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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Gotu Kola vs Lavender: Lavender has the stronger overall evidence (7.2 vs 4.2/10); they're alternatives for reduce anxiety & stress — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Lavender wins 3 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
500-1000mg extract (or 1-2g dried herb) (a typical label dose, no cited trial states an extract dose, one gave a single 12 g dose of gotu kola)
With meals, Split into 2-3 doses
Standardized extract (triterpene content)
80 mg oral Silexan daily OR aromatherapy inhalation 30–60 min sessions
Evening before bed for sleep and anxiety, Acute use before stressful procedures or events
Oral Silexan capsule (80 mg) for systemic/psychiatric use
4-8 weeks
2-4 weeks
4-8 weeks
1–4 weeks
1–3 weeks
4–8 weeks
Acute to 2 weeks
Herbal Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease: Ancient Indian Medicine System from the Modern Viewpoint
Current neuropharmacology (2023) · Systematic review
A rich knowledge base of traditional herbal plants (Turmeric, Gingko, Ashwagandha, Shankhpushpi, Giloy, Gotu kola, Garlic, Tulsi, Ginger, and Cinnamon) combined with modern science could suggest new functional leads for Alzheimer's drug discovery.
Neuroprotective Herbs for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease
Biomolecules (2021) · Systematic review
Methods-This article systematically reviews recent studies that have investigated the role of neuroprotective herbs and their bioactive compounds for dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease and pre-Alzheimer's disease.
The Safety and Efficacy of Botanicals with Nootropic Effects
Current neuropharmacology (2021) · Review
Overall, nearly one-quarter (23%) of adults currently take a supplement to maintain or improve brain health or delay and reverse dementia.
Effects of lavender on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2019) · Meta analysis · n=3964
65 RCTs and 25 non-randomised studies were reviewed, and 37 RCTs (3,964 participants) were pooled.
Efficacy of Silexan in patients with anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience (2023) · Meta analysis · n=1213
Five double-blind placebo-controlled trials of Silexan 80 mg/day for ten weeks in adult outpatients with subthreshold anxiety, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder or generalised anxiety disorder were pooled (n = 1,213).
Efficacy of Silexan in subthreshold anxiety: meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials.
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience (2019) · Meta analysis · n=697
Pooled individual patient data from three placebo-controlled trials in subthreshold anxiety (697 patients), Silexan 80 mg/day for 10 weeks.
Lavender has a higher evidence score (7.2/10 vs 4.2/10) and wins in 3 of 3 categories.
For reduce anxiety & stress, Lavender has a higher relevance score (90 vs 70).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.