Spike Lavender Essential Oil

Linalo is notable for its antinociceptive action.

• Batista, P.A., Werner, M.F., Oliveira, E.C., Burgos, L., Pereira, P., Brum, L.F. and Santos, A.R. (2008) Evidence for the involvement of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors on the antinociceptive effect of (-)-linalool in mice. Neuroscience Letters 440, 299-303.

• Batista, P., Harris, E., Werner, M., Santos, A. and Story, G. (2011). Inhibition of TRPA1 and NMDA channels contributes to anti-nociception induced by (-)-linalool. Journal of Pain 12, 30.

Lavender is well regarded as an analgesic oil, and its main constituent linalol has been well researched in this capacity. Research has established that it has antinociceptive pain relieving actions, via inhalation as well as topical application, both on its own and in blends, as seen in studies

• Kim, K.T., Ren, C.J., Fielding, G.A., Pitti, A., Kasumi, T., Wajda, M., Lebovits, A. and Bekker, A. (2007) Treatment with lavender aromatherapy in the post-anesthesia care unit reduces opioid requirements of morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Obesity Surgery 17, 7, 920-925.
• Ou, M.C., Hsu, T.F., Lai, L.C., Lin, Y.T. & Lin, C.C. (2012) Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research 38, 5, 817-822.
• Ou, M.C., Lee, Y.F., Li, C.C. and Wu, S.K. (2014) The effectiveness of essential oils for patients with neck pain: a randomized controlled study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 20, 10, 771-779.

Linalyl acetate also has antinociceptive action.

• Peanna, A.T., D’Aquila, P.S., Panin, F., Serra, G., Pippia, P. and Moretti, M.D. (2002) Anti-inflammatory activity of linalool and linalyl acetate constituents of essential oils. Phytomedicine 9, 721-726.

Antiallergenic

The essential oil has anti-allergic activity.

• Kim, H.M. & Cho, S.H. (1999) Lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction in mice and rats. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 51, 221-226.

Antibacterial

Edwards-Jones et al. (2004) found that a combination of Lavender, Geranium, and Tea Tree had an increased inhibitory effect on the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but that Lavender and Tea Tree without the Geranium were less active against MRSA.

• Edwards-Jones, V., Buck, R., Shawcross S.G., Dawson, M.M. and Dunn, K. (2004) The effect of essential oils on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using a dressing model. Burns 30, 8, 772-777.

Antifungal (Candida and dermatophytes)

Lavender is active against Candida. It is also active against dermatophytes, especially when used in conjunction with Tea Tree.

• Cassella, S., Cassella, J.P. and Smith, I. (2002) Synergistic antifungal activity of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils against dermatophyte infection. International Journal of Aromatherapy 12, 1, 2-15.

Anti-inflammatory

Lavender and linalol both have anti-inflammatory actions, possibly by reducing nitric oxide synthesis or release (nitric oxide contributes to pain and edema), and the release of pro-inflammatory compounds in the tissues.

• Rivot, J. P., Montagne-Clavel, J. and Besson, J. M. (2002) Subcutaneous formalin and carrageenan increase nitric acid release as measured by in vivo voltammetry in the spinal cord. European Journal of Pain 6, 25-34.

Antispasmodic

The antispasmodic actions of Lavender are likely due in part to the presence of linalyl acetate, which relaxes smooth muscle.

• Kang, P., Han, S.H., Moon, H.K., Lee, J.-M., Kim, H.-K., Min, S.S. and Seol, G.H. (2013) Citrus bergamia Risso elevates intracellular Ca2+ in human vascular endothelial cells due to release of Ca2+ from primary intracellular stores. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Article ID 759615. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/759615

Anxiolytic

The essential oil and its main components linalol and linalyl acetate have since been the subject of many studies, which have established that both inhaled and topically applied, Lavender and these components have pronounced sedative and anxiety relieving properties.

• Field, T., Cullen, C., Largie, S., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., and Kuhn, C. (2008) Early Human Development 84, 399.
• Hoya, Y., Matsumura, I., Fujita, T. and Yanaga, K. (2008) The use of nonpharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing gastroscopy in a setting with an optimal soothing environment. Gastroenterology Nursing 31, 6, 395-399.
• Hwang, J.H. (2006) The effects of the inhalation method using essential oils on blood pressure and stress responses of clients with essential hypertension. Taehan Kanhoe Hakhoe Chi 36, 7, 1123-1134. Article in Korean. Available at http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/17211115
• Itai, T., Amayasu, H., Kuribayashi, M., Kawamura, N., Okada, M., Momose, A., Tateyama, T., Narumi, K., Uematsu, W. and Kaneko, S. (2000) Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 54, 4 393-397.
• Linck, V.M., da Silva, A.L., Figueiró, M., Caramão, E.B., Moreno, P.R.H. & Elisabetsky, E. (2010) Effects of inhaled linalool in anxiety, social interaction and aggressive behaviour in mice. Phytomedicine 17, 679-683.
• Shen, J., Niijima, A., Tanida, M., Horii, Y., Maeda, K. and Nagai, K. (2005b) Olfactory stimulation with scent of lavender oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats. Neuroscience Letters 383, 118-193.
• Shen, J., Niijima, A., Tanida, M., Horii, Y., Nakamura T. and Nagai, K. (2007) Mechanism of changes induced in plasma glycerol by scent stimulation with grapefruit and lavender essential oils. Neuroscience Letters 416, 241-246.
• Toda, M. & Morimoto, K. (2008) Effect of lavender aroma on salivary endocrinological stress markers. Archives of Oral Biology 53, 10, 964-968.
• Woelk, H. & Schläfke, S. (2010) A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine 17, 2, 94-99.

CNS sedative

Early studies suggested that linalyl acetate, in conjunction with linalol, was important in the sedative effects of Lavender.

• Buchbauer, G., Dietrich, H., Karamat, E., Jirovetz, L., Jager, W., and Plank, C. (1991) Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Journal of Biosciences 46, 1067-1072.

• Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., Jager, W., Plank, C. and Dietrich, H. (1993) Fragrance compounds and essential oils with sedative effects upon inhalation. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 82, 6, 660-664.

The essential oil and its main components linalol and linalyl acetate have since been the subject of many studies, which have established that both inhaled and topically applied, Lavender and these components have pronounced sedative and anxiety relieving properties.

• Field, T., Cullen, C., Largie, S., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., and Kuhn, C. (2008) Early Human Development 84, 399.
• Hoya, Y., Matsumura, I., Fujita, T. and Yanaga, K. (2008) The use of nonpharmacological interventions to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing gastroscopy in a setting with an optimal soothing environment. Gastroenterology Nursing 31, 6, 395-399.
• Hwang, J.H. (2006) The effects of the inhalation method using essential oils on blood pressure and stress responses of clients with essential hypertension. Taehan Kanhoe Hakhoe Chi 36, 7, 1123-1134. Article in Korean. Available at http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/17211115
• Itai, T., Amayasu, H., Kuribayashi, M., Kawamura, N., Okada, M., Momose, A., Tateyama, T., Narumi, K., Uematsu, W. and Kaneko, S. (2000) Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 54, 4 393-397.
• Linck, V.M., da Silva, A.L., Figueiró, M., Caramão, E.B., Moreno, P.R.H. & Elisabetsky, E. (2010) Effects of inhaled linalool in anxiety, social interaction and aggressive behaviour in mice. Phytomedicine 17, 679-683.
• Shen, J., Niijima, A., Tanida, M., Horii, Y., Maeda, K. and Nagai, K. (2005b) Olfactory stimulation with scent of lavender oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats. Neuroscience Letters 383, 118-193.
• Shen, J., Niijima, A., Tanida, M., Horii, Y., Nakamura T. and Nagai, K. (2007) Mechanism of changes induced in plasma glycerol by scent stimulation with grapefruit and lavender essential oils. Neuroscience Letters 416, 241-246.
• Toda, M. & Morimoto, K. (2008) Effect of lavender aroma on salivary endocrinological stress markers. Archives of Oral Biology 53, 10, 964-968.
• Woelk, H. & Schläfke, S. (2010) A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine 17, 2, 94-99.

Skin Healing

Lavender has great ability to heal the skin (burns, ulcers, rashes, irritations, infections, wounds, and other types of damage). This is due to its anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, edema reducing, antiallergic, and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity properties. Its effectiveness was demonstrated by Altaei 2012, who found that, compared to the baseline and placebo, the topical application of Lavender to recurrent mouth ulcers produced a significant reduction in inflammation, ulcer size, and healing time, and that pain relief was experienced from the first application.

• Altaei, D.T. (2012) Topical lavender oil for the treatment of recurrent mouth ulcers. American Journal of Dentistry 25, 1, 39-43.