Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2007; 12: 46
Lavender oils are widely used for psychic disorders, especially anxiety, both externally (aromatherapy), and, at times, via internal application. As hardly any data could be retrieved, research started with a pivotal study using a defined preparation (Silexan*) from Lavandula species.
In a single-centre, open-label study, we treated patients (aged 18–70 years) with no further treatment for neurasthenia, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or somatisation disorder within the last 3 months with 80 g Silexan (single capsule) daily for 6 weeks. Outcome for primary symptoms was measured at weeks 0, 3 and 6 by symptom checklist-90-R, state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), depression scale (DS), and a sleep diary. In addition, SF-36, adverse events (AE) and standard laboratory values were recorded.
Fifty patients were included; 47 were evaluated with respect to efficacy (8 men, 39 women; mean (SD) age 51.6 ± 8.8 years; 14 had neurasthenia, 17 had PSTD, 13 had both; 3 had somatisation disorders. State anxiety improved by 4.5 ± 10.7 points (P ≤ 0.005, one-sided Wilcoxon signed rank test), trait anxiety by 7.4 ± 8.9 points (P ≤ 0.001), depression by 5.5 ± 7.0 points (P ≤ 0.001) and efficiency of sleep by 3.4 ± 8.0% (P ≤ 0.001). Several subscores of SF-36 improved significantly. No serious AEs or changes in laboratory values were recorded.
In an open trial, restlessness, anxiety and depression were significantly reduced in patients with neurasthenia and PTSD treated with Silexan. Controlled studies are encouraged, especially as there are no standard therapies for these conditions.
Silexan and further support was provided by Dr Willmar Schwabe GmbH 8 Co., KG.
*Silexan was developed by the Schwabe group.
