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A Simple, Scientific Guide to Passionflower as a Natural Sleep Aid

In herbal medicine, passiflora incarnata is known as a nervine, which is a nerve that helps to support the entire nervous system. Passionflower soothes the nerves, promotes relaxation and rest, and helps to ease minds into getting some much-needed sleep. This abstract reports that initial findings suggest that the consumption of a low dose of Passiflora incarnata, (in the form of passionflower tea), yields short-term sleep benefits for healthy adults with mild sleep quality fluctuations. While some clinical studies on humans and several controlled experiments on laboratory animals have demonstrated enhanced sleep using passionflower, there is still not a significant body of research.

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 Passionflower Folklore and Magical Properties

Despite the name, I’ve mostly seen passionflower used as an herb to dampen passions, not stoke them. They’re said to be useful for calming libido, cooling relationships, and cultivating platonic or romantic rather than erotic love.

Articles of Interest

A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality

These initial findings suggest that the consumption of a low dose of Passiflora incarnata, in the form of tea, yields short-term subjective sleep benefits for healthy adults with mild fluctuations in sleep quality.

Everything you need to know about Passionflower

Passionflower contains various biologically active substances, including alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins and glycosides. Some of these compounds, such as glycosides, are known for their sedative properties. Passionflower also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, iron, and potassium. These substances can help improve overall health and support the immune system.

Passion Flower Benefits: May Help Anxiety and Insomnia

Recent clinical trials using passion flower show it is also one of the most valuable and effective herbal anxiety remedies in addition to its usefulness in improving sleep and treating insomnia.

Passionflower 101

Passionflower has charmed, soothed and nourished indigenous populations across the American continent for eons, yet it is only in the past few hundred years that this enchanting herb has become a mainstay of Western Herbalism. Native to the Southeastern United States, Central America and South America, this perennial climbing vine and its stunning, exotic, fringed blooms present more than just a pretty face. Passionflower’s ability to soothe the nervous system, ease anxious minds, and promote a good night’s sleep have earned it an international reputation...

Passionflower vs. Valerian Root: 3 Key Similarities & Differences

Passionflower and valerian are two herbs that are often compared because of their proven ability to improve sleep quality. However, there are significant distinctions between these plants that you should …

Passionflower: Ecology, Cultivation, Botany, and Medicinal and Edible Uses

Passionflower is ecologically intriguing, drop-dead gorgeous, and an incredibly useful herbal medicine and wild edible. So I introduce this passionflower materia medica with some ecological, botanical, and cultivation snippets specific to this amazingly charismatic native vine, and hope that you wont skip this juiciness for the medicinal information.

The Legend of the Passion Flower

The Passion Flower has always fascinated Bermudians and visitors alike. It’s color, intricate shape and many parts explain why. I think it also has a very distinct fruity smell of grapes and gardenia. Back in 1600’s, Spanish Christian Missionaries explained each part of the flower with the story of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of our visitors to the Perfumery ask me about this story, which I always enjoy sharing. As we enter the Paschal Triduum, I thought I could share it with all of you.

Resources

5 Facts About Passionflower You Didn't Know

Passionflower (passiflora incarnata) is a climbing vine plant that grows native to Central and South America, as well as the southeastern United States. Commonly used for seizures, insomnia, and hysteria, some people have also found success in using passionflower to help combat anxiety, stress, ADHD, pain, and many other conditions.

Passionflower

Used for centuries by Native Americans, Passionflower is known for its ability to reduce anxiety and insomnia. Recent clinical studies confirm the neuroscience showing Passionflower as being effective for these traditional uses. The flavonoids found in Passionflower are partial agonists of GABAA receptors and inhibit the uptake of GABA into synapses.[viii].

Examine.com

Passionflower has been traditionally used for anxiety and insomnia, due to its calming and sedating effects.[8] However, there is limited clinical data to support the use of passionflower for these purposes, and larger clinical trials should be conducted.

NCCIH

A small amount of research suggests that passionflower might help to reduce nonspecific anxiety and anxiety before a surgical or dental procedure, but conclusions are not definite. There is not enough evidence to say whether passionflower is helpful for any other health conditions, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, congestive heart failure, insomnia, and stress.