Stress & Anxiety

Lavender May Reduce Signs of Anxiety in Women

Research shows that lavender oil is just as effective as Xanax, Valium, or Prozac for signs of anxiety in women.

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By Jami Cooley, RN, CNWC • April 2, 2020

It’s normal to feel a little apprehensive from time to time. Let’s face it—life can be stressful. All of us worry about things like financial problems, work, family struggles, or health. But sometimes anxiety can become so severe that completing simple, everyday tasks is difficult. When this occurs, it may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America. Approximately 6.8 million adults suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. It often starts during adolescence and symptoms tend to magnify during stressful periods in life making it important to look for signs of anxiety in women._[1]

18 Signs of Anxiety in Women

Among the common signs of anxiety in women (and also in men) are:

1. Constant feelings of worry and tension
2. Worrying about simple, everyday tasks
3. Inability to relax
4. Unrealistic view of problems
5. Difficulty concentrating
6. Restlessness and being “on edge” or easily startled
7. Feeling tired all the time
8. Irritability and mood swings
9. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
10. Frequent headaches
11. Depression symptoms
12. Muscle tension, aches, and body pains
13. Trembling or twitching
14. Difficulty swallowing
15. Sweating
16. Feeling lightheaded or short of breath
17. Stomach pains and nausea
18. Feeling the need to go to the bathroom frequently

Medications to Treat Signs of Anxiety in Women and Men

Common medications used to treat generalized anxiety disorder include benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. The problem with these medications is that they are highly addictive. When a person becomes dependent on these chemicals, they can develop further psychological and physical distress as well as experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking the medicine.

Sometimes, antidepressants are prescribed to treat chronic anxiety and panic attacks. These medications include Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. However, these medications can cause a slew of side effects and often are ineffective._[2]

Lavender is an herb that has been proven effective by leading researchers as a natural remedy for treating signs of anxiety. In a study published in the journal Phytomedicine, lavender oil was shown to be just as effective as the pharmaceutical drug lorazepam (Ativan). Furthermore, lavender oil showed no sedative effects (a common side effect of lorazepam) and it had no potential for drug abuse or dependence._[3] Other studies have confirmed the anti-anxiety properties of lavender as well as many other medicinal benefits:

• Lavender helps with restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia._[4,5]
• Lavender helps with depression symptoms._[6,7]
• Lavender can be used for painful and inflammatory conditions including migraines and joint pain._[8]
• Lavender can help people who suffer from agitation related to dementia._[9,10]

How to Take Lavender Oil

If you’re interested in using lavender oil to calm nervousness and other signs of anxiety in women and men, what’s the best way to take it?

Lavender oil can be taken by mouth in adults, but it can be difficult to find capsules even at health food stores. The lavender oil capsule preparation used in the study cited above_[3] is called Lavela WS 1265. Before purchasing lavender oil, you should consult with a health care professional to determine the dosage that is best for your needs. Children should not consume essential oil capsules.

Lavender essential oil in liquid format, lavender leaves, and lavender flowers are more readily available than capsules and can be added to bath water.

• Six drops of lavender oil extract or 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of dried lavender flowers may be added to bath water.
• You can prepare lavender tea using 1 to 2 tablespoons of whole, dried flowers for each cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes, and use a tea infuser or strain before drinking.