New Study: Lavender Tea and Misophonia — What the Research Suggests
New Study: Lavender Tea and Misophonia — What the Research Suggests
Lavender tea has long been associated with calm evening rituals, gentle relaxation, and traditional herbal use. But a new randomized controlled trial has brought lavender herbal tea into a very modern conversation: misophonia.
Misophonia is a condition where certain everyday sounds can trigger intense emotional and physical reactions. For people who experience it, sounds like chewing, breathing, tapping, or clicking can feel much more than irritating — they may create distress, anger, anxiety, avoidance, and difficulty functioning in normal social or work settings.
A recent study titled “The effect of lavender herbal tea on the mental health of individuals with misophonia: A randomized controlled trial” explored whether daily lavender herbal tea could be associated with improvements in misophonia severity and related emotional symptoms. The findings are interesting, but they should be interpreted carefully. Lavender tea is not a cure for misophonia, anxiety, depression, or anger. However, the study adds to the growing conversation around lavender as a low-cost, accessible complementary botanical that may support calming routines for some individuals.
Explore our full organic culinary lavender collection for lavender tea, baking, sachets, syrups, and natural home use.
What Is Misophonia?
Misophonia is often described as a sound sensitivity disorder. People with misophonia may have unusually strong reactions to specific trigger sounds — often human-generated, such as chewing, breathing, smacking, sniffing, pen clicking, or keyboard tapping. When a trigger sound is heard, the reaction can be emotional, physical, or both.
Common responses may include:
- Anger and irritation
- Anxiety and distress
- Urge to escape the situation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical tension, increased heart rate, or sweating
- Avoidance of social situations
Misophonia can interfere with family meals, school, work, relationships, and everyday routines. Because of that, researchers have become increasingly interested in approaches that may help reduce not only sound sensitivity, but also the emotional distress that can accompany it.
Why Lavender Tea Was Studied
Lavender has a long history of traditional use in calming routines, bath rituals, herbal tea, sachets, and home apothecaries. Modern research has also explored lavender for its potential anxiolytic, antidepressant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. The authors of the misophonia study looked at lavender tea because misophonia is often connected with emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and anger. Their idea was not that lavender tea would “treat” misophonia directly, but that it might help support the emotional symptoms that often accompany it.
This is an important distinction. Lavender tea should not be viewed as a replacement for professional care, therapy, or medical treatment. But it may be worth exploring as part of a broader calming routine, especially for people who already enjoy herbal tea and tolerate lavender well.
For more background on lavender’s traditional calming use, read Why Lavender Is Traditionally Used for Relaxation.
About the Study
The study was conducted as a single-center, single-blind randomized clinical trial with 60 adults diagnosed with misophonia. Participants were divided into two groups: one consumed lavender herbal tea, the other was placed on a waiting list and received no intervention during the study period. The lavender tea group consumed 2 grams of lavender tea twice daily for 14 days. Researchers measured changes using several validated scales related to misophonia, depression, anxiety, and anger.
What the Study Found
According to the study abstract and reported highlights, lavender tea consumption was associated with improvements in several areas. The lavender tea group showed reductions in:
- Misophonia symptom severity
- Anxiety symptoms
- Depression symptoms
- Anger symptoms
The researchers also suggested that lavender tea consumption may have been associated with improvements in quality of life and coping strategies. This does not mean lavender tea cures misophonia — it means that in this small 14-day study, the group drinking lavender tea experienced positive changes compared with the control group. That is promising, but still early.
What the Lavender Tea Routine Included
One helpful detail from the study is that lavender tea was not treated simply as a beverage — it was used as a small daily routine. Participants were instructed to brew the tea twice daily (once in the morning, once in the evening), steep it for 10 to 15 minutes, and inhale the floral aroma before drinking. That matters because lavender tea is both a taste and an aroma experience. The scent, the warmth of the cup, the quiet steeping time, and the act of pausing twice a day may all contribute to the calming nature of the routine. A lavender tea ritual doesn’t need to be complicated — it can be as simple as taking a few quiet minutes, steeping dried culinary lavender, breathing in the aroma, and sipping slowly.
Why the Findings Matter
This study matters because misophonia can be difficult to manage, and research on treatment options is still limited. Current approaches may include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other psychological interventions. However, access to therapy can be limited, and some people prefer to explore low-cost supportive routines alongside professional care. That is where complementary approaches become interesting. Lavender tea is accessible and low cost, simple to prepare, naturally caffeine free, easy to include in an evening routine, and familiar to many herbal tea drinkers. The value may not come from lavender alone — it may also come from the full ritual: heating water, steeping the tea, slowing down, breathing in the aroma, and creating a quiet moment.
The Importance of Not Overstating the Study
The study was promising, but it had significant limitations. The authors noted that findings should be interpreted cautiously because participants were not fully blinded; the control group received no placebo tea and no active intervention; measurements relied on self-report scales; placebo effects and expectation bias may have influenced results; the study lasted only 14 days with a relatively small sample; the lavender tea group received daily check-ins; and participants were mostly young women, which may limit how broadly results apply.
In other words, the study suggests a possible benefit but does not provide final proof. More research is needed with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, better blinding, and comparison against placebo tea or other calming routines. The best takeaway is balanced: lavender tea may be a gentle complementary routine worth exploring, but it should not be treated as a medical treatment or substitute for care.
What the Study Did Not Prove
The study results were promising, but they do not mean lavender tea eliminates misophonia. According to the research summary, participants did not show statistically significant changes in their immediate reaction to trigger sounds or in their baseline self-control when suddenly exposed to irritating noises. Misophonia is complex — lavender tea may help support emotional distress, relaxation, and coping, but it should not be described as a cure or standalone treatment.
How Lavender Tea Fits Into a Calming Routine
Lavender tea is often used as part of an evening or quiet-time ritual. A simple routine might include: preparing a quiet space; using culinary-grade dried lavender buds; steeping gently and covering the cup; inhaling the aroma before sipping; and pairing with journaling, reading, meditation, or screen-free time. For people who experience sound sensitivity or stress, the routine itself may be part of the benefit. Predictable rituals can help signal rest, reduce stimulation, and create a small sense of control. This is not a treatment claim — it is a lifestyle approach that may support relaxation for some people.
How to Make Lavender Tea
Lavender tea is simple, but balance matters. A gentle starting point: use 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds per cup of hot water, steep covered for 5 to 7 minutes, strain well, and sweeten with honey if desired. The study routine used a longer steeping time of 10 to 15 minutes and 2 grams of lavender tea twice daily. For everyday home use, many people prefer to start lighter and adjust based on taste and tolerance. For a lighter cup, blend with chamomile, lemon balm, or mint.
Read our full brewing guide: How to Make Lavender Tea: Properly, Without Bitterness.
Use Culinary-Grade Lavender
For tea, always use culinary-grade lavender intended for food and beverage use — specifically Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender or true lavender), known for its softer, sweeter floral aroma. Avoid lavender meant for potpourri, fragrance crafts, decoration, or unknown garden use, as those may not be intended for consumption and may have been treated with chemicals or additives.
Shop our organic culinary lavender buds for tea, baking, syrups, honey infusions, and home apothecary use.
Lavender Tea and Honey
Lavender tea pairs beautifully with honey. A small spoonful can soften the floral edge and make the cup feel smoother and warmer. For a simple calming cup: lavender tea with a spoonful of raw honey, a squeeze of lemon, and optional chamomile or lemon balm. This creates a gentle floral tea especially suited for evening routines.
Lavender Tea Is Not a Substitute for Mental Health Care
Misophonia, anxiety, depression, and anger can significantly affect quality of life. If symptoms are intense, worsening, or interfering with work, school, relationships, or safety, it is important to seek support from a qualified mental health professional. Lavender tea may be a complementary routine, but it should not replace therapy, diagnosis, medication, or professional guidance. People who are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition should consult a healthcare provider before using lavender in medicinal amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lavender tea help with misophonia?
A recent randomized controlled trial found that lavender tea consumption for 14 days was associated with reductions in misophonia severity and related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and anger. However, the study was small and had significant limitations — lavender tea should not be considered a cure or medical treatment for misophonia.
How much lavender tea was used in the study?
The lavender tea group consumed 2 grams of lavender tea twice daily for 14 days, steeped for 10 to 15 minutes, with participants instructed to inhale the floral aroma before drinking.
Is lavender tea a treatment for anxiety or depression?
No. Lavender tea should not be considered a treatment for anxiety or depression. Anyone experiencing anxiety or depression should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
Is lavender tea caffeine free?
Yes. Lavender herbal tea is naturally caffeine free — it is made from dried lavender flowers, not tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant.
What does lavender tea taste like?
Lavender tea has a floral, herbal, slightly sweet flavor. If too much lavender is used, it can taste soapy or perfume-like, so start with a small amount and adjust to taste.
Can I drink lavender tea every day?
Many people enjoy lavender tea as part of a normal herbal tea routine. People who are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a medical condition should consult a healthcare professional before regular use.
What kind of lavender should I use for tea?
Use culinary-grade lavender, preferably Lavandula angustifolia, intended for food and beverage use. Do not use craft lavender, potpourri lavender, or unknown garden lavender.
Did the study prove lavender tea cures misophonia?
No. The study suggested possible improvements in misophonia severity and related emotional distress, but did not prove that lavender tea cures misophonia. The authors noted limitations including lack of participant blinding, self-report measures, and possible placebo or expectation effects.
Related Farmer Soul Lavender Guides
- How to Make Lavender Tea: Properly, Without Bitterness
- Why Lavender Is Traditionally Used for Relaxation
- The Sleep Ritual: Why Loose Leaf Lavender Is the Ultimate Nightcap
- What Gives Lavender Its Aroma? Linalool, Linalyl Acetate & Natural Compounds
- Lavender in Traditional Herbal Medicine: From Apothecaries to Modern Homes
- Lavender and Stress: What the Science Actually Shows
Shop Farmer Soul Lavender
Shop organic culinary lavender buds for tea, baking, syrups, and home apothecary use.
Shop filled organic lavender sachets for drawers, closets, cars, linens, and natural home fragrance.
Sources & References
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Koroglu Gokbel, S., & Durat, G. “The effect of lavender herbal tea on the mental health of individuals with misophonia: A randomized controlled trial.” Journal of Psychiatric Research, Volume 195, April 2026, Pages 39–46. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.01.028.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41579454/
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06785649. “The Efficacy of Lavender Herbal Tea in Misophonia.”
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06785649
PsyPost. “Lavender tea routine linked to reduced emotional distress in misophonia sufferers.”
https://www.psypost.org/lavender-tea-routine-linked-to-reduced-emotional-distress-in-misophonia-sufferer/
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Lavender: Usefulness and Safety.”
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lavender
European Medicines Agency. “Lavandulae flos” and “Lavandulae aetheroleum” herbal monographs.
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/lavandulae-flos