ModerateSynergy
Melatonin
Both may promote evening calm or sleepiness.
Recommendation: Use low doses together and monitor next-day grogginess.
Lavender
Herb ·Moderate evidence ·Reviewed May 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.
What it's good for
What to watch for
- 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 3 interaction records on file.
The science
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
Class
Oral lavender oil anxiolytic
Found in food
Lavender tea and culinary lavender provide much lower and less standardized exposure than oral oil capsules
Low-status signs
None - lavender is not an essential nutrient and has no deficiency state
Absorption
Fat-soluble; take with food
Dosing
Dosing & protocol.
Common range
80 mg/day oral lavender oil; some trials used 160 mg/day
Recommended form
Standardized oral lavender oil capsule formulated for ingestion, such as Silexan-style product
Taking with meals may reduce lavender burps or reflux. Do not ingest aromatherapy essential oil products.
Forms
Forms & what to buy.
Ranked by evidence and value.
Oral Lavender Oil Capsule Recommended
Best evidence is with standardized Silexan-style oral oil. Take with food if reflux or burps occur.
Lavender Tea
Much lower and less standardized exposure. Steep covered for aroma.
Aromatherapy Lavender Oil
Inhalation exposure is not equivalent to oral trials. Do not ingest aromatherapy essential oil.
Cost
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Oral lavender oil capsule.
BudgetBest value
$6 /mo
$0.20 per dose
Mid
$17 /mo
$0.55 per dose
Premium
$36 /mo
$1.20 per dose
Clinically studied oral oil capsules cost more than tea or aromatherapy oils. Updated 2026-06-04.
Goals
Goal-based dosing.
Why people use it
Symptoms it's matched to.
Where this appears in the symptom-to-supplement map, ranked by relevance.
Anxiety
72% relevance
Standardized oral lavender oil reduces anxiety scores in randomized trials.3,2
MoodModerate evidenceOral lavender oil capsule
Use clinical care for severe anxiety, panic, or suicidality.
Restlessness
56% relevance
Anxiolytic effects may reduce tension and autonomic arousal.2
StressModerate evidenceSilexan-style capsule
Product quality matters.
Difficulty falling asleep
38% relevance
Sleep may improve indirectly when anxiety and tension decline.
SleepEmerging evidenceOral capsule or tea
Not a primary hypnotic.
Safety
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- Lavender-flavored burps
- Nausea
- Headache
- Rash
- Drowsiness in some users
- Reflux or dyspepsia
Interactions
Interaction records.
InfoSynergy
L-Theanine
Both can support calm without strong evidence of dangerous interaction.
Recommendation: Reasonable at low doses; assess alertness before work or driving.
ModerateCaution
Ashwagandha
Both are used for anxiety or stress and may cause additive drowsiness or GI effects.
Recommendation: Add one at a time and avoid high-dose stacking with sedatives or alcohol.
Sources
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 trialsNeeds reviewNo linkKasper 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-analysisNeeds reviewNo linkYap 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 paroxetineNeeds reviewNo linkKasper S et al. · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2014
Oral lavender oil improved anxiety scores in GAD compared with placebo.
Keep exploring
Deep dives & adjacent profiles.
This page is educational. Do not start, stop, or change a supplement or medication based on it without checking with a qualified healthcare professional.
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.