The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence

Background:The commercialization of essential oils has expanded their presence in the United States, and emerging studies demonstrate that they may have a place in Western medicine. One oil with a significant body of evidence is lavender essential oil, which may have benefits in wound healing. Objectives:This review aims to present the scientific literature on therapeutic lavender essential oil with the goal of expanding the current repertoire of cost-effective wound healing options available to physicians and patients. Methods:A review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase from June 2018 through March 2019 to identify articles related to lavender essential oil in the context of wound healing. Results:This search yielded 36 unique studies, 20 of which remained after screening. This review utilizes human clinical trials (n = 7), animal trials (n = 5),in vitrostudies (n = 2), and previously conducted reviews (n = 6). Overall, these studies demonstrated a faster rate of wound healing, increased expression of collagen, and enhanced activity of proteins involved in the tissue remodeling process in wounds treated with lavender essential oil. Conclusions:The current body of literature suggests a potential therapeutic benefit of lavender essential oil in wound healing. However, standardization of the chemical composition and additional high-quality human clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of lavender essential oil in clinical practice.