Lavender (Silexan)

What is it?

Lavender oil, specifically Silexan, is a standardized essential oil extract obtained from Lavandula angustifolia flowers. It's used for medicinal purposes primarily due to its anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and calming effects.

How does it work for medicinal purposes?

Lavender oil (Silexan) modulates the activity of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, exerting an anxiolytic effect similar to benzodiazepines but without the associated sedation or dependency. It also interacts with serotonin receptors, further contributing to its anxiolytic and mood-stabilizing effects.

What are the active ingredients?

Linalool and linalyl acetate are the key active ingredients in lavender oil responsible for its medicinal properties.

What forms does it come in?

Lavender oil (Silexan) is available in various forms including capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, and essential oils for aromatherapy.

What if I have an imbalance or deficiency?

A deficiency of lavender oil isn't a recognized medical condition. However, if experiencing symptoms of anxiety or stress, supplementing with lavender oil may help restore balance.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

The medicinal use of lavender dates back centuries, with historical records indicating its use in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome for various ailments including anxiety and insomnia.

What does Lavender (Silexan) help with?

Lavender has been used around the Mediterranean for ages. Silexan is a lavender oil that comes in a capsule. It was made for calm and mood, not for scent or skin.

Silexan has more human trial data for anxiety than most calming herbs. The notes in this file name trials, but do not record their size or dose. So each grade below rests on the trials as the file describes them.

• Anxiety that will not switch off, including diagnosed generalised anxiety
  Strong evidence — several randomised human trials in generalised anxiety. In more than one randomised trial, anxiety scores dropped in people taking Silexan. The drop was close to what low-dose anxiety drugs gave. Trials also reported no drowsiness and no sign of dependence.
  Evidence grade A · Traditional tier T0
• Feeling jittery, on edge, or unable to wind down
  Good evidence — clinical trials that measured restlessness and tension. In clinical trials, people reported less restlessness and less nervous tension. The change built up over a few weeks. It did not act like a fast sedative.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Anxiety and low mood showing up together
  Good evidence — clinical trials in people with both sets of symptoms. In trials of people with both problems, mood scores and anxiety scores both improved. Lab work points to an effect on serotonin, a brain chemical tied to mood. That link is a proposed reason, not something shown in people.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Anxiety you feel in your body: tight chest, upset stomach, tense muscles
  Good evidence — trials that scored body symptoms as well as mental ones. In clinical trials, these body signs eased, not just the worry in the mind. The body scores moved along with the mental ones.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Trouble falling asleep when your mind will not stop
  Good evidence — sleep measures taken inside anxiety trials. In trials, people fell asleep more easily and rated their sleep as better. The gain was clearest when night-time worry was the cause. Sleep was tracked next to anxiety, not as the main target.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Feeling worn out by stress (neurasthenia)
  Early evidence — trial data in stress exhaustion, plus long use in European herbal practice. Trial data show less fatigue and less emotional burnout in people with this pattern. European herbal medicine lists it for this use. The human data here are thinner than for anxiety.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Mood swings and irritability around menopause
  Early evidence — early clinical studies only. Early clinical work points to less anxiety and less irritability in these years. Women also reported steadier mood. It is a non-hormone option, but the studies so far are few.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Support alongside care for post-traumatic stress
  Evidence doesn't support this — preliminary human data only. The evidence here is early and thin. Some reports point to a calmer feeling and less on-edge arousal. It has not been studied as care for PTSD on its own.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0

What Lavender (Silexan) has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to calm you within minutes; in trials the change took a few weeks.
• It has not been shown to help insomnia that comes from a primary sleep disorder rather than worry.
• It has not been shown to stand alone as care for post-traumatic stress.
• Nothing on file tests it for hot flashes or other body signs of menopause.
• Nothing on file tests it for major depression on its own.

How to read this:

Grade A means steady results across randomised human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or early human work. D means the human evidence is weak or mixed. Insufficient means no human study at all. This page reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a claim that Silexan treats any illness. Talk with your own clinician before you change anything, above all if you already take a medicine for mood or sleep.

Conditions and Symptoms it Helps Prevent:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
2. Panic attacks
3. Sleep disturbances and insomnia
4. Stress-related symptoms
5. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
6. Depressive symptoms
7. Agitation and restlessness
8. Irritability
9. Headaches and migraines
10. Psychosomatic symptoms

Foods Rich in Lavender Oil (Silexan):

1. Lavender-infused dishes (e.g., lavender-infused desserts, teas)
2. Lavender honey
3. Lavender-infused oils for cooking

Lavender oil (Silexan) is generally well tolerated, but potential side effects may include:

• Gastrointestinal discomfort (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) - 1-2%
• Allergic reactions (rash, itching, swelling) - <1%
• Headache - <1%

Recommended Daily Dose:

The typical recommended dose for adults is 80 mg/day of lavender oil (Silexan), divided into two doses.

Time to Work:

• Symptomatic relief from anxiety and stress-related symptoms may be noticed within 2-4 weeks of consistent use.
• Insomnia Time it takes to work: Dosage for 13-17yrs old: 1 drop Dosage for 18yrs old and up: 1 to 2 drops Frequency: before bed

Best Time to Take:

Lavender oil (Silexan) is often taken in the morning and evening, but the timing can be adjusted based on individual preferences and when symptoms are most prominent.

With or Without Food:

It can be taken with or without food, depending on individual preference and tolerability.