When hemodialysis patients applied lavender oil topically or inhaled it before needle insertion, their pain dropped significantly—topical application reduced pain scores from 57.58 to 16.33, and inhaling reduced them to 22.66. The control group (no lavender) saw almost no change, dropping only from 48.53 to 45.33, suggesting lavender actually works for acute needle pain rather than just being a placebo.

90 hemodialysis patients were split into three groups: one applied 100% lavender oil topically, one inhaled it, and one got no treatment. Researchers measured pain intensity before and during needle insertion to compare results.

Funding not disclosed in abstract