Lavender has often been used as a calming agent for anxiety, and to help with the onset of sleep. By studying mice, a team at Kagoshima University, Japan, has now confirmed the identity of the relevant component of lavender oil and its mechanism of action. The anxiolytic (ie anxiety-reducing) chemical is one of the terpene alcohols in lavender, called linalool. Moreover, the researchers established for the first time that linalool must be smelt in order to produce its calming effect, as opposed to being absorbed in the lungs or taken up by the bloodstream.
The team say their findings may lead to the clinical application of linalool odour for anxiety disorders and to alleviate preoperative stress.
(Linalool Odor-Induced Anxiolytic Effects in Mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 23 October 2018.)
A systematic review undertaken by researchers in Portugal looking at acupuncture and anxiety, suggests there is good scientific evidence for the use of acupuncture to treat the disorder. Thirteen studies were selected and all reported a significant decrease in anxiety for the acupuncture treatment group relative to the control group. Acupuncture was also associated with fewer side effects compared with conventional treatment.
A pilot study undertaken by Canadian researchers suggests that acupuncture may be useful for treating anxiety in children. A total of 20 children with anxiety, aged 8 to 16, were randomised to either receive acupuncture once a week for five weeks, or to go on a waiting list as control. Treatment was individually tailored and combined with cupping and/or ear seeds if appropriate. 
American researchers have found that a course of acupuncture can significantly and persistently reduce stress among university students and staff. They looked at 111 individuals with high self-reported stress levels, who worked or studied at a large urban university in the south-western United States. Participants were recruited via GPs, flyers and the university health department website. They were randomly allocated to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture once a week for 12 weeks. While both groups showed a substantial initial decrease in perceived stress scores, 3 months after treatment the true acupuncture group showed a significantly greater treatment effect (40% decrease on pre-treatment stress score) than the sham group (24% decrease).