12 Outstanding Benefits of Lavender Oil Most People Don’t Know

Pounding head? Try a whiff of lavender. A study looking at 47 patients who suffered from regular migraines prescribed one-half of the group regular 15-minute lavender-smelling sessions while the other half inhaled a placebo. The effects were immediate and lasting: Researchers found that those in the experimental group reported significantly less severity of migraine attacks for the next two hours.

Lavender oil is lauded for both its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it a quality contender to include in your clean skincare routine. Antioxidants are known to fight off the free radicals that can send your skin into a tizzy by impairing mitochondrial function and speeding up the process of aging. Including a drop or two of lavender oil into your favorite lotion or face, the cream will give your skin a boost of antioxidant power before bed (and will add a touch of soothing aromatherapy to your nighttime routine).

Before hailing this floral concoction as miracle oil, it’s important to note that more rigorous clinical trials are necessary before it should be treated as a prescriptive gospel. That being said, the work that has been done to put lavender oil to the test has generated some pretty impressive health benefits.

Just as there are myriad benefits of lavender oil, there are myriad ways to use it. It’s typically used topically for skin and hair health although methods can differ based on your preferred ways of application. It’s wise not to go too heavy-handed with the oil—since it’s highly concentrated, two or three drops are most likely all you need.

When it comes to your skin, dilution is important: The oil can be applied topically to help with irritated or inflamed skin but only if it has been diluted in a “carrier oil” or neutral, minimally processed oil such as coconut, argan, or olive. The mixture can be used just as you would a lotion or moisturizer, once or twice daily. For hair health, you can massage a couple of drops of lavender oil into your scalp as a calming end to the day, or add two or three drops to each dollop of shampoo or conditioner you use.

If it’s improving anxiety or getting a sound night’s sleep that you’re after, putting your oil in a diffuser is your best bet. There are a few ways to use the scent of lavender for your benefit, one of the most popular being diffusion. Essential oil diffusion consists of using a small device to disperse particles of oil into the air, allowing for easy inhalation. If you’d rather not diffuse, a few deep inhales of the scent before bed (or anytime you need a moment of calm) will do the trick. You can even draw the perfect calming herbal bath using a few drops of lavender to soak your stresses away.

Whenever you’re purchasing an essential oil, it’s important to look out for certain things on the bottle. You can tell an oil is high-quality if it lists both the common and scientific name of the active oil(s) and any carrier oils, has the word “therapeutic” on the label and comes in a dark glass bottle that keeps light from entering—which can mess with the oil’s efficacy. Be sure to check the expiration date, too! It’s a relatively affordable essential oil because of the way the lavender plant is extracted, so a low price isn’t necessarily a red flag.

If you’re ready to dive into the lavender lifestyle, there are still a couple of factors to consider. Some side effects include skin irritation or an allergic reaction, so putting a patch test on your skin before use can save you some trouble. Just as with any new supplement, chatting with a medical professional before use is recommended. Though lavender oil is safe for most individuals, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with a doctor.