Passionflower

Passionflower (passiflora incarnata) is an herbal supplement, native to the south-eastern United States and Central and South America. Native peoples of the Americas used passionflower as a sedative. Sixteenth-century Spanish explorers in South America learned of passionflower. The plant was then brought to Europe, where it became widely cultivated and was introduced to European folk medicine.

Scientists believe passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, making the person feel more relaxed.

Today, passionflower is promoted as a dietary supplement for anxiety and sleep problems, as well as for pain, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, menopausal symptoms, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is applied to the skin for burns and to treat haemorrhoids. Some people also take passion flower for insomnia, stress, pain, generalized anxiety disorder, gastrointestinal (GI) upset, nervousness/excitability, neuralgias, opiate withdrawal symptoms, and many other conditions.

Dried passionflower can be added to boiling water to create an herbal tea. When used in complementary medicine, passion flower is available as infusions, teas, liquid extracts, and tinctures.
Passionflower