I’m not sure that passion flower and its fruit, and a cure for insomnia or anxiety necessarily spring to mind but it does it appear to have generated some interest in research circles trying to find natural cures for sleep disorders and reduce mental tension. Herbalists have been using passion flower to treat insomnia and gastrointestinal issues since the late Middle Ages.
There are over 520 species in the Passiflora genus and whilst a number have horticultural interest and produce a range of fruit of inconsequential quality, a few have become important plants in ethnopharmacology as well as tropical fruit production.
Contrary to its aphrodisiac-sounding name, passion flower is not named after any stimulating effect. It was named by a Dr Monardes, after the 16th Century Spanish slaughter of the Incas in Peru and their conversion to Christianity. He thought the flower looked like the crown of thorns and with its three-pronged leaves, he found a handy metaphor for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and a plant that evoked the Passion of the Crucifixion. Later settlers actually found native Americans using Passionflower to calm their nerves and in poultices on their wounds but it is as a relaxant and sedative that is popular today.
The passion flower produces an extract which has possible anxiolytic and sedative health benefits. The German Commission E recommended Passion flower of nervous restlessness but not for sleep. It is still used in combination with sedative herbs in dry vaping mixes so is not often used alone.
Unlike the fruit which is used in tropical fruit products and beverages to give a specific flavour benefit, the flower contains actives which are alkaloids that may help in alleviating sleep disorders and acting as an anti-stress agent. The evidence as a sleeping aid still requires considerable research.
The herb has also been cited as a hypnotic but this is also unproven.
One feature: it is not addictive ! The herb is tolerated.
Sources Of Passion Flower
The main source is the Passiflora incarnata L. flower which is widely cultivated throughout India although the plant originally came from South America. This species is known colloquially as maypop, purple passionflower, true passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine. It is relatively hardy although it would really only grow in southern US states and the south of the UK.
Historically, the plant flower is a herbal medicine that is used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Its introduction into Europe led to other benefits – as a drug to treat hypertension and to relieve symptoms of mental stress, constipation, dyspepsia and even mild infection.
It is approved as a flavouring in Europe.
Availability
The organic, dried leaves are available from all good herbalists and whole food shops in 50g and 100g amounts. Nexira supply a spray dried extract based on a water extraction of the flower.
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Uses
- Passionflower contains flavanoids and maltol that have a mild tranquilizing effect.
- This relaxant effect may also help relax the stomach and other muscles such as the uterus to act as a digestive aid or as a help with menstrual discomfort
The US Indians used it to treat diarrhea, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, burns, hemorrhoids, insomnia, muscle cramping, seizures, hysteria, neuralgia, and as a pain reliever for various conditions. P. incarnata is still used by Native Americans, for example Cherokees use the root of the plant as topical anti-inflammatory medicine. Tea made from the roots is used as a tonic for the liver and for skin boils. In Poland, this plant has been used to treat hysteria and neurasthenia.
The chemical constituents, the alkaloids mentioned earlier are indole alkaloids -harman, harmin, harmalin, harmol, and harmalol, maltol and flavonoids – orientin, isoorientin, vitexin and isovitexin. The psychotropic activities of some of these alkaloids were investigated in mice using the staircase test and the light/dark box choice test (Soulimani et al., 1997). It may be the case that just one or two of the alkaloids are important. Most interest is focussing on chrysin and the harman alkaloids.
The flavonoids are apigenin and quercetin.
A methanolic fraction produced significant anxiolytic activity at a dose of 10 mg/kg in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. Two components were postulated for this benefit (Dhawan et al., 2001).
Passion Flower In Mixtures For Sleep
Animal studies have revealed a sedative effect and these are blocked by benzodiazepine receptor anatgonists. Some of those studies also revealed an hypnotic effect as well one for sedation. There is a study using valerian, hops and passion flower in a mix which produced a self-reported latency in sleep and an improvement in overall sleep quality in a reasonably large adult population. The alkaloids probably inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO).
Some of the studies also reveal a property to lower blood pressure and in others an ability to reduce the signs of anxiety.
What is really lacking still are high quality human clinical trials..
How To Prepare
Enjoy as an infusion by adding one teaspoon of dried leaves to a cup of hot water and steep for ten minutes either before bedtime to help with insomnia or up to three times per day.
If taking as a tincture add between half and one teaspoon a glass of water, up to three times per day.
Cautionary Information
- Do not give to any child under two years old
- Do not use while pregnant or nursing
- For over 65s, use low levels, infrequently
- Overdoses may produce depression, nausea and vomiting
- Other potential side effects include cardiac dysrhythmia, allergy, headache and asthma.
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I really suffer from anxiety but not all the time. When it does, I’m literally crippled by a panic-attack and some general anxiety and even social anxiety. I tried some of the passion flower supplements after I read this item and checked out a number of others on the web. I have been on medication but really wanted to try something else to complement it. Of the ones that seem to work, I like Nature’s Best passion flower extract the best but again a few others work just the same. I feel quite a difference in my overall well-being. I’d be interested to know about some of the other herbals for treating insomnia. Your site is more about food processing but I quite like the idea of finding passion flower as an ingredient in a few products.