The Benefits of Passionflower

The Benefits of Passionflower Holistic Health Print The Benefits of Passionflower Uses, Side Effects, and More By Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Caitilin Kelly, MD on November 26, 2019 Caitilin Kelly, MD, is a clinical physician at  Indiana University  Health Bloomington Hospital and is board-certified in internal medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Caitilin Kelly, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Barrett MacKay / All Canada Photos / Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Holistic Health Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a plant that grows throughout the world. In herbal medicine, passionflowers aerial parts have long been used to treat certain health conditions. Uses In alternative medicine, passionflower proponents claim the herb can help with the following:?? anxietyinsomniadrug withdrawal symptomsneuralgiaepilepsy Benefits To date, there is a lack of clinical evidence supporting any therapeutic use of passionflower. However, preliminary research suggests that passionflower shows promise in treating two health problems. 1) Anxiety In a study published in 2008, 60 patients were randomized to receive either passionflower or a placebo 90 minutes prior to surgery. Study results showed that those receiving passionflower had lower levels of anxiety, leading researchers to conclude that oral administration of passionflower may reduce anxiety without inducing sedation.?? In a systematic review published in 2007, however, the authors concluded that randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of passionflower for anxiety were too few to permit any conclusions to be drawn.?? A systematic review published in 2013 reached similar conclusions. It found that the studies of the effects of products containing herbal preparations of Passiflora had  crucial weaknesses, and new clinical trials should be conducted with more rigorous methodology.?? 2) Opiate Withdrawal For a 2001 study, researchers assigned 65 opiates addicts to 14 days of treatment with passionflower extract plus clonidine (a medication used to treat withdrawal symptoms) or clonidine plus placebo. Study results showed that both options were equally effective in treating the physical symptoms of withdrawal syndromes. However, the passionflower plus clonidine showed a significant superiority over clonidine alone in managing mental symptoms.?? Further such studies on passionflower for opiate withdrawal are lacking. Reviews of the use of passionflower for withdrawal that were published in 2013?? and 2015?? cite only this study and one other. It should therefore not be considered for opiate withdrawal at this time. Caveats Although passionflower is generally considered safe, incidences of the following adverse effects have been reported:?? rapid heart rhythmnauseavomitingdrowsinessdizzinessimpaired cognitive functionvasculitis Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of using passionflower supplements. Passionflower may also produce harmful effects when combined with certain medications and substances (including benzodiazepines, anticoagulants, and alcohol).?? Additionally, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend the safe use of passionflower in any dose during pregnancy or breastfeeding.?? Its important to keep in mind that supplements havent been tested for safety, and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases,  the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals.  Also, the safety of supplements in  pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Using PassionFlower for Health Due to the limited research, its too soon to recommend passionflower as a treatment for any condition.  Its also important to note that self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.  If youre considering the use of passionflower, make sure to consult your doctor first. Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstance or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.