Overview 

What comes to mind when you hear lavender? A purple flower? The soothing floral smell of saunas or its calming effect? If any of these comes to mind, chances are that you are already aware of lavender and its benefits.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Lavender is an aromatic herb in the mint family which is cultivated mostly for its essential oil. The lavender essential oil is usually obtained from the flowers by steam distillation. The benefits of lavender span beyond its aromatherapeutic effects to applications in cosmetics, pest control, antimicrobials, food etc. Anecdotal evidence has it that lavender is an efficacious medicinal herb and has been successfully used as herbal medicine in some parts of the world.^1,2,3

Its role in Aromatherapy has been largely studied to give evidence to its calming effect.^1,4 In this article, we will be discussing lavender use in Aromatherapy for relaxation.

Introduction

Aromatherapy is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that utilises aromatic essential oils derived from plants to enhance physical and emotional well-being. The practice involves inhaling essential oils or applying them to the skin, aiming to manage symptoms, promote relaxation, and improve overall health. Essential oils can be used individually or blended to create specific scents for various therapeutic purposes, such as pain management, stress reduction, and mood enhancement. Aromatherapy is believed to activate smell receptors in the nose, sending messages through the nervous system to the brain and influencing emotional and physiological responses. It has been used for centuries and is considered a holistic approach to supporting health and wellness.

Lavender in aromatherapy

Lavender’s unique properties for relaxation:

1. Pain relief - Lavender has been found beneficial in the management of acute and chronic pain. This is achieved through aromatherapy massage or inhalation of lavender essential oil. It has also been found to decrease dependence on opioids for pain management. Lavender has applications in the management of migraine, postmenopausal symptoms, pain after childbirth, aphthous ulcer pain, and dysmenorrhea.¹
2. Anxiety Reduction - The scent of Lavender oil is probably one of the most soothing and therapeutic smells as it has been demonstrated in literature. Aromatherapy with lavender has been widely studied and is effective in the management of pain in different clinical settings eg dental clinics, ICUs etc.^1,5  Apart from aromatherapy with lavender, ingesting lavender has also proven to be effective in managing anxiety. In a randomised controlled trial by Woelk H et al, Silexan (lavender oil capsules) was compared to Lorazepam, a Benzodiazepine designated for anxiety. Silexan showed similar efficacy with Lorazepam without the sedative effects of benzodiazepines.⁶
3. Anti-depressant; Lavender has found use as an adjuvant in the management of mild/moderate depression. It was also found to decrease the side effects of the anti-depressive medication, Imipramine.¹
4. Sleep improvement; The ambient lavender oil scent has been used in treating insomnia. This is backed up by studies which proved its efficacy in especially mild cases of insomnia.¹

Mechanism of action/scientific evidence

There are studies on lavender, its properties, benefits and mechanism of action. 

Chemical properties: constituents of lavender oil including linalool, linalyl acetate, 8-cineole-ocimene, terpinen-4-ol and camphor.²

Mechanism of action: it was found that Lavender exerts its relaxing effect by inhibiting NMDA receptors (receptors of glutamate), which is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the human brain. On the other hand potentiates the effect of GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain thus enhancing an inhibitory tone of the central nervous system. Lavender was also posited to act through the serotonin neurotransmission through 5-HT receptors and serotonin transporter (SERT).^1,7

Scientific pieces of evidence

1. The study by Sayorwan W et al measured the autonomic parameters, EEG readings and subjective assessment of participants' mood/emotional state. They then introduced lavender oil in some of the participants and contrasted it with a base oil introduced in the rest. The findings indicated that the autonomic and EEG parameters in the lavender oil group signified relaxation when compared to the control. The patients exposed to lavender oil also reported feeling more energized and refreshed. This study demonstrated the relaxing effect of lavender oil.⁸
2. A review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) by S Makvandi et al concluded that lavender aromatherapy helps with labour pain although it also stated that more rigorous RCTs are required for a more specific result.⁹
3. A study found that Lavender causes relaxation via ECG monitoring of patients after inhalation of lavender. Additional measurements using positron emission tomography (PET) however, also found that there was regional metabolic activation which causes arousal in the orbitofrontal, posterior cingulate gyrus, brainstem, thalamus and cerebellum.¹⁰ The increased arousal level can explain the subjective report of the participants in the first study by Sayorwan et al, who reported being refreshed and energised after lavender inhalation. 

Practical application

Applications of lavender therapy 

1. Dental clinics - Dental anxiety is a common problem among dental patients. Aromatherapy has been introduced and studied amongst dental patients to see its effects. It is not surprising that it helped to reduce anxiety in the participants of the study.²
2. Labour pain in pregnancy - As was reported by  S Makvandi et al, Lavender has been posited to enhance the relief of pain during labour. This holds a potential utility in the labour room, not just to infuse the atmosphere with a soothing scent but also to help mothers bear the pain of labour.
3. Sauna - This is one of the highly recommended oils to use in saunas because of its soothing and relaxing properties alongside its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. 

Lavender can generally be used to enhance relaxation in most settings and has applications in massage, hot baths, meditation including yoga.

Practical tips on lavender use

1. Lavender reed Diffusers - lavender oil packaged in a bottle with reeds that draw up the fragrance and slowly release it into the atmosphere. These double as decorative pieces, which can also elevate the look, scent and ambience of your home. 
2. Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser - it produces a cool and odorless mist, reminiscent of the mist surrounding a waterfall. By incorporating Lavender essential oils into the diffuser, the vibration effectively disintegrates the essential oils into minuscule particles. Subsequently, the diffuser disperses this delicate vapour, consisting of essential oil and water, throughout the air. This process results in the delightful and rejuvenating aroma filling your home.
3. Pillow sprays - These sprays containing lavender essential oil are commercially available. These might be beneficial to treat mild insomnia as the fragrance is calming and relaxing for sleep. 

The safety of lavender

Lavender is generally safe, especially as a short-term therapy for neurological symptoms. Allergies and adverse reactions to Lavender have also been reported. Thus allergies should be ascertained before using lavender. It should also be noted that lavender aromatherapy is mostly effective in managing mild psychological symptoms and underlying causes and serious mental ailment necessitates a specialist input in diagnosis and management.¹

Summary

Lavender as an essential oil has been found to hold benefits for humans in helping with relaxation and temporary relief of anxiety. It has various applications but the commonest is as an anxiolytic. It has also shown psychological and mental health benefits in depression, insomnia and many other mild mental illnesses that relaxation and mood stabilizers are of therapeutic benefits. It must however be noted that aromatherapy is limited in severe mental which may then necessitate consultation with a specialist.