Lavender: The TCM View, the Evidence, and Safe Home Use

Ask a TCM practitioner about Lavender and you usually get two answers at once. There is the classical one, all about nature, flavor and meridians, and there is the modern one, full of trials and constituents. Both are worth hearing, and this article gives each its turn.

Lavender is an aromatic, evergreen plant that's native to the Mediterranean region, including the countries of France, Spain, Andorra, and Italy.

The traditional view of Lavender

Lavender (Xun Yi Cao, 薰衣草) is cool in nature, acrid, aromatic in flavor, and enters the heart, liver meridians. In plain terms, that profile is why practitioners reach for it: a cool herb settles the opposite problem.

• Calms the shen as an evening aromatherapy or tea
• Soothes liver qi constraint behind irritability and insomnia

It rarely travels alone. One classic pairing is chamomile, a gentle night pairing for the over-tired

Modern evidence, plainly put

This is where the research is most active: topical (on the skin) lavender does not seem to have an effect on symptoms of depression. One preliminary study with seventy-two postmenopausal women aged 50-65 years suggested that a lavender oil product, taken orally, might offer some relief for menopause-related sexual dysfunction, but more reliable evidence is needed to confirm effects. It’s unclear whether aromatherapy with lavender oil has benefits for anxiety, stress, symptoms of depression, some types of pain, sleep quality or insomnia, or other conditions.

Using it at home

A few buds in the evening tea, or a sachet by the pillow.

Who should be careful with it

There are theoretical reasons to suspect that lavender might interact with some sedative drugs or herbs, which is especially important if you have an upcoming surgical procedure. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using lavender or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the U.S.

The traditional caution: light use only in pregnancy

Consistency beats dose. A modest amount taken regularly usually does more than a heroic amount taken twice.