BT-014 · Lamiaceae

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Evidence: ClinicalGenerally safe

The fields at Kuyucak bloom in July and draw thousands of visitors each year.

Other names: English lavender, lavanta (Turkish)
Part used: Flowers
Region: Anatolia and the Mediterranean
Use: Healing, Incense and protection

Photo: JLPC · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Lavender?

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a plant of the Lamiaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: flowers.

What is Lavender used for?

Traditional use: The village of Kuyucak in Isparta is famous for its lavender fields. Scientific evidence: clinical. Standardised oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) beat placebo for anxiety disorder in several controlled trials.

Is Lavender safe?

Safety label: generally safe. Generally safe. Capsules can cause burping and nausea and may strengthen sedatives.

Traditional use

Anatolia

The village of Kuyucak in Isparta is famous for its lavender fields. Dried flowers go into wardrobes against moths; the oil is used for headaches and sleep.

Ancient Mediterranean

Its name is thought to come from the Latin lavare (to wash); the Romans added it to bath water.

In nature

Where it grows: Grown as a field crop in Isparta and Burdur. Its wild relative, French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), is common in Mediterranean maquis.
Harvest season: Picked in late June–July, just before the flowers fully open.
Local names: lavanta, lavander; karabaş otu (for L. stoechas)

Mix-up risk

French lavender has a different chemistry with more camphor. Medical studies of lavender are on Lavandula angustifolia.

Preparation

Dried flowers are steeped or put in a pillow; the oil is inhaled or diluted on the skin.

What science says

Standardised oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) beat placebo for anxiety disorder in several controlled trials. The EMA recognises lavender for mild stress and sleep as traditional uses.

How strong is the evidence?

Claims often repeated online about Lavender, and what science says today.

Claim	Evidence	Note
Reduces anxiety (standardised oral oil capsules)	Clinical evidence	Better than placebo in many controlled trials with Silexan.
Helps sleep (inhaled)	Limited evidence	Better sleep quality in small studies.
Relieves headache	Limited evidence	One small study of inhalation in migraine; inconclusive.
Heals burns	No evidence	Do not put lavender oil on serious burns; medical care is needed.

Common mistakes

Applying the oil to the skin undiluted.
Drinking pure essential oil: the oral products studied are special capsules.
Regular lavender and tea tree oil use in adolescent boys: cases of breast growth have been reported.