Herb. No. 006 · Lamiaceae
Western Mediterranean shrub; a sun-belt garden plant worldwide.
Native · Mediterranean
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentleplant
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Silver-leaved Mediterranean shrub; the scent alone is a documented mild anxiolytic.
True lavender (L. angustifolia), not spike or lavandin, is the medicinal species. Inhaled aroma and a standardized oral oil (Silexan, where licensed) have clinical data for subsyndromal anxiety. Culinary buds flavor sugar and honey. The hydrosol is gentler on skin than the essential oil.
Flavor
Floral camphor and honey; over-steeped tea turns soapy.
Parts used
Flower spikes
In favor
- Works by smell — low systemic load
- Superb dry-garden plant
- Keeps in the linen chest
Against
- Essential oil can irritate skin and is toxic if drunk
- Some hormonally active constituents in topical oil — caution in young boys at high chronic dose