Migraines affect 38 million men, women, and children in the United States impacting daily activities such as school, work, and family time. Various factors can influence migraine frequency and severity including diet, hormones, autoimmune disturbances, mental stress and lifestyle. Several prescription drugs are often used, however, there is not a single drug that is effective for everyone.
Lavender essential oil has been used for the treatments of colds, digestion, abdominal gas, upset stomach, gallbladder, and loss of appetite. There is also evidence reporting a benefit for anxiety disorders.
A recent study published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine performed a clinical trial testing lavender essential oil for reducing migraine frequency and intensity. In this study people between the ages of 15-50 who experience 2-8 migraines per month were included in the study. Patients took by mouth 10 drops of lavender essential oil at nighttime for three months. The essential oil was made by crushing the leaves followed by a hydrodistillation method. The essential oil was dissolved in an alcohol solvent. The ratio of essential oil to solvent was 1:3.
Here are the results:
- Lavendar essential oil reduced the number of headaches reported per month in 27 people from an average of 7.32 migraines/month at the start of the study to 2.28 migraines/month by 3 months
- Lavendar essential oil reduced the severity of headaches from a score of 7.03 at the start of the study to 3.35 by 3 months. (The scoring system was the Migraine Disability Assessment Scores questionnaire)
Take away message: These results suggest a possible benefit for reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Furthermore, previous research uses lavender essential oil as an aromatherapy has also reported a benefit of lavender essential oil in reducing migraines. The mechanism of action is unknown, however, there are phytochemicals in lavender that have a calming effect along with mild sedative properties.
Journal of Herbal Medicine. Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2016, Pages 18–23
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.