Lavender
Herb ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Oral lavender oil, especially the standardized product Silexan, has randomized-trial evidence for subthreshold anxiety and generalized anxiety symptoms. Aromatherapy lavender is a different exposure and should not be assumed equivalent to oral Silexan capsules. Oral products can cause lavender burps, GI upset, headache, and additive sedation with other calming agents.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Lavender is a herb most often used for may reduce anxiety symptom scores, may improve restlessness and tension, may support sleep when anxiety-related. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 80 mg/day oral lavender oil; some trials used 160 mg/day, commonly taken as standardized oral lavender oil capsule formulated for ingestion, such as silexan-style product. This profile indexes 3 sources.
- Lavender-flavored burps
- Nausea
- Headache
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding without clinician guidance
- Use of non-food-grade essential oil internally2
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: may reduce anxiety symptom scores, may improve restlessness and tension, may support sleep when anxiety-related. 3 sources indexed (2014–2021), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Linalool and linalyl acetate are major lavender oil constituents that may influence voltage-gated calcium channels, serotonergic signaling, glutamatergic balance, and autonomic arousal. Clinical Silexan trials suggest anxiolytic effects without benzodiazepine-like dependence, but product-specific standardization matters. Essential oils should never be taken orally unless formulated for ingestion.2,3
Dosing & protocol.
Taking with meals may reduce lavender burps or reflux. Do not ingest aromatherapy essential oil products.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Oral lavender oil capsule.
Clinically studied oral oil capsules cost more than tea or aromatherapy oils. Updated 2026-06-04.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Lavender-flavored burps
- Nausea
- Headache
- Rash
- Drowsiness in some users
- Reflux or dyspepsia
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
2- 1Efficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trialsKasper S et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology · 2021
Therapeutic trials of 80 mg/day Silexan showed reductions in anxiety symptom scores.
- 2Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysisYap WS et al. · Scientific Reports · 2019
Silexan showed anxiolytic benefit with generally favorable tolerability.
Randomized controlled trials
1- 3Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetineKasper S et al. · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2014
Oral lavender oil improved anxiety scores in GAD compared with placebo.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Lavender, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Lavender?
Oral lavender oil, especially the standardized product Silexan, has randomized-trial evidence for subthreshold anxiety and generalized anxiety symptoms. Aromatherapy lavender is a different exposure and should not be assumed equivalent to oral Silexan capsules. Oral products can cause lavender burps, GI upset, headache, and additive sedation with other calming agents.
What is Lavender used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Lavender include: May reduce anxiety symptom scores; May improve restlessness and tension; May support sleep when anxiety-related; May be a non-sedating anxiolytic option for some users. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Lavender?
A typical adult dose of Lavender is 80 mg/day oral lavender oil; some trials used 160 mg/day. The commonly recommended form is Standardized oral lavender oil capsule formulated for ingestion, such as Silexan-style product. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Lavender?
Reported side effects include lavender-flavored burps, nausea, headache, rash, drowsiness in some users, reflux or dyspepsia. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Lavender?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Lavender in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.