NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Lavender (Silexan)

Lavandula angustifolia

A standardized oral lavender oil with real anxiolytic data.

Strong evidence 🌙Sleep & Mood

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Strong
Research weight
Citations
8 verified / 8
Classification
Sleep & Mood
❝
What the evidence says. Graded strong for the Silexan preparation specifically: a 2023 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=1213) plus head-to-head trials show it consistently beats placebo and matches lorazepam and paroxetine for anxiety. The caveat is that this evidence applies only to this proprietary, manufacturer-funded product — generic lavender capsules, teas, or aromatherapy are not interchangeable. (Strong evidence: Multiple high-quality RCTs / meta-analyses with consistent effects.)

What is Lavender (Silexan)?

Lavender (Silexan) (Lavandula angustifolia) is a sleep and mood supplement used for reduce anxiety symptoms. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Strong. Silexan is a standardized softgel of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) taken by mouth, distinct from aromatherapy or culinary lavender. Across five double-blind RCTs (1,213 patients), it reduced Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scores about 2.9 points more than placebo, a modest-to-moderate effect (standardized mean difference ~0.35). In generalized anxiety disorder, 160 mg/day lowered HAMA by ~14 points and worked as well as 0.5 mg lorazepam and 20 mg paroxetine, without sedation or dependence. Subthreshold-anxiety and mixed anxiety-depression trials also showed benefit, including better sleep quality (PSQI), likely secondary to reduced anxiety rather than a direct hypnotic effect. A 2024 trial found a small antidepressant signal in mild-to-moderate depression. The main limits: nearly all trials are funded by the manufacturer, durations are ~10 weeks, and results do not generalize to other lavender forms.

Purported Benefits

✓Reduce anxiety symptoms
✓Ease restlessness & worry
✓Improve sleep quality
✓Lift mild-to-moderate low mood

Evidence by outcome

The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Anxiety symptom reduction (Silexan)5-RCT meta-analysis (n=1213) cut HAMA ~2.9 pts; matched paroxetine/lorazepam—but trials are manufacturer-funded. Strong ↑ benefit · moderate 3
Sleep qualityPSQI improved in subsyndromal-anxiety RCT, likely secondary to reduced anxiety rather than direct hypnotic effect. Moderate ↑ benefit · small 1
Mild-to-moderate depression2024 RCT (n=498) found MADRS 2.2 pts better than placebo, similar to 50 mg sertraline; single trial. Preliminary ↑ benefit · small 1

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
80–160 mg/day of the standardized oral preparation Silexan (one soft-gel capsule), with 160 mg/day used for generalized anxiety disorder.
Active Compounds
LinaloolLinalyl acetate

Safety & Cautions

Silexan is well tolerated; the most common side effect is eructation (burping) with a lavender taste or breath odour, plus occasional nausea or mild GI upset — roughly 3% above placebo. Unlike benzodiazepines it has not shown sedation, dependence, abuse potential, or withdrawal in trials, including a dedicated abuse-liability study. Human drug-interaction data are limited; theoretical caution is reasonable when combining with other sedatives or CNS depressants, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Discuss with a clinician before substituting it for a prescribed anxiety or depression medication. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Lavender (Silexan) with any medicine.

Lavender (Silexan) drug interactions

Known or theoretical interactions between Lavender (Silexan) and common medications — educational, not exhaustive. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Lavender (Silexan) with any medicine.

Monitor
Benzodiazepines, sleep medicines & alcohol
May add to drowsiness; theoretical additive sedation with sedative drugs, important before surgery/anesthesia.
Lavender may have mild CNS-depressant activity that could add to the effect of sedative medicines. NCCIH — Lavender

Key Studies

Meta-analysis Dold 2023 ✓ PubMed
Meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=1213): Silexan cut HAMA 2.9 points vs placebo (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.13-0.56; p=0.002).
Systematic review Kasper 2017 ✓ PubMed
Pooled GAD dose analysis: 160 mg/day superior to placebo on all outcomes; 80 mg is the lower end of the range.
Meta-analysis Generoso 2017 ✓ PubMed
Updated meta-analysis confirms Silexan's anxiolytic effect across pooled placebo-controlled trials.
RCT Kasper 2024 ✓ PubMed
Mild-moderate depression RCT (n=498): MADRS 2.2 pts better than placebo (p<0.01), similar to 50 mg sertraline.
RCT Kasper 2016 ✓ PubMed
Mixed anxiety-depression RCT (n=318): HAMA fell 10.8 pts (Silexan) vs 8.4 (placebo), p<0.01.
RCT Kasper 2014 ✓ PubMed
GAD RCT (n=539): Silexan 160 mg lowered HAMA 14.1 pts vs 9.5 placebo; matched 20 mg paroxetine.
RCT Woelk 2010 ✓ PubMed
GAD RCT vs lorazepam: HAMA fell ~45% with Silexan vs ~46% with 0.5 mg lorazepam — comparable efficacy.
RCT Kasper 2010 ✓ PubMed
Subsyndromal anxiety RCT (n=221): HAMA dropped 59% vs 35% placebo; PSQI sleep score improved 45% vs 31%.
8 sources cited · 8 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Lavender (Silexan)

What is Lavender (Silexan) used for?

Lavender (Silexan) is most often taken for Reduce anxiety symptoms, Ease restlessness & worry, Improve sleep quality, Lift mild-to-moderate low mood. A standardized oral lavender oil with real anxiolytic data.

Does Lavender (Silexan) work — what does the evidence say?

Strong evidence. Multiple high-quality RCTs / meta-analyses with consistent effects. Silexan is a standardized softgel of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) taken by mouth, distinct from aromatherapy or culinary lavender. Across five double-blind RCTs (1,213 patients), it reduced Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scores about 2.9 points more than placebo, a modest-to-moderate effect (standardized mean difference ~0.35). In generalized anxiety disorder, 160 mg/day lowered HAMA by ~14 points and worked as well as 0.5 mg lorazepam and 20 mg paroxetine, without sedation or dependence. Subthreshold-anxiety and mixed anxiety-depression trials also showed benefit, including better sleep quality (PSQI), likely secondary to reduced anxiety rather than a direct hypnotic effect. A 2024 trial found a small antidepressant signal in mild-to-moderate depression. The main limits: nearly all trials are funded by the manufacturer, durations are ~10 weeks, and results do not generalize to other lavender forms.

What is the typical dose of Lavender (Silexan)?

80–160 mg/day of the standardized oral preparation Silexan (one soft-gel capsule), with 160 mg/day used for generalized anxiety disorder.

Is Lavender (Silexan) safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Silexan is well tolerated; the most common side effect is eructation (burping) with a lavender taste or breath odour, plus occasional nausea or mild GI upset — roughly 3% above placebo. Unlike benzodiazepines it has not shown sedation, dependence, abuse potential, or withdrawal in trials, including a dedicated abuse-liability study. Human drug-interaction data are limited; theoretical caution is reasonable when combining with other sedatives or CNS depressants, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Discuss with a clinician before substituting it for a prescribed anxiety or depression medication.

How many studies support Lavender (Silexan)?

NutriDex cites 8 sources for Lavender (Silexan), graded "Strong".

Does Lavender (Silexan) interact with any medications?

Yes — known or theoretical interactions include: Sedatives (benzodiazepines, opioids, alcohol) (monitor). This is educational and not exhaustive; always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Lavender (Silexan) with any medicine.

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Lavender (Silexan) (Lavandula angustifolia): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/lavender

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_lavender,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Lavender (Silexan) (Lavandula angustifolia): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/lavender},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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