Aromatherapy (inhalation)
Lavender-led scent inhalation, the best-studied corner of essential-oil use: moderate-certainty evidence for acute anxiety relief.
Why
Inhalation aromatherapy — a few drops of essential oil in a diffuser or on a tissue — is the form of essential-oil use with usable clinical evidence, mostly for situational anxiety. A meta-analysis in cardiovascular patients (12 RCTs) graded the anxiety effect moderate-certainty, with lavender the most-studied oil. Distinct from oral lavender-oil capsules (Silexan), which have their own trial base and their own entry.
The technique
3–5 drops in a diffuser for 30–60 minutes, or 1–2 drops on a tissue held near the nose for several minutes. Topical use only diluted 1–3% in a carrier oil.
Ideal for
Situational anxiety — pre-procedure, pre-sleep, travel. People who want a low-effort sensory cue for wind-down.
Evidence
Turan Kavradim 2021 meta-analysis, 12 RCTs in cardiovascular patients — inhalation aromatherapy (mostly lavender) reduced anxiety with moderate GRADE certainty, plus small drops in systolic BP and heart rate. Trials are short and exposure-bound; no durable-effect claims.