Is Lavender Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

Partly: lavender tea may be an option during pregnancy if your prenatal clinician agrees, but its ingested plant compounds have not been adequately studied for pregnancy safety.

What is the short answer?

There is not enough evidence to say that lavender tea is safe in pregnancy or to recommend a particular amount. Ask the clinician providing your prenatal care before drinking it, even if the product is sold as a food or herbal tea.

This uncertainty does not mean that a cup is known to cause harm. It means researchers have not established whether drinking lavender tea affects the pregnant person or the developing baby, or whether any particular amount is safe.

If you drank lavender tea before realizing you were pregnant, do not assume that it caused harm. Tell your prenatal clinician what you drank, roughly how much and when; they can advise you based on your circumstances.

Why is lavender tea’s safety uncertain in pregnancy?

Lavender flowers contain aromatic plant compounds that can pass into a tea. The amount you consume can vary with the product, the amount used and how it is prepared. Studies of lavender applied to the skin or used for its scent cannot establish the effects of drinking those compounds.

A 2024 review of six studies of lavender essential oil included 413 pregnant participants in their second or third trimester. The studies reported improvements in measures such as stress, anxiety or sleep, and did not report adverse effects. However, they studied essential oil, not lavender tea, and the limited evidence does not establish that drinking the tea is safe for a developing baby.

A separate randomized trial of lavender cream enrolled 141 pregnant women with sleep disturbance. It found improved sleep scores compared with placebo cream, but it did not test lavender tea. A potential effect on sleep is not proof of safety when lavender is swallowed.

The available evidence also does not establish a safe amount for any trimester. Do not interpret the lack of evidence as proof that lavender tea is harmful, or as proof that it is safe. If sleep problems or anxiety are affecting you, discuss them with your prenatal clinician rather than relying on lavender tea as treatment.

How much lavender tea is safe during pregnancy?

No safe amount of lavender tea during pregnancy has been established. There is no evidence-based number of cups to recommend, and making a weaker brew does not make it possible to verify a safe dose.

Before drinking it, ask your prenatal clinician about the specific product and how often you would like to use it. Bring or photograph the ingredient label: some products combine lavender with other herbs or tea leaves, so a clinician needs to know about the whole product, not just the lavender.

If your clinician says the product is reasonable for you, follow their advice about its use. Food-grade labeling identifies a product as intended for consumption, but it does not establish pregnancy safety. An organic label or a claim that a product is natural does not establish a safe pregnancy dose either.

Do not add lavender essential oil to tea or swallow it as a substitute. Essential oil is concentrated and is not interchangeable with brewed flowers. If you have swallowed lavender essential oil, contact a poison control center promptly for advice, even if you feel well; do not induce vomiting unless a professional tells you to.

When should you talk to your doctor?

Ask your prenatal clinician before drinking lavender tea at any stage of pregnancy, including during labor. This is especially important if you have had a complicated pregnancy, have a known allergy to lavender or other ingredients in the product, or take medicines or other herbal supplements. Potential interactions and individual risks are not well established.

Tell your clinician about prescription and nonprescription medicines you use, particularly medicines that make you drowsy. Do not stop or change prescribed medication to try lavender tea. Your clinician or pharmacist can review the product alongside your medicines and your pregnancy history.

If you have already had lavender tea and are unsure what was in it, keep the package or take a photo of the label. Share the preparation, amount and timing if you know them. These details can help your care team assess the exposure, but you do not need to guess if you cannot remember.

Seek emergency help immediately for trouble breathing, fainting, or swelling of the lips or tongue after consuming a product. During pregnancy, seek urgent obstetric assessment for heavy vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, a severe headache or a noticeable decrease in your baby’s movements. Do not assume these symptoms are caused by tea or wait for a routine appointment.