Lavender tea is made by brewing the purple buds of the Lavandula angustifolia plant with hot water.

This tea is thought to calm nerves, lead to better sleep, improve skin health, and provide many other benefits, though research is scarce and mostly focuses on lavender extracts.

Here are 4 possible benefits of lavender tea and extract, and the science behind them.

Lavender is widely used as an aromatherapy agent and supplement to help with anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

Studies suggest that compounds in lavender may stimulate activity in certain areas of the brain and influence the transmission of impulses between brain cells in ways that boost mood and produce a calming effect .

While both the scent of lavender extract and oral lavender oil preparations have been shown to improve mood and calm the mind, it’s less clear if lavender tea can offer similar benefits .

One study in 80 new mothers in Taiwan found that those who drank 1 cup (250 mL) of lavender tea per day for 2 weeks while taking time to appreciate the tea’s aroma reported less fatigue and depression, compared with those who didn’t smell and drink the tea.

However, there were similar reports of fatigue and depression between the two groups after 4 weeks, suggesting that benefits are most helpful early on.