Lavender

Brand Name: Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia

Generic Name: lavender

Drug Class: Neurology & Psychiatry, Herbals

The flower and the essential oil of lavender are used to make medicine. Lavender is a plant, specifically an herb, used to treat the following:

• anxiety, depression, headache,
• sleep problems such as insomnia,
• alopecia areata,
• postoperative pain,
• infectious disease (bacterial and viral), and
• skin infection.

Lavender is also effective as a natural bug repellent. Lavender is used in pharmaceutical products and as a fragrance ingredient to add aromatherapeutic (aromatic) properties and sweet scents to soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, potpourri, and decorations in floral arrangements and gardens.

Lavender is available under the following different brand and other names: Lavandula officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia

Suggested Dosing

Internal Use

• Lavender tea: 1 cup taken orally one to three times daily; 1 - 2 teaspoons whole herb / 8 oz boiling water

External Use

• Inhalation: Dried flowers in 2-3 cups of boiling water

• Topical application: 1 - 4 drops / teaspoons of base oil (almond or olive); ONLY use externally or by inhalation

Ineternal and External Use

• Tincture (1:4); 20 - 40 drops, three times daily

Dosage Considerations -- Should Be Given As Follows:

There are no dosage considerations for the use of lavender.

There are no known side effects for lavender or lavender oil.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Severe interactions of lavender:

There are no known severe reactions associated with the use of lavender.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

This medication contains lavender. Do not take Lavandula officinalis if you are allergic to lavender or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications from the use of lavender.

Effects of Drug Abuse

There are no effects of drug abuse from the use of lavender.

Short-Term Effects

There are no short-term effects from the use of lavender.

Long-Term Effects

There are no long-term effects from the use of lavender.

Cautions

There are no cautions associated with the use of lavender.

Pregnancy and Lactation

There is no information available about the use of lavender during pregnancy or lactation. Consult your doctor.