Lavender
Also known as: Lavandula angustafolia, Lavandula latifolia, Lavandula stoechas, Lavandula intermedia, Silexan
Overview
Lavender is a plant in the Lamiaceae family. There are many types of lavender with slightly different chemical properties. Lavender has been used over several thousand years as a medicinal plant in the forms of tea, inhalational therapies, and oils to treat anxiety and stress.
Benefits
Lavender is believed to have an effect on the limbic system of the brain, which controls mood and memory. It additionally increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which could reduce the stress response in the body. There also seems to be an impact on the 5HT receptor, which has been implicated in anxiety. Reduced binding to this receptor could explain the anxiolytic effects of lavender. Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) are thought to be related to the inappropriate stress response found in the central nervous system of those with anxiety and other mood disorders. Lavender inhibits these channels, and thus attenuates this response. Lavender also increases the amount of serotonin in the system by blocking the serotonin transporters (SERT). SERT are presynaptic receptors that move serotonin from the synapse back into the cell. Blocking these transporters leaves more extracellular serotonin available to the brain, which can improve mood and anxiety symptoms. While this mechanism is similar to the way some antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs, work, there are also some differences, and lavender has a less significant effect on overall serotonin levels than antidepressant medications.
How it works
Lavender is most beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, in particular subthreshold anxiety (i.e., anxiety whose symptoms are clearly present, but are not sufficient to meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder). Supplementation with oral lavender may improve sleep, decrease fatigue symptoms, and reduce stress. It could also improve heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and lower cortisol in those with anxiety. Lavender may also improve some of the symptoms of depression, particularly in mild cases, and may be worth considering for people who prefer not to use antidepressants. Another possible use is for pain management, since it seems that lavender might improve lower back pain, although this evidence is not yet conclusive. Lavender might help to alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, particularly pain. Lavender aromatherapy can also be used to treat labor pains, although more evidence is needed to confirm this effect.
Side effects
The suggested dose of oral lavender supplementation is 80–160 mg per day. Supplements should contain 25% – 46% linalyl acetate and 20% – 45% linalool to have a therapeutic effect. No specific dosage has yet been determined for aromatherapy use.
Dosage
Side effects of lavender are generally mild and uncommon. Possible negatives include nausea, diarrhea, and bloating, which are more frequent with oral supplementation. However, these effects are mild and transient in most cases, and lavender appears to be a well-tolerated supplement.
FAQs
What is lavender?
Lavender is a plant in the Lamiaceae family. There are many types of lavender with slightly different chemical properties. Lavender has been used over several thousand years as a medicinal plant in the forms of tea, inhalational therapies, and oils to treat anxiety and stress.
What are lavender’s main benefits?
Lavender is most beneficial in the treatment of anxiety, in particular subthreshold anxiety (i.e., anxiety whose symptoms are clearly present, but are not sufficient to meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder). Supplementation with oral lavender may improve sleep, decrease fatigue symptoms, and reduce stress. It could also improve heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and lower cortisol in those with anxiety. Lavender may also improve some of the symptoms of depression, particularly in mild cases, and may be worth considering for people who prefer not to use antidepressants. Another possible use is for pain management, since it seems that lavender might improve lower back pain, although this evidence is not yet conclusive. Lavender might help to alleviate the symptoms of dysmenorrhoea, particularly pain. Lavender aromatherapy can also be used to treat labor pains, although more evidence is needed to confirm this effect.
What are lavender’s main drawbacks?
Lavender appears to be safe at the recommended dose, with studies reporting very few adverse reactions, and almost no severe side effects. Possible negatives include nausea, diarrhea, and bloating, which are more frequent with oral supplementation. However, these effects are mild and transient in most cases, and lavender appears to be a well-tolerated supplement.
How does Lavender work?
Lavender is believed to have an effect on the limbic system of the brain, which controls mood and memory. It additionally increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which could reduce the stress response in the body. There also seems to be an impact on the 5HT receptor, which has been implicated in anxiety. Reduced binding to this receptor could explain the anxiolytic effects of lavender. Voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) are thought to be related to the inappropriate stress response found in the central nervous system of those with anxiety and other mood disorders. Lavender inhibits these channels, and thus attenuates this response. Lavender also increases the amount of serotonin in the system by blocking the serotonin transporters (SERT). SERT are presynaptic receptors that move serotonin from the synapse back into the cell. Blocking these transporters leaves more extracellular serotonin available to the brain, which can improve mood and anxiety symptoms. While this mechanism is similar to the way some antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs, work, there are also some differences, and lavender has a less significant effect on overall serotonin levels than antidepressant medications.
Supplements Containing Lavender
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