Lavender
- Type
- Plant
- Botanical name
- Lavandula angustifolia
- Other names
- true lavender, English lavender
Plant
True lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, belongs to the mint family. It is a low, broadly rounded shrub with narrow grey-green leaves that are aromatic when bruised, and in summer it bears many small flowers in spikes, usually lavender-purple but sometimes pink or white. It needs full sun and perfectly drained soil and dies out in heavy, wet clay.[3]
The name lavender comes from the Latin verb lavare, "to wash".[1]
Uses
The dried flowers are used in potpourri, and the plant is grown in borders, low hedges and herb, butterfly and rock gardens.[3] Lavender is also used in foods, and it is sold as a dietary supplement taken by mouth for anxiety and stress, although more high-quality research is needed to reach reliable conclusions about its effects.[1]
Lavender oil
Lavender essential oil is obtained by passing steam through the flowering tops of the plant. Lavender oil medicines are traditionally used for mild symptoms of mental stress and exhaustion and to aid sleep.[2] Lavandin, a hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender, gives an oil with a strongly herbaceous scent.[4]
Safety
Lavender in the amounts used in foods is likely safe. Lavender taken by mouth may cause diarrhoea, headache, nausea or burping in some people, and products put on the skin may cause allergic skin reactions. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.[1] The plant itself is of low toxicity: eating it can cause nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. It can be a problem for dogs, cats and horses.[3]
Products containing it
- Herbal Harmony Drops (D 249)
- Oral Nasal Hygiene Spray Strong (E 142)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Lavender. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 European Medicines Agency, Lavandulae aetheroleum: herbal medicinal product. Retrieved 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 North Carolina State University Extension, Lavandula angustifolia. Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
- ↑ Steffen Arctander, Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, Elizabeth, NJ, 1960: Lavandin Oil.