Overview of Passion Flower Extract
Passion flower, also known as Passiflora, is actually a group of hundreds of species of flowering plants. These can be vines or shrubs.
Some of the species of Passiflora produce the fruit passionfruit, which can be a small purple fruit, or a large shiny orange-yellow fruit. Passiflora grows worldwide except for Antarctica and Africa.
Passion Flower Extract Throughout History
For centuries, indigenous peoples in North America, Central America and South America have dried and used passion flower leaves as a medicine to treat anxiety. The dried leaves were either ingested as tea or smoked.
European colonists adopted the use of passion flower leaves to calm the nerves.
European physicians also historically prescribed passion flower for treating anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and gastro-intestinal problems stemming from nerves.
Folk medicine has long considered passion flower a calming herb.
Passion Flower Extract Health Benefits
Passionflower is an anti-anxiety botanical that is excellent for turning off incessant thoughts. Taking passionflower can alleviate worry and anxiety-based insomnia.
It is a superb herb for calming the mind. It reduces stress by slowing a hyper-active mind. As such, it is sometimes used as a mild sedative.
Anxiety and nervousness can be alleviated without causing dependence and withdrawal symptoms common to prescription medications used to treat anxiety.
Passion Flower has been used to treat:
- Insomnia
- Gastrointestinal upset related to anxiety or nervousness
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol, smoking, cannabis and opiates
Passion flower has a long history of use for symptoms of restlessness, anxiety, and agitation.
It is quick-acting and results can be seen following the first few uses.
Clinical Studies of Passion Flower Extract
In a 2001 study, two groups of patients were treated for generalized anxiety disorder, one group was given Oxazepam, a well known pharmaceutical; the other group was given passion flower extract. At the end of the trial, it was found that the passion flower extract performed as well as the Oxazepam. However, the Oxazepam had significantly more problems related to job performance impairment.1
Passion flower extract has been clinically found to be a reliable aid in treating tenseness, restlessness, and irritability. Many pharmacological investigations have confirmed its effects.2
In further studies, passion flower extract was determined to be significantly superior over clonidine, a substance used for opiate detoxification, in the management of mental symptoms. This suggested that passion flower may be used in the management of opiate withdrawal. The study noted that “[a]ccumulating evidence shows the efficacy of Passiflora incarnata extract in the management of anxiety.”3
Safety of Passion Flower Extract
Passion flower is generally considered to be safe to use and well tolerated. There are few reported serious side effects. Research suggests that passionflower is a safe and effective treatment for anxiety.
Side effects of passionflower may include nausea, vomiting, asthma, skin rashes, drowsiness, and increased heartbeat. However, some reported reactions may have been caused by impurities in combination products, and not as a result of the passion flower extract.
Passion flower extract should be used cautiously with Kava extract. HerbalMana does not contain Kava extract.
Dosage of Passion Flower Extract
Each serving of HerbalMana, which is 5 capsules, contains 200 milligrams of passion flower extract.
References:
1. Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani M. (2001): Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Clin Pharm Ther. 2001 Oct;26(5):363-7.
2. Wien Med Wochenschr. 2002;152(15-16):404-6. [Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata L.)--a reliable herbal sedative] [Article in German], Krenn L.Institut für Pharmakognosie, Universität Wien, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien.
3. Akhondzadeh S, Kashani L, Mobaseri M, Hosseini SH, Nikzad S, Khani M., Passionflower in the treatment of opiates withdrawal: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001 Oct;26(5):369-73.