GradedHealth

Does lavender calm anxiety and help you sleep?

Several placebo-controlled trials find oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) ease anxiety, with better sleep. Several trials had authors employed by the maker.

Published October 2026

Short answer

Oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) eased anxiety more than placebo in several trials, with few side effects. Several key trials had authors employed by the maker, so the evidence needs independent confirmation. Evidence grade B (Moderate). Several placebo-controlled trials and two meta-analyses of oral Silexan; downgraded once for industry-linked authorship. Inhaled lavender evidence is weaker and is not graded here.

Key takeaways

  • Across five placebo-controlled trials with 1,213 adults, oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) gave a greater anxiety fall than placebo over 10 weeks [1].
  • In 212 adults, Silexan improved sleep more than placebo, and most of the sleep gain tracked the drop in anxiety [2].
  • Capsules taken at 160 mg a day beat placebo in generalised anxiety, and side-effect rates matched placebo [3].
  • Breathing lavender oil has weaker evidence; a review of 37 trials found a moderate effect, but study quality was low [4].
  • Several key trials had authors employed by the maker, so independent confirmation is needed [5].

The short version

Oral lavender oil capsules, sold as Silexan, eased anxiety more than placebo in several trials, and sleep improved too [1][2]. Most of the sleep gain tracked the drop in anxiety, rather than drowsiness [2]. Several key trials had authors employed by the maker, so independent checks matter [5]. Breathing lavender oil has weaker evidence [4].

What the studies show

A pooled analysis of five placebo-controlled trials with 1,213 adults found that Silexan (80 mg a day for 10 weeks) reduced anxiety more than placebo. The chance of a 50% or greater fall in anxiety scores was 1.34 times higher with Silexan [1].

In a trial of 221 adults with subthreshold anxiety, anxiety scores fell by 16.0 points on Silexan against 9.5 on placebo. Of those on Silexan, 77% responded, compared with 49% on placebo [6].

In 925 adults with generalised anxiety disorder, 160 mg a day beat placebo on all measures. The 80 mg dose beat placebo in one trial and in the pooled analysis [3].

In 318 adults with mixed anxiety and depression, anxiety scores fell by 10.8 points on Silexan against 8.4 on placebo over 70 days. Depression scores also improved more [7].

In a 6-week trial in adults with generalised anxiety, Silexan and the benzodiazepine lorazepam cut anxiety scores by similar amounts (11.3 and 11.6 points). The Silexan group had no sedation [8].

For sleep, 212 adults taking Silexan for 10 weeks had a larger improvement in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores than placebo. The authors found the sleep gain was almost entirely explained by the fall in anxiety [2].

For inhaled lavender, a meta-analysis of 37 trials found a moderate reduction in anxiety (Hedges' g of -0.73). The authors describe the average study quality as low and the risk of bias as high [4]. In a 2025 review of 10 trials in adults over 60, inhaled lavender was linked to better sleep quality. The pooled results were very varied (I-squared 87.5%) [9].

In a pooled analysis of five trials, Silexan also reduced depressed-mood scores more than placebo. The authors of this analysis are also linked to the maker [10].

The nuances

Several trials and reviews of Silexan have authors who are employees of Dr Willmar Schwabe, the maker [5]. The authors also state that their results cannot be generalised to other lavender oil products [5].

The Silexan trials enrolled adults with subthreshold anxiety or generalised anxiety [5][3]. The review of inhaled lavender grouped oral and inhaled uses separately, because their designs and evidence differ [4].

Doses in studies

The anxiety trials used 80 mg of Silexan a day for 10 weeks [6]. In generalised anxiety, 160 mg a day was superior, and 80 mg was superior in one trial and in the pooled analysis [3]. The lorazepam comparison ran for six weeks [8]. Inhaled lavender regimens varied widely across trials [4].

Safety and interactions

Eructation (burping) was the only side effect that was substantially more common on Silexan than placebo in the mixed anxiety and depression trial [7]. Overall side-effect rates matched placebo at all doses tested [3].

Stopping Silexan abruptly after 10 weeks did not cause withdrawal symptoms in the follow-up of a trial [11]. In a study of healthy people who used recreational sedatives, single doses of 80 mg and 640 mg of Silexan were rated similar to placebo for liking, with no sedation [12].

In 24 women, Silexan did not change the levels of a combined oral contraceptive [13]. Safety reporting in inhaled lavender trials is limited [4]. No upper-limit, pregnancy or breastfeeding data were found in the studies read for this page. Anyone who is pregnant, has liver or kidney disease, or takes anxiety or sleep medicines should talk to a doctor first.

Caveats and open questions

The Silexan anxiety trials ran for about 10 weeks [3]. Long-term use has not been studied in the trials read. Several trials were sponsored or run with the maker [5]. Independent trials are needed.

What this means for you

Oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) have moderate trial support for anxiety, with sleep gains that appear to follow the anxiety relief [2]. Inhaled lavender, as in aromatherapy, has weaker evidence [4]. If anxiety or sleep problems affect your daily life, talk to a doctor. Lavender capsules are not a replacement for that care.

Go deeper

  • Lavender — Oral lavender oil capsules (Silexan) reduced anxiety more than placebo in several trials, and sleep improved along with anxiety.

References

  1. Efficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2023.
  2. Beneficial effects of Silexan on sleep are mediated by its anxiolytic effect.. J Psychiatr Res, 2019.
  3. Silexan in generalized anxiety disorder: investigation of the therapeutic dosage range in a pooled data set.. Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 2017.
  4. Effects of lavender on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Phytomedicine, 2019.
  5. Efficacy of Silexan in subthreshold anxiety: meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials.. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2019.
  6. Silexan, an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of 'subsyndromal' anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.. Int Clin Psychopharmacol, 2010.
  7. Efficacy of Silexan in mixed anxiety-depression--A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2016.
  8. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder.. Phytomedicine, 2010.
  9. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on lavender for sleep disorders in older adults.. Exp Gerontol, 2025.
  10. Beneficial effects of Silexan on co-occurring depressive symptoms in patients with subthreshold anxiety and anxiety disorders: randomized, placebo-controlled trials revisited.. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2023.
  11. Silexan does not cause withdrawal symptoms even when abruptly discontinued.. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract, 2017.
  12. No Abuse Potential of Silexan in Healthy Recreational Drug Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 2021.
  13. No interacting influence of lavender oil preparation silexan on oral contraception using an ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel combination.. Drugs R D, 2014.