Description
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passion Flower, also known as Passiflora incarnata, is a traditional herbal medicine native to the south-eastern United States and now cultivated in various parts of the world. The aerial parts of the plant are used medicinally. Passion Flower has a long history of traditional use in North American, European, Asian and other herbal medicine traditions.
Passion Flower has traditionally been valued for its calming, sedative, nervine and antispasmodic properties. It has traditionally been used to support relaxation and sleep, nervous system wellbeing, digestive comfort and the management of spasmodic and neuralgic conditions.
Passion Flower herbal tincture is the herb of choice for treating intransigent insomnia. It aids the transition into a restful sleep without any ‘narcotic’ hangover.
It may be used wherever an anti-spasmodic is required, e.g. in Parkinson’s disease, seizures and hysteria.
Passion Flower can be very effective in nerve pain such as neuralgia and the viral infection of nerves called shingles.
It may be used in asthma where there is much spasmodic activity, especially when there is associated tension.
What Passion Flower May Support
Passion Flower has traditionally been used to support:
- Healthy relaxation and nervous system wellbeing, including anxiety, restlessness and nervousness
- Healthy sleep and restful nights, particularly in cases of insomnia
- Nervous system comfort, including tension headaches and neuralgic pain
- Healthy digestive function and comfort
- Spasmodic conditions, including menstrual discomfort and respiratory spasms
- Healthy cardiovascular function, including cardiac rhythm and blood pressure
- Women’s wellbeing during menopause
- Healthy sexual wellbeing
- Support during opiate withdrawal when used as an adjuvant
Research and Pharmacological Activity
Research into Passion Flower includes preclinical studies and a smaller number of human clinical trials. Research has investigated its anxiolytic, sedative, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic and other pharmacological activities, although well-designed clinical trials remain limited and further research is needed to establish its clinical efficacy and effectiveness.
Human clinical studies have investigated Passion Flower for generalised anxiety disorder, preoperative anxiety, sleep quality, ADHD, opiate withdrawal and menopausal symptoms. Preclinical research has also explored its effects on seizure activity, anxiety, addiction-related behaviour, cough, bronchospasm, blood glucose, lipid metabolism and pain.
Key Constituents
Passion Flower contains a range of naturally occurring compounds, with flavonoids and possibly alkaloids considered important contributors to its pharmacological activity. Flavonoids include apigenin, chrysin, luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol, vitexin, isovitexin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, orientin and iso-orientin.
It also contains β-carboline-type indole alkaloids including harman, harmol, harmine, harmalol and harmaline. Other constituents include gynocardin, maltol, ethymaltol, essential oils, amino acids, fatty acids, sterols and sugars.
Important Information
Passion Flower is traditionally considered neutral and bitter.
Passion Flower has demonstrated the ability to increase uterine contractions in vivo. Whether this has any adverse effects during pregnancy remains unknown, so caution is advised until safety is better established.
When using high doses, the potential effect on the ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery should be evaluated on an individual case-by-case basis.
Caution is advised when using Passion Flower alongside barbiturates, benzodiazepines and other central nervous system depressant medicines.
If you take prescription medicines, have an existing medical condition or are pregnant, seek advice from a qualified healthcare practitioner before use.
For more detailed information about Passion Flower, including its traditional uses, constituents, research and clinical considerations, please see the full herbal monograph.
