Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine · Oct 2026
A systematic review and meta-analyses on the effects of ylang-ylang and lavender essential oil on blood pressure and heart rate
By Silva SR, Rosa-Silva RL, Silva TL et al.
INTRODUCTION Essential oils (EOs) have garnered significant attention due to their several biological properties. Inhalation remains the most efficient and rapid delivery method. Ylang-ylang (YEO) and lavender (LEO) EOs are known to exert hypotensive effects. This study evaluates the YEO and LEO effects on arterial pressure and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). METHODS Database searches yielded 42 and 176 articles testing, respectively, YEO and LEO. Two randomised clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating YEO+LEO, three RCTs evaluating YEO, and 22 RCTs evaluating LEO were selected. RCTs were stratified according to the presence and type of stress (mental or physical and mental), the moment of inhalation of the EOs (before, during, or after exposure to stress), age (children and adults), and health status (healthy and patients). We performed meta-analyses of the effects of YEO and/or LEO on systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability. RESULTS Both EOs decrease arterial pressure. The YEO+LEO blend decreases both SAP (P<0.00001) and DAP (P<0.0001). YEO decreases SAP ( P =0.02). LEO decreases SAP ( P <0.0001), DAP (P<0.0001), MAP (P=0.006), and HR ( P <0.001). LEO decreases SAP in patients or healthy adults during mental stress and in individuals before physical and mental stress, and DAP and MAP in adult/elderly patients and HR in healthy adults, both during physical and mental stress. LEO does not affect the high-frequency band in adult women. DISCUSSION These data support the clinical potential of EOs as a complementary intervention for cardiovascular health, but modulation of the ANS requires further investigation.