Comparisons
Lavender Tea or Lavender Oil?
Lavender flower and lavender essential oil come from the same plant (Lavandula angustifolia). The EMA assesses both for mild stress and sleep in separate monographs, but they are used in different ways. The table is built from the sourced cards of both records.
| Aspect | LavenderLavandula angustifolia | Lavender OilLavandula angustifolia |
|---|---|---|
| Strongest evidence | B Limited clinical evidence | T Traditional use |
| Needs | Sleep, Stress & Mood | Sleep, Stress & Mood |
| Form | Dried Herb & Tea | Essential Oil |
| How to use | Pour 150 ml of boiling water over 1–2 g of dried lavender flowers. | For a full bath, add 1–3 g of lavender oil to the water; soak at 35–38 °C for 10–20 minutes. |
| Pregnancy | Avoid | Avoid |
| Breastfeeding | Avoid | Avoid |
| Recommended minimum age | From age 12 | From age 12 |
| Drug interactions | No recorded interactions | No recorded interactions |
| Duration limit | Not stated | Not stated |
Which one, when?
Lavender
Traditionally drunk as a tea for mild stress, exhaustion and to aid sleep; a small study in postpartum women found a short-lived benefit. Not recommended under 12.
Full card →Lavender Oil
Traditionally added to bath water (full bath) for mild stress and sleep. For external use only; never swallowed undiluted.
Full card →Good to know
- Do not take a full bath with lavender oil with open wounds, acute skin disease, high fever, severe infection, serious circulatory problems or heart failure.
- Neither is recommended under 12, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Sources
- Community herbal monograph on Lavandula angustifolia P. Mill., flosEMA HMPC · 2012 · MonographSource accessed:
- Community herbal monograph on Lavandula angustifolia Miller, aetheroleumEMA HMPC · 2012 · MonographSource accessed:
- Effects of lavender tea on fatigue, depression, and maternal-infant attachment in sleep-disturbed postnatal womenWorldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing · 2015 · Randomized controlled trialSource accessed: