Essential Oils for High Blood Pressure: What the Research Shows

Essential oils for high blood pressure show up on many wellness lists. But what does the research actually say? So far, the evidence is small and mixed. Here is what the studies found, which oils researchers have tested, and how to use them safely.

What Essential Oils Are and How People Use Them

Essential oils come from plants, such as flowers, herbs, or trees. According to the NCCIH, aromatherapy means using these oils as a complementary health approach. Most often, people inhale the scent or apply a diluted oil to the skin.

Do Essential Oils Lower Blood Pressure?

A 2012 systematic review looked at aromatherapy for high blood pressure. It found only 5 trials, and only one of them assigned people to groups at random. Its conclusion was direct. The trials did not show convincingly that aromatherapy works for hypertension.

Moreover, the authors called for better studies with stronger controls. In other words, the question is still open.

Essential Oils for High Blood Pressure That Have Been Studied

Lavender

Lavender studies on blood pressure point in different directions. For example, a 2022 trial in 69 adults with high blood pressure found lower readings after brief lavender inhalation. However, it measured only short-term effects in a clinical setting.

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By contrast, a 2013 trial found lavender tended to raise blood pressure during a stressful medical test. For the full picture, read our post on lavender oil benefits.

Clary Sage

That same 2013 trial tested clary sage in 34 women. Each inhaled clary sage, lavender, or plain almond oil for 60 minutes during a bladder test visit. Compared with almond oil, clary sage lowered systolic blood pressure.

Still, this was one small study in a single stressful setting. It does not show that clary sage helps with long-term blood pressure.

Other Popular Oils

Many lists of essential oils for high blood pressure also name jasmine, rose, geranium, or frankincense. When a list makes a blood pressure claim, look for a linked study. Without one, enjoy the oil for its scent, not as a treatment. After all, a pleasant scent may help you relax, but that is not the same as treating hypertension.

How to Use Essential Oils Safely

Natural does not always mean safe. Poison Control warns that some essential oils can be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Keep these points in mind:

• Do not swallow essential oils. Even small amounts of camphor or wintergreen oil can be dangerous.
• Dilute oils in a carrier oil before using them on your skin. Never apply them to damaged skin.
• Keep oils away from children. Their thin skin and immature livers may make them more sensitive.
• Watch for skin reactions. The National Cancer Institute notes that allergic reactions and irritation can occur.
• If someone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

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Also, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start if you take daily medicines. The National Cancer Institute advises patients to ask whether a complementary therapy could affect their usual treatment. And never use essential oils in place of your blood pressure medicine.

Better-Proven Ways to Lower Blood Pressure

If you like the idea of essential oils for high blood pressure, use them as part of a calming routine. For lowering blood pressure, though, the strongest evidence points elsewhere. Start with diet, activity, sleep, and the other lifestyle choices for high blood pressure.

Slow breathing is another relaxation approach with research behind it. Read the science behind slow breathing for stress relief to learn more.

How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

Choosing what actually works is one step toward a heart-healthy routine. RESPeRATE is an FDA-cleared device clinically shown to lower blood pressure through device-guided slow breathing. It works alongside your physician-directed treatment plan, not instead of it. See how RESPeRATE works and whether it fits your daily routine.