March 2025
5 min read
Van Gogh, Avicenna, and Lavender
Born on March 30, 1853, in the Netherlands, Van Gogh created a significant portion of his 860 oil paintings during the final two years of his life in Arles, a town in France’s Provence region, where he moved in February 1888. His works from this period strongly reflect the characteristics of the surrounding geography. The distinctive use of light and, in particular, the dominance of yellow in his paintings are clear results of this influence. Some of his most memorable works from this time include The Starry Night (1889), Sunflowers, and Bedroom in Arles (1888).
Throughout his life, Van Gogh struggled with depression and psychosis. However, in Arles, where he spent his last years, he led a relatively calmer and more productive life. He even encouraged artists like Paul Gauguin to join him in establishing an art community in the region. While not the most prominent feature of his work, Provence is well known for its lavender fields. Could living in a landscape filled with these scientifically proven calming plants have been beneficial for the great painter nearly 150 years ago?
Lavender, with more than 30 species and dozens of subspecies, grows across a vast geographical range, from the Mediterranean and Southern Europe to Northern and Eastern Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and Southeast India.
Derived from the Latin word lavare, meaning "to wash," lavender (Lavandula) has been regarded as a source of healing since ancient times. It was believed that burning lavender as incense could soothe angry gods and tame wild animals. Widely used in medicine, perfumes, soaps, and flavoring, lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin without dilution.
Essential oils, which are increasingly embraced as part of holistic medicine, offer natural and safer alternatives to relatively risky pharmacological products. Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, lavender is among the most extensively studied medicinal plants. The most commonly used species include Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula latifolia, Lavandula stoechas, and Lavandula intermedia.
Medieval physicians like Avicenna and Rhazes prescribed lavender for treating epilepsy and migraine attacks, and modern scientific research continues to explore its neurological effects.
In 2012, researchers from China’s Yantai University published a study examining the effects of lavender essential oil on healing neural network damage (1). The study, which focused on cerebral ischemia, indicated that lavender oil had beneficial effects. Cerebral ischemia, a condition common in aging, occurs when blood flow to the brain is reduced or completely blocked, depriving the brain of oxygen and nutrients.
The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), a division of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) responsible for assessing herbal medicines, acknowledges lavender essential oil’s long-standing use. The committee states that it can be safely used to relieve mild mental stress, fatigue, and aid sleep. Their recommendation applies to adults and children over 12 years old, with no known risks apart from rare allergic reactions. Further details on the committee’s findings can be found on their website (2).
A recently completed national study in Turkey, supported by TÜBİTAK, investigated the effects of inhaling lavender oil on fatigue and sleep quality in chemotherapy patients. In the study, 100 randomly selected adult cancer patients participated in 20-minute aromatherapy sessions with lavender essential oil every night before bed for five days. The results demonstrated that lavender aromatherapy significantly reduced fatigue and improved sleep quality (3).
Disclaimer: The information we share about botanical products is derived from scientific studies examining their biochemical effects and is not intended as medical advice for the treatment of any condition. The findings of these studies do not provide guidance on how these botanical products should be used. Please remember that the most reliable way to safeguard your health is to consult health professionals who follow in the footsteps of Hippocrates.
References
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Wang D, Yuan X, Liu T, et al. Neuroprotective activity of lavender oil on transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice. . 2012;17(8):9803–9817.
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https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/lavandulae-aetheroleum
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Yildirim D, Harman Ozdogan M, Erdal S, Selcuk S, Guneri A, Simsek EB, Can TB, Gunduz H, Kuni A. The efficacy of lavender oil on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with hematological malignancy receiving chemotherapy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2025 Jan 8;33(2):79.