One of my favorite essential oils is lavender oil. Not only does lavender smell amazing, but there are also many health benefits of lavender essential oil. It’s especially great for relaxing after a long day. I love to put a few drops in my essential oil diffuser and take some calming breaths!
But stress relief isn’t the only reason to use lavender oil. Keep reading to learn about lavender essential oil and the many lavender oil aromatherapy benefits.
So, what are the benefits of lavender essential oil? I’ve listed 10 lavender oil benefits below that are supported by clinical evidence. Some of them may surprise you!
An animal study on mice has shown promise for using lavender essential oil for hair growth. The study showed that the application of lavender essential oil could promote hair growth. [1]
Studies have shown that lavender essential oil can help relieve stress and anxiety, particularly in those struggling with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Lavender helps calm the central nervous system and, as a result, it can help to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression.
Some studies have shown that lavender oil is comparable or even more effective than prescription anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines and antidepressants known as SSRIs. Using a diffuser, having a massage with lavender oil, and taking a bath with a few drops of lavender oil can all be simple ways to gain the relaxing benefits of lavender oil. [2, 3, 4]
The use of lavender oil for sleep, especially when combined with good sleep hygiene habits, has been shown in several studies to help improve sleep quality. For example, one study also showed that the use of lavender aromatherapy by mothers during the postpartum period helps to improve sleep quality in women during this time.
In this study, lavender essential oil was applied to cotton balls that were placed in containers. The mothers inhaled the lavender oil scent 10 times and kept the container by their bedside until morning. A control group used a placebo. Other studies have shown that lavender essential oil can help improve sleep for many groups of individuals, including those who are in the ICU and older adults with dementia. [5, 6, 7, 8]
Using lavender oil for pain management along with conventional methods can help to treat pain successfully. A review and meta-analysis of several studies on various types of pain and the use of aromatherapy showed that including aromatherapy as part of a pain management plan can be a safe, cost-effective addition to pain management options.
Another study showed that lavender aromatherapy can be a positive way to help improve pain caused by dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Yet another study discussed the lavender oil massage benefits for pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee. [9, 10, 11]
A research study using mice showed that lavender essential oil inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells. Linalool, one of the main compounds of lavender, was shown to be the primary agent in both inhibiting the growth of the tumor cells and in causing apoptosis (cancer cell death). As the study noted, there is potential for further research on using lavender oil as a potential anti-tumor therapy. [12]
A combination of lavender oil and melaleuca oil (commonly known as tea tree oil) was found to be an effective treatment against head lice. Researchers divided the study into three different treatment groups. The group that used an Australian head lice treatment product containing lavender and melaleuca oils (NeutraLice Natural Lotion®) showed a 44.4 percent success rate (live head lice eggs killed). [13]
For many years (centuries, really!), using lavender oil for cuts has been known as an herbal remedy among different cultures. And now recent animal studies have shown clinical evidence that, indeed, there are lavender essential oil skin benefits for treating wounds. It helps promote collagen synthesis and cell growth during the wound healing process. [14]
According to a 2018 study, lavender essential oil is an effective antimicrobial agent against E. coli. The researchers believe there is potential to develop antimicrobial agents using lavender oil and other essential oils as an alternative treatment to antibiotics, which have become less effective due to antibiotic resistance. [15]
You may be surprised to learn that you can also use lavender oil for headaches. A European study on the effects of lavender oil on migraines showed that inhaling lavender essential oil for 15 minutes could help treat migraine headaches. [16]
Lab and animal studies have shown that lavender essential oil not only has pain-relieving effects, but it also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well. Because there are no significant toxic effects of lavender oil, the researchers recommend using lavender oil as a “therapeutic agent.” [17]
If you’re wondering how to use lavender essential oil, it’s quite simple. Like most essential oils, you can either apply lavender oil directly to the skin, place a few drops in an essential oil diffuser, or sprinkle a few drops in the bath. In a pinch, you can simply open the bottle and inhale the scent! Note that if you are applying lavender oil topically, be sure to blend it with a carrier oil to avoid irritating your skin. Carrier oils you may want to try include jojoba, grapeseed, and almond oils. You can also use coconut oil or olive oil.