SCIENCE SNAPSHOT
Let’s talk about Passionflower for ANXIETY & INSOMNIA

Being a relative to our beloved passionfruit, Passiflora Incarnata is a perennial climbing vine originally from North America. It is well known to Herbalists for its anxiolytic and sedative effects. Several studies have provided compelling evidence of the pharmacological effects of Passiflora extract for anxiety and insomnia. There is strong evidence that it modulates the GABA pathway; GABA being the inhibitory or ‘calming’ neurotransmitter in our Central Nervous System. One Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) examined the effect of Passiflora on anxiety on 60 preoperative patients, which found that anxiety was significantly lower on the Passiflora group compared to the control group. Another RCT found that Passiflora was as effective as oxazepam in anxiety disorders, without the impairment to job performance found in the oxazepam group. Another double-blind RCT found that taking passionflower for 2 weeks significantly improved total sleep time compared to placebo.
This information is intended for educational purposes only. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.