A research review of human and relevant scientific studies on Lavandula angustifolia and related Lavandula species.
Last reviewed: August 2026
🔬 Research Summary
- Anxiety & stress: Clinical trials and systematic reviews have investigated oral lavender preparations and aromatherapy, with several positive findings.
- Sleep: Lavender has been studied in relation to sleep quality, particularly through aromatherapy and standardized oral preparations.
- Mood: Small clinical studies have measured mood and psychological outcomes.
- Pain: Aromatherapy and topical preparations have been studied for pain in several clinical settings.
- Tea-specific evidence: Direct clinical evidence for drinking lavender tea is much smaller than the evidence for essential oil or standardized oral preparations.
The sections below summarize the principal health areas investigated in the literature. Evidence strength is not uniform, and studies using extracts, oils, capsules or combination products are identified conceptually rather than treated as interchangeable with tea.
Anxiety & stress
What researchers found
Clinical trials and systematic reviews have investigated oral lavender preparations and aromatherapy, with several positive findings.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Sleep
What researchers found
Lavender has been studied in relation to sleep quality, particularly through aromatherapy and standardized oral preparations.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Mood
What researchers found
Small clinical studies have measured mood and psychological outcomes.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Pain
What researchers found
Aromatherapy and topical preparations have been studied for pain in several clinical settings.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Tea-specific evidence
What researchers found
Direct clinical evidence for drinking lavender tea is much smaller than the evidence for essential oil or standardized oral preparations.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Overall Assessment
Lavender has meaningful human research in anxiety, stress and sleep-related outcomes, but much of the clinical evidence concerns aromatherapy or standardized preparations rather than ordinary tea.
References
- Donelli D, Antonelli M, Bellinazzi C, et al. Effects of lavender on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2019;65:153099. PMID: 31655395. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2019.153099.
- Kang HJ, Nam ES, Lee Y, Kim M. How Strong is the Evidence for the Anxiolytic Efficacy of Lavender?: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Asian Nurs Res. 2019;13(5):295-305. PMID: 31743795. doi:10.1016/j.anr.2019.11.003.
- Chen TY, et al. The Effect of Lavender on Sleep Quality in Individuals Without Insomnia: A Systematic Review. Holist Nurs Pract. 2022;36(4):223-231. PMID: 35708558. doi:10.1097/HNP.0000000000000528.
- Perry R, Terry R, Watson LK, Ernst E. Is lavender an anxiolytic drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Phytomedicine. 2012;19(8-9):825-835. PMID: 22464012. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2012.02.013.
Reference note: References were selected to represent the principal human clinical and systematic-review evidence discussed in this article. Where direct tea-infusion evidence is limited, the article explicitly identifies that limitation.
Publication version: August 2026
Try our Pure Lavender Tea, or our Calm Nerves blend featuring lavender alongside Persian Echium and valerian root.
These statements have not been evaluated by Medsafe. This tea is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition, check with your healthcare provider before making it a regular habit.
