A new study suggests lavender essential oil could help people recovering from brain tumor surgery sleep better and feel less anxious. Patients in the trial wore nasal patches with lavender oil for seven nights after surgery. They slept longer, fell asleep faster, and had less severe sleep apnea, with the biggest improvement seen on the fourth night.
The trial included 42 patients recovering from intracranial tumor surgery, a procedure often linked to sleep problems and anxiety. Those using lavender also had shorter episodes of postoperative delirium and felt less anxious by the seventh day.
Researchers say the benefits may come from repeated use over several nights. Lavender’s main compounds, linalool and linalyl acetate, are thought to affect brain pathways tied to relaxation. No side effects were reported, but experts say larger studies are needed before lavender can be widely recommended in hospitals.
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