What are the properties of true lavender essential oil?

The essential oil of true lavender (lavandula angustifolia) is known to calm the nervous system and is often recommended for relieving stress or anxiety. A systematic review of several studies published in 2012¹ confirmed the therapeutic effects of lavender essential oil on stress and anxiety. A study carried out in 2007 on gerbils² even showed that olfactory exposure to the essential oil of true lavender had soothing effects equivalent to those of diazepam, a drug from the benzodiazepine family with anxiolytic properties. Its soothing and relaxing properties make it also effective in treating insomnia problems³.

How to use true lavender essential oil?

In cases of stress and anxiety, the essential oil of true lavender is mainly used in inhalation: 2 to 4 drops in a diffuser, or, failing that, suck the vapors from a large bowl of boiling water with the addition of of a few drops of essential oil. Repeat inhalations several times a day.

s Perry R, Terry R, Watson LK, et al., Is lavender an anxiolytic drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials, Phytomedicine , 2012 Bradley BF, Starkey NJ, Brown SL, et al., Anxolytic effects of Lavandula angustifolia odour on the Mongolian gerbil elevated plus maze, J Ethnopharmacol, 2007 N. Purchon, Huiles essentielles – mode d’emploi, Marabout, 2001