Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Sleep: The Science Behind Linalool, Silexan, and CalmAid

Lavender: The Plant with Surprising Effects

Lavender was first used in ancient Egypt and Greece as a fragrance, and it has been used for its healing properties since the days of the Roman Empire. This knowledge was furthered by the Arabs and then preserved by the monasteries in medieval Europe. Its use as a medicine reemerged during the plagues, and in the Victorian era lavender was used almost indiscriminately, from an aphrodisiac or a furniture polish to an insect repellent or a cure-all. 

By the end of the 19th century, its overuse led to a backlash in its popularity, and it became associated with “old ladies” (as one website remarked), and it remained used only as a fragrance into the 20th century. 

Later it became increasingly popular in the emerging practices of alternative medicine as an agent in aromatherapy, gaining more mainstream acceptance.  It was only  during the last few years of the 20th century, however, when the first reports about the antianxiety effects of lavender oil started to appear in the academic literature.

The Active Compounds in Lavender Oil: Linalool and Linalyl Acetate

Two decades of neuropsychiatric research helps us to begin to understand the underpinnings of lavender’s beneficial effects.

The oil extract of lavender contains many chemicals, of which two seem to be psychologically active: linalyl acetate and linalool (pronounced either with the “oo” as in “tool”, or as linalo-ol). 

How Linalool Works: Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition Like SSRIs

Linalool has an effect similar to medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro). It binds to the serotonin reuptake transporter — the same molecular target that both Prozac and Lexapro act on. Both drugs exert their anti-anxiety effects by inhibiting this protein, increasing the availability of serotonin in the synaptic space. Linalool appears to work through the same mechanism.

Lavender and NMDA Receptor Inhibition: A Link to Ketamine

Linalool and linalyl acetate — either alone or in combination — have also been found to bind with an inhibitory effect to the NMDA receptor. This is the same receptor, and the same inhibitory action, upon which the antidepressant effect of ketamine depends.

These findings were established in precise laboratory experiments. Human studies remain limited but generally show lavender oil extract to have a calming effect on the mind — consistent with the proposed dual mechanism of serotonin reuptake inhibition and NMDA receptor modulation.

Silexan and Calm-Aid: Pharmaceutical-Grade Lavender for Anxiety

Silexan is a standardized, pharmaceutical-grade extract of linalool and linalyl acetate, developed in Germany in the first decade of this century. It has been evaluated in multiple clinical trials, the majority of which yielded favorable results for generalized anxiety and related conditions.

Silexan is available in the United States as an over-the-counter product under the trade name CalmAid. It is recommended to be taken once daily, at the time of day most helpful for the individual.

If you decide to try lavender, make sure that you talk about it with your doctor first.   As discussed above, lavender is a mixture of molecules which affect the same receptors that other medications act on, and it is important not to expose yourself to the risk of interactions.

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Alexander Papp, MD