Postmenopausal women with anxiety with an average age of 45-60 were included in this Iranian study. The 156 
women had anxiety scores ranging from 20 to 35 using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). All women were naturally menopausal and were within 6 years of their last menstrual period. Women were excluded if they were taking anti-anxiety medications or natural therapies, had a history of severe physical illness that led to anxiety or had a recent traumatic life event.
Whole dried lavender flowers and bitter orange flowers were filled into capsules with 500 mg of lavender, 500 mg of bitter orange or placebo in a capsule. Women received one of those products, one capsule twice daily for 8 weeks. A total of 52 women were in each group and completed the study. All demographic characteristics and STAI scores were similar for each group except the placebo group had a significantly lower current age and age at menopause compared to the two herbal groups.
After 8 weeks, state-anxiety scores (indicating current feelings of anxiety) were significantly lower in the lavender and bitter orange group compared to the placebo group. Trait anxiety scores (indicating anxiety as a personal characteristic) were significantly lower in the lavender and bitter orange group compared to the placebo group after 8 weeks as well. There were no significant differences between the lavender and bitter orange group in either state or trait anxiety scores after 8 weeks. The beneficial response was rated as very good or good by 83.7% of participants in the lavender group, 83.4% in the bitter orange group and only 43.8% in the placebo group. Satisfaction with the results was reported by 73.5% in the lavender group and 79.2% in the bitter orange group while only 31.3% reported satisfaction in the placebo group.
Commentary: This study is on the tails of over half dozen positive studies on lavender and anxiety. This is the first I’ve seen using bitter orange. The results of this study show a significant effect in reducing anxiety in postmenopausal women. I have no reason to think that it would only work in postmenopausal women. It is true, perimenopausal women have an increased incidence of new onset general anxiety, recurrence of general anxiety or worsening of current anxiety. Prescription medications for the treatment of general anxiety in general, work well, but are unappealing due to side effects, some of which are addictive in nature.
Reference: Farshbaf-Khalili A, Kamalifard M, Namadian M. Comparison of the effect of lavender with bitter orange on anxiety in postmenopausal women: a triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. May 2018; 31: 32-138.
