Passionflower has a long history of acting as a soothing remedy to relieve stress that dates back centuries. Known for its calming properties, this vibrant herb started its medicinal journey as a healing plant in Indigenous medicine and has found its way into the cupboards of those looking for an effective solution to stress, focus, mild anxiety, and restless nights.
How can this fascinating flower of the passionfruit vine support you? Let’s take a look.
Why is Passionflower so Popular?
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was originally used by Native American tribes for food, beverages, and therapeutic purposes — particularly as a sedative to aid sleep. When 16th-century Spanish explorers noticed how passionflower was being used so effectively, they brought it back to Europe where it has since become popular, both as a tea and a supplement.1
Stress Less, Sleep Better with Passionflower
Passionflower’s famous calming properties come from its unique blend of naturally occurring alkaloids and flavonoids which help to regulate the nervous system’s stress response in the following ways:
- Increases levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that helps manage the stress response by calming nerve cells and promoting a sense of calm without drowsiness.2
- Increased GABA levels help to slow down overactive brain cells, relieving mild anxiety and encouraging a more balanced mood.3
Passionflower can be safely used every day as a tool for managing physical and emotional symptoms of stress.
Restful Nights with Passionflower
If you’re racking up one too many sleepless nights, passionflower might be just the herbal answer for you. With so many sleep aids causing unwanted daytime drowsiness, passionflower is a reliable sleep support herb, inducing sleep without the hangover-like effects.
Passionflower works as a sleep aid by:
- Promoting relaxation via its impact on GABA and serotonin levels, two of the central neurotransmitters required for healthy sleep.
- Reducing the time taken to fall asleep and improving overall sleep quality.
Look for a sleep support supplement that contains passionflower to relieve restlessness and tension, and reduce the time taken to fall asleep.
Passionflower for Enhancing Mental Clarity and Focus
Many people find that passionflower’s benefits extend beyond improving mood to sharpening their focus. This may be due to its effect on relieving mild anxiety and improving sleep, which are essential for healthy cognition. Passionflower has also been shown to improve markers for cognitive health in recent studies.4 While the mechanisms behind passionflower’s cognitive health benefits are yet to be fully understood, it’s a welcome “side-effect” of this herbal medicine.
Stay Safe with Passionflower
While passionflower is generally considered safe for most people, there are some considerations to bear in mind:
- Avoid combining passionflower with other sedative medications as it can increase their effects.
- There are no safety studies for passionflower use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Passionflower offers a beautiful balance of calming effects without the common side effects experienced with other sedatives. Whether sipping a calming passionflower tea or taking a passionflower-containing sleep support supplement, this ancient flower could be your new go-to for greater calm and clarity.
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This article was written by Sophia Power, Clinical Nutritionist.
References:
- NCCIH. Passionflower. Updated August 2020, accessed 24th October 2024 from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/passionflower
- Al Kuraishy M., et al. Beneficial neuropharmacological of passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.). Online Journal of Neurology and Brain Disorders, 2020;3(5)
- Appel K., et al. Modulation of the y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L. Phytother Res, 2011;25(6):838-43.
- Kim GH., et al. Improvement in the neurogenesis and memory function by administration of Passiflora incarnata L. extract applied to sleep disorder in rodent models. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 2019;98:27-40.