Lavender Oil (Silexan)
Also known as: Lavandula angustifolia oil, Silexan®
Randomized placebo-controlled trials and meta-analyses report that oral Silexan 80 mg/day reduces anxiety severity versus placebo and improves patient-rated outcomes; one head-to-head trial found similar anxiolytic effects versus lorazepam. Systematic reviews and network meta-analyses identify Silexan as an effective and well tolerated phytopharmaceutical for anxiety.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14 · 4 indexed studies
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Overview
Silexan is a proprietary oral Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil preparation that has been tested in multiple randomized trials and meta-analyses for anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety. Trials typically use 80 mg/day over 6–10 weeks and report reduced anxiety symptoms versus placebo and effects comparable to lorazepam in one trial, with generally favourable tolerability.
Mechanism & Function
Mechanism of Action
Mechanistic details are not fully described in the provided abstracts. Clinical effects are described without new mechanistic data in these summaries.
Physiological Role
Not stated in the provided clinical abstracts beyond demonstrated symptomatic anxiolysis and associated improvements in health-related quality of life.
Primary Pathways
Performance / Health Relevance
Not applicable for athletic performance; clinical relevance is targeted to symptom reduction in anxiety disorders and subthreshold anxiety, with potential secondary benefits for sleep and quality of life reported in network analyses.
Evidence Review
Practical Use & Dosage
- Minimum Effective Dose
- 80 mg/day (oral) as used in the clinical trials and meta-analyses
- Optimal Range
- 80 mg/day (oral) for 6–10 weeks as studied
- Upper / Caution Level
- Not established in the provided abstracts
- Timing
- Once daily as used in the trials
- Best Format
- Oral capsule formulation of Silexan as used in clinical studies
- Bioavailability
- Proprietary oral preparation (Silexan) was the formulation tested; other lavender preparations were assessed in broader reviews but clinical evidence here pertains to Silexan.
- Absorption Considerations
- Not described in the provided abstracts
Safety & Interactions
Side Effects
- •No increase in adverse events versus placebo reported in pooled analyses
- •Not associated with sedation in at least one trial
Monitoring
Trials reported favourable tolerability and no greater occurrence of adverse events or serious adverse events versus placebo; monitor as you would for any new anxiolytic intervention and consult prescriber when used with prescription anxiolytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto-generated from indexed evidence — dosage, safety, interactions, and more.
When is Lavender Oil (Silexan) typically used or indicated?
Lavender Oil (Silexan) is most commonly used for: Anxiety reduction, Stress reduction, Mild sleep problems, General wellbeing/quality of life. Not stated in the provided clinical abstracts beyond demonstrated symptomatic anxiolysis and associated improvements in health-related quality of life.
How does Lavender Oil (Silexan) work?
Mechanistic details are not fully described in the provided abstracts. Clinical effects are described without new mechanistic data in these summaries.
What is the recommended dose of Lavender Oil (Silexan)?
The optimal range is 80 mg/day (oral) for 6–10 weeks as studied. with a minimum effective dose of 80 mg/day (oral) as used in the clinical trials and meta-analyses. Best taken: Once daily as used in the trials. Upper / caution level: Not established in the provided abstracts.
What are the side effects of Lavender Oil (Silexan)?
Reported side effects include: No increase in adverse events versus placebo reported in pooled analyses; and Not associated with sedation in at least one trial. Monitoring: Trials reported favourable tolerability and no greater occurrence of adverse events or serious adverse events versus placebo; monitor as you would for any new anxiolytic intervention and consult prescriber when used with prescription anxiolytics.
How strong is the evidence for Lavender Oil (Silexan)?
Evidence level: Moderate (overall score 71/100), based on 4 indexed studies on SuppIndex.
Research & References (4)
Medicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Network meta-analysis of medicinal herbs for anxiety found Silexan produced a significant reduction in HAM-A scores versus control and showed possible benefits for depression and insomnia in the included trials.
Comparative efficacy and acceptability of anxiolytic drugs for the treatment of anxiety disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Network meta-analysis including pharmacological and phytopharmaceutical treatments for anxiety disorders reported Silexan as both effective and as acceptable as placebo, and among few treatments with fewer adverse events than placebo.
Efficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
Meta-analysis of five double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral Silexan (80 mg/day) in subthreshold anxiety, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, and GAD (n=1213).
A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder.
Multicentre, double-blind randomized trial comparing Silexan with lorazepam in adults with GAD over 6 weeks.
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Research Overview
Moderate EvidenceCite this ingredient
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Stable URL
https://thesuppindex.com/ingredients/lavender-oil-silexan
SuppIndex. (2026). Lavender Oil (Silexan): Evidence summary, dosage and clinical studies. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://thesuppindex.com/ingredients/lavender-oil-silexan
Based on 4 indexed studies · Evidence level: Moderate.
Goal Ratings
Stack Compatibility
Clinical data pertain to Silexan alone or versus standard anxiolytics; concomitant use with prescription anxiolytics was not detailed in the provided abstracts.