A Summary Literature Review of the Effects of Lavender vs. Chamomile’s on Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality
Click the Poster to View Full Screen, Right click to save image
Aaron Williams
College:
The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Major:
Biology
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Sasmita Mishra
Abstract:
There has been a resurgent interest in natural/herbal medicines to treat disorders such as depression, anxiety, and to help improve sleep quality. Lavender and chamomile have been shown to have a similar effect on mild cases of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality, as synthetic drugs like lorazepam and corticosterone. This study aims to compare the effects of two ancient herbal remedies, lavender, and chamomile, and see which is more effective at treating the previously mentioned conditions. A systematic review was conducted. We scoured databases such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, and PUBMED looking for papers that pertained to lavender and chamomile essential oils, teas, and other forms. Review articles were used as a guideline but weren’t included in the table with the selected papers. Out of this literature survey, 25 studies were chosen with a total sample size of 2356. The most common experimental type for lavender and chamomile was a randomized control trial, occurring 11 times. Lavender was more effective at controlling anxiety, while chamomile is possibly more effective at alleviating depression and improving sleep quality. At the beginning of this study, we wanted to see whether chamomile or lavender was more effective at alleviating one or more of depression, anxiety, and improving sleep quality. As it stands, lavender seems to be more effective at relieving anxiety, while chamomile seems better suited for people who struggle with insomnia and depression. For future studies, we recommend testing how effective a lavender-chamomile combination will be on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality, as there aren’t many studies done on a combination. Another area of future research, could be enhancing strains of lavender and chamomile to better treat these conditions.