Here Are 8 Health Benefits That Lavender Tea Is Good For

Fragrant lavender tea is a great way to unwind and relax. Lavender tea is made by brewing lavender buds in hot water. It has a sweet and soothing scent that’s reminiscent of pretty purple lavender fields.

Lavender tea has long been used in traditional folk medicine to cure illnesses. It has many potential health benefits. 

Here’s all you need to know about lavender tea and its health benefits and risks.

Lavender or Lavandula angustifolia is a Mediterranean evergreen plant. It bears lavender buds that grow into tiny purple flowers. Lavender has a sweet fragrance, which is used as a scent in skincare products and for aromatherapy. It belongs to the same family as mint and sage.

You can use store-bought lavender teabags and brew them in hot water. To make lavender tea with loose buds, add two grams or half a teaspoon of it to a cup of hot water. Let it brew for a few minutes. 

Research shows that lavender buds contain an essential oil called silexan, which can be extracted using the steam distillation method. Lavender essential oil has many medicinal properties. Lavender tea is not only comforting but good for your health. 

Here are eight possible benefits of lavender tea:

1. Helps with anxiety and depression

Lavender is a common aromatherapy agent because of its calming properties. Research shows that aromatic compounds in lavender may calm you down, activate certain parts of your brain, and boost your mood.

Lavender extract and oil preparations can improve mood and calm the mind. A study showed that people given 80 milligrams of lavender essential oil silexan daily had less anxiety, restlessness, and agitation. Lavender essential oil effectively reduced anxiety in 221 patients with anxiety disorder.

To test if lavender tea has similar effects, scientists conducted a study on new mothers in Taiwan. After childbirth, new mothers are prone to anxiety, depression, and fatigue. So, they were given one cup or 250 milliliters of lavender tea each day for two weeks. 

They were encouraged to sip the tea slowly while taking in its aroma. Women who smelled the lavender tea while drinking it showed less tiredness and depression than those who didn’t smell or drink it.

Another study conducted on 60 older people in Iran showed positive results. They were given two grams of lavender tea in a teabag per day. It had to be used twice a day as a decoction over two weeks. Those who had lavender tea reported reduced depression and anxiety scores. Lavender tea can be an easily accessible complementary treatment for anxiety and depression.

2. Improves sleep

Lavender’s calming effects may help improve sleep. Researchers conducted a study on 158 new mothers after delivery. Women who took 10 deep breaths to smell lavender fragrance for four days a week over eight weeks had better sleep quality than those who didn’t smell lavender.

A study in mice also showed that applying lavender oil put them to sleep more quickly and for longer durations.

More studies are required to study the effects of lavender tea in people with sleep disorders. In the meantime, while you sip your lavender tea, taking in the aroma may help you relax and get better sleep. 

3. Reduces menstrual discomfort

Lavender may help relieve menstrual cramps and discomfort. A study was conducted on 200 young adult women in Iran. They were encouraged to smell lavender for 30 minutes daily during the first three days of their menstrual cycle. After two months of smelling lavender, the women showed less painful cramps than those who didn’t smell lavender.

Appreciating the aroma while drinking lavender tea may help reduce menstrual pain. However, more research is needed to understand lavender tea’s role in reducing menstrual discomfort. 

4. Has antibacterial effects

Lavender essential oil has antibacterial and antiseptic effects. A study revealed that lavender essential oil can inhibit infectious strains of bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds in the essential oil possibly enter the bacteria and break down the cell walls. These results show that having lavender tea may prevent bacterial infections.

5. May cure headaches 

Lavender essential oil has pain-relieving or analgesic properties. It can help reduce pain during headaches like migraine. A study suggested that inhaling lavender essential oil can be a safe way to treat migraine headaches. If you have a headache, make yourself some lavender tea and take in the sweet aroma for relief. 

6. May help with allergic respiratory problems 

Lavender has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. A study in mice showed that inhaling lavender essential oil reduced the activation of inflammatory molecules.  This indicates that lavender essential oil in lavender tea may be useful to treat allergic respiratory problems like bronchial asthma.

7. Reduces heart rate and blood pressure

An animal study showed that lavender extracts decrease heart rate and blood pressure in rats. Lavender also relaxes certain muscles, which may contribute to its calming effects. Drinking lavender tea may improve your heart rate and overall well-being.

8. Has antioxidant effects

Lavender is known to have antioxidant effects. Antioxidants are compounds that destroy free radicals — harmful molecules that cause oxidative damage to cells, which can lead to diseases and infections. Having lavender tea can boost antioxidants in your body and keep your cells healthy and protected.

Too many lavender buds in your tea may make it very strong to taste. Lavender tea doesn’t have any known risks, but lavender essential oil has some risks. 

It can have possible neurological effects and affect your heart rate. It can also cause allergies in some. Talk to your doctor before consuming lavender if you have a heart condition, are on medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.