Passion Flower Benefits and Side Effects

Passion flower, also known as Passiflora incarnata, is a tropical plant in the genus of passionflowers. They are native to Central America and South America, growing wild. Passion flowers contain ingredients that can cause dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, or heart problems if taken orally without supervision.

Passion Flower is a plant that has been used for centuries in various ways. It can be found in the tropics, and it is also known as Passiflora incarnata. The leaves of this plant are often brewed into a tea to help with insomnia.

It can only be lovely, peaceful, and relaxing from nature with a name like passion blossom. While this isn’t true for all sweet names, it is valid for the passion flower, a stunning wildflower that yields a luscious fruit. Several passion flower advantages include the ability to lessen and perhaps eradicate sleeplessness, anxiety, inflammation from skin irritations and burns, menopause, ADHD, and even more severe illnesses, including seizures, high blood pressure, and asthma.

Passion flower is a plant whose above-ground portions are utilized for natural healing and culinary flavoring in various ways. You’ve probably heard of passion flower tea or extract, but it’s also available as infusions, teas, liquid extracts, and tinctures.

Passion flower is often blended with other relaxing herbs such as valerian root and lemon balm, chamomile, hops, kava, and skullcap.

Passion flower is a perennial climbing vine often planted in Europe yet is native to the southern United States. Maypop, apricot vine, passion vine, and passiflore are all common names for this plant.

Health Benefits

1. May help to alleviate the symptoms of menopause

Menopause is linked to feelings of worry and sadness, which are commonly caused by decreasing levels of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Hormone treatment based on contemporary medicine may have several unintended consequences. Studies have shown passion flower to help with menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor signs (hot flashes and night sweats), sleeplessness, sadness, rage, and headaches. It may be an excellent alternative to hormone treatment.

Women are increasingly exploring natural solutions, and passion flower may aid by raising GABA levels. Increasing GABA levels may assist in reducing the activity of some of the brain cells that cause sadness. In addition, the alkaloids in passion flower may inhibit monoamine oxidase production, which is what antidepressant medication aims to do. Studies have demonstrated it to help with depression, a prevalent concern among women going through menopause.

According to another research, passion flowers may help with those pesky heat flashes! Anise, licorice, black cohosh, red clover, evening primrose, flaxseed, St. John’s wort, valerian, and passion flower were shown to be effective in alleviating hot flashes in both menopausal and premenopausal women.

2. Blood Pressure Control

Passion flower skin extract was dosed at 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight in a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Blood pressure levels were shown to be much lower in the research, which was likely owing to the extract’s GABA-promoting characteristics.

Additional research has been released that suggests using passion flower fruit pulp to reduce systolic blood pressure by taking 8 milligrams of passion flower for 5 days. In addition, passion flower extract boosted levels of an antioxidant enzyme and lowered levels of oxidized lipids, which may cause harm from toxins and waste materials accumulating in the body.

3. Decrease anxiety

Passion flower has long been used as a folk treatment to help people cope with anxiety. Particular molecules present in passion flower are thought to interact with specific receptors in the brain, causing calm. For example, passion boosts GABA, which reduces the activity of specific brain cells that may trigger anxiety and helps you feel more comfortable. In addition, passion flower extracts have been shown in studies to have minor anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure properties.

A four-week research was conducted on 36 out-patients diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The findings showed that passion flower extract was an effective treatment for anxiety and, unlike synthetic therapy, had no adverse effects on job performance. Another research including youngsters, found that using a combination of plant extracts containing passion flower, St. John’s Wort, and valerian root decreased anxiousness.

4. Addresses the Symptoms of ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) seems to be a constant source of anxiety for many parents, and unfortunately, traditional medicines like Adderall may have a slew of adverse side effects. ADHD is a neurological illness that causes inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children, interfering with their development and everyday activities.

The good news is that, according to a poll, parents are increasingly turning to alternative ADHD treatments, with nutritional therapy topping the list. Herbs including Roman chamomile, valerian, lemon balm, and passion flower have been suggested as viable therapies. However, you should always see your doctor first since some may cause adverse responses. To discover whether essential oils may be helpful, tests were undertaken utilizing Conner’s parent ratings. The findings show that when essential oils were used, ADHD symptoms improved.

5. Assists in the reduction of insulin levels

Yellow passion fruit peel flour was used in a research to investigate how it affects blood sugar levels.

Insulin sensitivity was assessed to have a better understanding of diabetic insulin resistance. For the experiments, 43 type 2 diabetes participants (28 females and 15 males) were advised to consume a certain quantity of yellow passion fruit peel flour for two months. The findings revealed a reduction in insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes individuals, indicating that passion flower may benefit diabetics.

6. Helps You Sleep Better

One of the most important things you can do for your body is sleep, and we all enjoy a good night’s sleep! So patients with sleeping disorders were studied in depth. The research, which focused on bipolar illness patients, evaluated a variety of natural herbal remedies, including passion flower, and found that it improved sleep, perhaps by lowering anxiety.

Patients were obliged to consume passion flower tea for a week in a double-blind, placebo-controlled research. Participants improved their sleep in a statistically meaningful way. Passion flower with valerian root may be one of the most effective combinations for treating insomnia and may be especially useful if you have difficulties closing down your brain at night by soothing the cells inside it.

7. It Helps to Reduce inflammation

Passion flower may help to lessen inflammation that causes illness. Therefore, the phytonutrient and antioxidant contents of wild passion fruit species, especially P. tenuifila and P. setacea, were investigated. The seeds and explants from seedlings and the mature form received the most incredible attention from the researchers. The extract of the passion flower plant has a high amount of phenolic chemicals, indicating that it has strong antioxidant potential.

Paw edema, or the accumulation of fluid in the paw region of animals, was the subject of another investigation. When dried passion flower was used, the antioxidant activity reduced fluid accumulation, suggesting a reduction in inflammation.

History

Because I reside in Tennessee, the passion blossom is the state’s official wildflower, making it a personal favorite of mine. The passion flower was first designated as the official state flower of Tennessee in 1919, but it wasn’t until 1973 that the passion flower was appointed as the state wildflower.

The maypop, wild apricot, and Ocoee are some of the nicknames used by southerners for the passion flower (the Indian name also given to the Ocoee River and valley in the Tennessee and city of Ocoee in Florida).

On the other hand, the passion flower was originally a symbol of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The term “passion flower” was inspired by Jesus’ passionate affection for the people, which is how the name “passion flower” came to be.

The ten petals and sepals of this striking wildflower represent the ten disciples present at the crucifixion to give you a better idea of why it became so famous. The three stigmas symbolized three nails on the cross, while the five anthers signified Jesus Christ’s five wounds. Furthermore, the fringes have been seen as a symbol of Jesus’ crown of thorns. Finally, Spanish explorers found the passion blossom in 1569, and it was considered to represent Christ’s passion and acceptance for their voyage.

The mature fruit of the passion flower is an egg-shaped berry that may be yellow or purple in color. For thousands of years, the Aztecs, Incas, and other South American Native Indians have farmed this fruit, which reached its peak popularity in the 18th century.

Passion flower was categorized as Passiflora by Linnaeus in 1745, recognizing 22 species at the time; however, presently, there are over 600, some of which are under peril in their native rainforest environment.

This flower was also employed in fashion, with images of it appearing on art and clothes. And, of course, it has long been a popular addition to gardens across the world.

Recipes and How to Make Use of

As previously said, passion flower may be consumed in various ways. The most prevalent are infusions, teas, liquid extracts, and tinctures in capsules. Check out your local health food shop to see what they have to offer. Try steeping 1 teaspoon of dry herb in a cup of hot water for around 10 minutes to make an infusion or tea; after that, strain and drink.

You may also relax by adding passion flower to your bathwater. 1 to 2 grams of coarsely cut passion flower is the usual dosage. Tea may be made by steeping a teaspoon of dry herb in a cup of hot water for a few minutes, and two or three cups can be consumed throughout the day.

If you’re taking it to aid sleep, make sure you drink it at least an hour before bedtime. For further relaxation and to aid with anxiety, try my passion flower tea recipe below.

Anxiety Reliever Tea with Passion Flower and Chamomile

1–1/2 teaspoon chamomile (dry) 1–1/2 teaspoon passion flower, dried 1 teaspoon honey from the area (optional) I have a cup of water.

Passion Rose Tea, Hot Flash Eliminator

1/2 teaspoon chamomile (dried) 1 teaspoon local honey 1/2 teaspoon dried passion flower 1/2 teaspoon dried St. John’s Wort 1/2 teaspoon dried valerian root (optional) 1 cup of liquid

Using a saucepan, make either tea. Bring the water to a gentle boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Toss the herbs in with the water. A muslin bag or a tea infuser may be used. Cover immediately with a cover to prevent the flowers’ oils from evaporating.

Allow 10–12 minutes for it to steep. Remove the pot from the heat, drain if necessary, and serve yourself a cup. Then, if wanted, drizzle in some local, organic honey. This is something you can do at any time of day or night if you’re feeling worried.

Side Effects and Risks

Passion flower was formerly permitted as an over-the-counter sedative and sleep aid in the United States, but it was removed from the market in 1978 due to safety concerns and a lack of testing. While studies show that passion flower has various beneficial effects, you should always see your doctor before taking any new plant in any form.

In case you experience nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, or any other odd symptoms, even if after a few days, please seek the help of a physician. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition, don’t take it. It may not be appropriate for children under the age of six months.

Last Thoughts

If you suffer from worry, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, nagging, painful hot flashes, or even high blood pressure, passion flower may be a good solution for you. Several studies have shown it to be quite effective, even for youngsters with ADHD. Though it’s crucial to check with your doctor before taking it and to be aware of any potential side effects, you may begin with tiny dosages by following some of the recipes in this article.

Passion flower may be the ideal way to bring peace to your day without harming your productivity, particularly when paired with other relaxation-inducing plants. Because stress causes a slew of other issues in our bodies, you may want to give passion flower a try to see if it might help you relax and get some much-needed rest!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Passionflower safe to take daily?

A: Passionflower is considered safe for most people to take as a daily supplement. However, it does have some possible side effects, such as nausea or headaches in rare cases.

Is Passion Flower safe for the liver?

A: Passion flower is not considered liver-safe.

Does passion flower affect blood pressure?

A: Passion flowers have a mildly sedative effect but no evidence for any direct effects on blood pressure.

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