- Lavender acts as an antidepressant and anxiolytic agent
Recent clinical trials have found that lavender oil can be used as an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. The effectiveness of several antidepressant agents increases with concomitant administration of lavender oil capsules.
One group of antidepressant agents that is said to work synergistically with lavender oil is tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs. It was reported that the dosing requirements of these antidepressants decreased with lavender.
Some of the most common and undesirable side effects of TCA's are sedation and hypotension. Several constituents of lavender have been linked to its anti-anxiety activity. One constituent is linalyl acetate, which is said to promote relaxation.
Another constituent is linalool, which is said to inhibit the actions of an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, called glutamate. Lavender also regulates GABA receptors. GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is the major inhibitory hormone and promotes relaxation.
2.
Lavender also acts as an analgesic agent
Aside from its positive effects on GABA and inhibitory effect on glutamate,
lavender also acts on the cholinergic system. The major neurotransmitter of the cholinergic pathway is acetylcholine, a chemical responsible for the "rest and digest" responses in the body or parasympathetic nervous system activation. Activation of this pathway contributes to analgesia.
So should help with sleep.
You should be able to buy lavender oil in capsules, if you live in the UK, ASDA/boots sell them.
http://www.kalmsrange.com/kalms-range/kalms-lavender-one-a-day-capsules/
I hope your spike calms down. Best of wishes and Merry Christmas! Danny Boy.