Researchers from Korea University, Seoul, and from Eulji University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea have looked at the effects both Sage (Salvia sclarea) and Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) can have on blood pressure.

Salvia sclarea, (sage) has been used in medicine for much of recorded history and its use can be traced back to around 400 BC – in the writings of  Theophrastusis It is also mentioned by Dioscorides and Pliny The Elder in around 100 BC.

Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) has been used in medicine for centuries and is well known for its scent and for its relaxing effect upon the nervous system.

The research, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has shown that the group that inhaled sage oil experienced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure compared with both those who inhaled laveder oil – and the control group.

They also showed showed a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure compared with the lavender oil group –  and a significant decrease in respiratory rate compared with the control group.

In fact those who inhaled lavender oil showed an increase in their systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with the control group.
Both those who inhaled sage and those who inhaled lavender showed a statistically significant reduction in their respiratory rate compared with control.

The researchers concluded that lavender oil inhalation may be inappropriate in lowering stress while sage oil inhalation may be useful in inducing.