In a comparison clinical trial without placebo, 40 healthy volunteers received aromatherapy (inhalation) with Lavender EO or essential oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and were then asked to perform some simple mathematical computations. In the group treated with Lavender, the electroencephalogram showed an increase in beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness. The subjects treated with this oil also reported feeling less depressed and more relaxed, and performed the mathematical computation more accurately after the therapy.

In an uncontrolled trial in 13 healthy volunteers, inhalation of Lavender EO significantly (P < 0.001) decreased alpha-1 frequencies (8–10 Hertz) shortly after inhalation, and the subjects reported feeling “comfortable” in a subjective evaluation of the treatment .

In a randomized study involving 122 patients admitted to a general intensive care unit, patients received either massage, aromatherapy with the oil (1% essential oil in grapeseed oil; 1–3 treatments over a 5-day period) or a period of rest to assess the efficacy of these factors on the stress response and anxiety. No difference between the three therapies was observed for the stress response. However, patients treated with the oil aromatherapy reported improvements in mood and a reduction of anxiety.

In 14 patients on chronic hemodialysis, inhalation of the essential oil over a one-week period decreased the mean score in the Hamilton anxiety rating scale compared with controls undergoing inhalation of odorless substances.

Analgesic activity

In a preliminary clinical trial without controls, addition of six drops of the essential oil to bath water daily for 10 days following childbirth did not reduce the incidence of perineal discomfort except for the period between days 3 and 5 postpartum. In a single-blind randomized clinical trial in 635 postpartum women, subjects were given pure Lavender EO, synthetic lavender oil or an inert oil to use as a bath additive for 10 days postpartum. No difference between the therapies in the reduction of perineal discomfort was observed.

Cardiovascular effects

In a randomized crossover controlled study, healthy volunteers (number not specified) sat with their feet soaking in hot water for 10 minutes with or without the addition of the oil. Electrocardiogram, fingertip blood flow and respiration rate measurements indicated that treatment with the oil increased parasympathetic nerve activity and increased blood flow but had no effects on heart or respiratory rates.

Experimental pharmacology

Anesthetic activity

In vitro, the essential oil, linalyl acetate and linalool, 0.01–10.0 μg/ml in the bath medium, reduced electrically-evoked contractions of a rat phrenichemidiaphragm . In the rabbit conjunctiva test in vivo, administration of an aqueous solution of the essential oil, linalyl acetate or linalool, 30.0– 2500.0 μg/ml, into the conjunctival sac increased the number of stimuli needed to provoke the reflex.

Anticonvulsant and sedative activities

Intraperitoneal administration of 2.5 g/kg body weight (bw) of linalool to rodents protected against convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole, picrotoxin and electroshock. In mice, intraperitoneal administration of 2.5 g/kg bw of linalool interfered with glutamate function and delayed N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced convulsions . Linalool acts as a competitive antagonist of [3H]glutamate binding and as a noncompetitive antagonist of [3H]dizocilpine binding in mouse cortical membranes, suggesting interference of glutamatergic transmission. The effects of linalool on [3H]-glutamate uptake and release in mouse cortical synaptosomes were investigated. Linalool reduced potassium-stimulated glutamate release. These data suggest that linalool interferes with elements of the excitatory glutamatergic transmission system.

Anti-inflammatory activity

The effect of Lavender EO on immediate-type allergic reactions was investigated in vitro and in vivo. External and intradermal administration of aqueous dilutions of the essential oil, 1:500, 1:100, 1:10, 1:1 and 1:0, to mice inhibited mast cell-dependent ear edema induced by compound 48/80. Administration of the essential oil (same dose range) to rats inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis induced by antidinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE, compound 48/80-induced histamine release and anti-DNP IgE-induced tumour necrosis factor-α secretion from peritoneal mast cells. Inhalation of 0.3 ml of the essential oil inhibited thromboxane B2 release induced by arachidonic acid in mice, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect.

Antimicrobial and acaricidal activities

The undiluted essential oil inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae in vitro (32, 33). The undiluted essential oil, 10.0 μl/disc, inhibited the growth of Mycobacterium chelonae, M. fortuitum, M. kansasii, M. marinum and M. scrofulaceum (34). The undiluted essential oil inhibited the growth of filamentous fungi in vitro . The essential oil, linalool, linalyl acetate and camphor had miticidal activity against Psoroptes cuniculi in rabbits.

Antispasmodic activity

Addition of the essential oil to the bath medium, 0.02 mg/ml and 0.2 mg/ ml, reduced the twitching response and relaxed the muscle tone of rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparations in vitro. The antispasmodic activity of the essential oil and linalool was mediated through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate signal transduction system, determined using a guinea-pig ileum smooth muscle preparation.

Central nervous system depressant effects

Inhalation of the essential oil (dose not specified) by mice reduced caffeine-induced hyperactivity, which was correlated with linalool serum levels. Intragastric administration of the essential oil (dose not specified) to rats produced anxiolytic effects and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time.

Intragastric administration of 1.6 g/kg bw of the essential oil increased the lever-pressing response rate during the alarm phase of the Geller-type confl ict test in animals, suggesting that the oil had an anticonflict effect similar to that of diazepam . Intragastric administration of 25.0 ml/kg bw of the essential oil, diluted 60 times in olive oil, prolonged pentobarbital sleeping times in mice. Inhalation of 0.3 ml of the essential oil inhibited strychnine-induced convulsions in mice.

(WHO-VOL 3 pg 229-232)

Lavender EO, Studies

Allergies

Anesthetic

Antiemetic

Antifungal

Antimicrobial

Antiviral

Anxiety

Cardiovascular Effects

Cerebrovascular

Cytotoxic / Apoptotic Effects

Dementia

Elder Care & Hospice

Gastrointestinal Effects

Kidney Effects / Urinary Tract Effects

Menstrual Issues

Migraine

Neuroprotective

Pain

Psoriasis

Seizures

Sleep

Stress

Toxoplasmosis

Wound Healing

Other Effects

Experimental pharmacology

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