What is passionflower?

Passionflower is a climbing vine native to the Americas, with beautiful, fragrant flowers. It has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, and the leaves, stems, and flowers are all used to make teas, extracts, and supplements.

How does it work?

Passionflower works by affecting the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which can help to calm the nervous system and promote relaxation. It also has mild sedative and anti-anxiety effects.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredients in passionflower include alkaloids, flavonoids, and iridoids, which are thought to be responsible for its medicinal effects.

What forms does it come in?

Passionflower is available in many forms, including tea, capsules, tinctures, and extracts.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Passionflower has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years, particularly by indigenous communities in the Americas. It was first documented by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.

What does Passionflower help with?

Passionflower is a climbing vine. It grows in the southeast United States and Central America. Indigenous peoples used it as a calming plant, and European herbalists later did the same.

• Ongoing worry that a doctor might call generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
  Good evidence — head-to-head trials against the drug oxazepam. In head-to-head clinical trials, passionflower extract did as well as oxazepam. Oxazepam is a prescription anti-anxiety drug. People on passionflower also kept up their job performance.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• Everyday anxiety and nervous tension
  Good evidence — clinical trials against low-dose anti-anxiety drugs. Clinical trials compared passionflower with low doses of anti-anxiety medicine. For mild to moderate anxiety, the results were similar, with fewer side effects. In lab studies, passionflower acted on GABA, a calming brain chemical.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• Nerves before surgery or a medical procedure
  Good evidence — several controlled studies in people facing procedures. Several controlled studies tested passionflower before medical procedures. People took it one to two hours ahead. They reported much less fear, and their alertness and recovery time were not affected.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• Trouble sleeping when your mind will not switch off
  Good evidence — human trials of tea or extract taken at bedtime. Human trials tested passionflower tea or extract before bed. Sleep quality improved, people fell asleep faster, and they woke less at night. They did not report the morning grogginess linked to sleep drugs.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T2
• Anxiety and poor sleep around menopause
  Early evidence — early research plus long traditional use. Early research and traditional use point to help with anxiety, mood swings and broken sleep. The human work so far is small. The link to GABA comes from lab studies, not from people.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Anxiety and irritability during opiate withdrawal
  Early evidence — one small clinical trial alongside a standard drug. One small clinical trial added passionflower to a standard withdrawal medicine. Mental symptoms, such as anxiety and irritability, were managed better than with the medicine alone. This was support alongside treatment, not a stand-alone use.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Anxiety in children with ADHD
  Early evidence — one small pilot study in children. A small pilot study gave passionflower extract to children with ADHD. Anxiety and some behaviour scores improved a little. The study was early and small, so the finding is not settled.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T2
• Frayed nerves, restlessness and a short fuse
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use only, no human trial on file. Herbalists have long used passionflower for irritability from being overtired, hormone shifts or long stress. No human trial on file has tested this use. The calming idea rests on tradition and lab work.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2
• Feeling stressed, tense or burnt out
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — mechanism and traditional use, no human trial on file. Passionflower is often mixed with other calming herbs for stress. The reasoning comes from lab work on GABA pathways that stress hormones disturb. No human trial on file has tested passionflower for stress or burnout.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T2

What Passionflower has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to work on its own for opiate withdrawal; the one small trial used it alongside a standard medicine.
• It has not been shown to improve the core focus and attention problems of ADHD; the small pilot study found only modest changes in anxiety and behaviour.
• It has not been shown to help sleep problems that come from pain or other physical discomfort; the trials looked at a racing, restless mind.
• It has not been tested as a treatment for severe anxiety; the trials studied mild to moderate anxiety.
• It has not been shown to reduce stress or burnout in people, since no human trial on file has looked at this.

How to read this:

Grade A means steady results from several trials in people. B means at least one good trial in people. C means small or early human work. D means the human evidence is weak or clashes. Insufficient means no human study at all. This page reports what studies found. It is not advice, and it does not tell you who should avoid it. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, above all if you take sedatives or other medicines.

What can it help prevent?

1. Anxiety
2. Insomnia
3. Agitation
4. Prevent symptoms of ADHD
5. Reduce menopause
6. Reduce hot flashes
7. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids.

Which foods are rich in it?

Passionflower is not found in food sources, but the leaves, stems, and flowers of the plant can be used to make tea or supplements.

What are possible side effects?

Passionflower is generally well-tolerated, but some people may experience side effects, including:

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of passionflower varies depending on the form and concentration. It is best to follow the instructions on the product label. Dosage for 13-17yrs old: 150 mg Frequency: daily Dosage for 18yrs old and up: 300 mg Frequency: daily

How many days does it take to work?

The length of time it takes for passionflower to work can vary depending on the individual and the condition being treated. Some people may experience effects within a few days, while others may need to take it for several weeks to see results. Condition: Insomnia Time it takes to work: approximately 3 to 4 weeks.

What time of day is best to take it?

Passionflower can be taken at any time of day, but it is generally recommended to take it in the evening or before bed as it can cause drowsiness.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

Passionflower can be taken with or without food.