min 2x/wk

preop anxiety, adult pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: 1% lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy x5min

preop anxiety, peds pts

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy; Info: used in dental procedures

pruritus

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 1.5% diluted lavender oil topically for aromatherapy massage 3x/wk; Info: 1.5% diluted oil prepared w/ lavender oil:Roman chamomile oil:sandalwood oil (4:1:1 ratio)

psychological well-being

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: dilute 3 mL (20% lavender oil) in bath water qd

restless legs syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: apply 10-15 mL (1.5-5% lavender oil) topically for effleurage or aromatherapy massage x10-45min 2-3x/wk

stress

[Insufficient Evidence]

Dose: lavender oil diffused for inhaled aromatherapy