Is Lavender Tea Good for Menstrual Cramps?

Partly: lavender tea may feel soothing during menstrual cramps if you enjoy a warm drink, but a direct pain-relieving mechanism has not been established. Studies of lavender aromatherapy offer limited, indirect evidence; they did not test the tea. If you try lavender tea, use a food-grade product and treat it as a comfort measure rather than a proven treatment.

Can lavender tea help menstrual cramps?

Lavender tea might help you relax while you wait for cramps to ease, but there is no established dose or reliable way to predict whether it will reduce your pain. The research discussed below involves smelling lavender or receiving massage with lavender oil, not drinking lavender tea.

It is reasonable to enjoy lavender tea alongside other appropriate comfort measures, but do not rely on it to manage severe or worsening pain. For a broader comparison, see the best drinks for menstrual cramps.

How might lavender tea work?

Menstrual cramps are associated with contractions of the uterus. Prostaglandins, substances involved in those contractions, contribute to menstrual pain. It has not been established that drinking lavender tea changes prostaglandin levels or uterine contractions.

The warmth and aroma of lavender tea may make the experience feel comforting, and taking time to rest can be pleasant when you have cramps. That is different from proving that lavender tea acts on the cause of the pain. Smelling the aroma from a cup also does not necessarily provide the same exposure as a lavender inhalation used in a study.

What does the evidence say?

A 2014 randomized clinical trial of 96 students found that participants who inhaled lavender in sesame oil reported fewer symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea than those who inhaled sesame oil alone. Primary dysmenorrhea means menstrual pain without an identified pelvic disorder. The trial did not test lavender tea.

In a 2016 randomized clinical trial of 200 students, those assigned to lavender aromatherapy reported less menstrual pain after the intervention than the control group. This adds some support for further study of inhaled lavender, but it does not establish that drinking lavender tea has the same effect.

A 2015 study of 80 students also found less pain after massage with lavender oil than after placebo-oil massage. Because the intervention included massage, its results cannot show what drinking lavender tea would do.

Overall, the evidence is limited and indirect for lavender tea. The studies focused on students with primary menstrual pain, so their findings may not apply to cramps associated with another condition. They also do not establish how much lavender tea to drink or how quickly it might work.

How can you use lavender tea?

If you want to try lavender tea, choose dried lavender sold for culinary or tea use and follow the package directions. Do not swallow lavender essential oil: it is a concentrated product, not an ingredient for this drink.

For a refrigerated lavender infusion that you can warm before drinking, you will need:

• Dried culinary lavender buds, in the amount specified on the product label for 1 cup (240 mL) of water
• 1 cup (240 mL) potable water

1. Combine the lavender buds and water in a clean, covered container.
2. Refrigerate immediately and steep for 2–4 hours.
3. Strain out the buds, bring the infusion to a boil, and let it cool to a comfortable drinking temperature.
4. Drink promptly. If storing any portion, refrigerate it and drink it within 24 hours of preparation.

If the product label directs you to brew the lavender with boiling water, follow those directions instead. Choose a product with preparation instructions; there is no established lavender tea dose for menstrual cramps, and having more is not known to give better relief.

A heating pad on the lower abdomen may also be comforting; follow its instructions and protect your skin from burns. A pharmacist or clinician can help you decide whether an over-the-counter pain medicine is appropriate for you.

Who should be careful with lavender tea?

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering lavender tea for a child, check with a healthcare professional first. Safety information for medicinal use of lavender tea in these groups is limited. Avoid it if you have had an allergic reaction to lavender.

Ask a healthcare professional before using lavender tea regularly if you take medicines, especially sedatives or sleep medicines, because lavender may add to drowsiness. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to try lavender tea.

Make an appointment if cramps are getting worse, interfere with daily activities, or occur with symptoms such as bleeding between periods or pain during sex. A clinician can assess possible causes, including conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids. Keeping a note of when pain occurs and how it affects your activities can help you describe it at the appointment.

Seek urgent medical care for sudden or severe pelvic pain, particularly if pregnancy is possible, or if pain occurs with fever, fainting, or very heavy bleeding with dizziness. Lavender tea should not delay assessment of these symptoms.