Passionflower: Nature’s Calm Sleep Remedy
Common Names: Passion Flower
Botanical Name: Passiflora incarnata
Family: PASSIFLORACEAE ~ Passion Flower Family
Passionflower - A Calming Ally From Nature
As a gut health expert, passionflower is one of my most commonly used herbs in the clinic. Its ability to calm nervous tension and bring peace to a restless mind makes it an effective remedy for those suffering from anxiety or poor sleep.
The person who is right for Passionflower is the one with tension in the nervous system, who wakes in the night plagued by worrisome thoughts, and can’t seem to switch the brain off.
Personally, I find that Passionflower appears to act on the intersection of the nerves and brain - helping them soothe and calm so both can relax into deep rest.
A Brief History of Passionflower
Passionflower, or Passiflora incarnata, is a beautiful climbing vine native to Central and South America. The cousin of the delicious passionfruit vine we enjoy here in Australia, Passiflora Incarnata is not only visually stunning but also rich in symbolism and history.
The name “Passionflower” originates from early Spanish Christian missionaries in South America who saw the plant as a representation of Christ’s crucifixion, or “Passion.” The various parts of the flower were interpreted as religious symbols: the tendrils represented the whips, the ten petals and sepals symbolized the apostles (excluding Judas and Peter), and the corona filaments stood in for the crown of thorns.
Historically, Native American tribes, particularly in North America, used passionflower for its calming properties. It was commonly employed to treat insomnia, hysteria, and epilepsy.
If we take a look at the plant, the long tendril like vines are representative of the nervous system - all leading to these big blue and white flowers with purple centres, that to me, remind me of a beautifully well-functioning crown or brain.
Passionflower: Traditional, Modern Uses & Safety
Traditionally, Passionflower has been used for:
Anxiety and nervous restlessness
Insomnia and disturbed sleep
Reducing epilepsy and seizures
Menstrual discomfort and spasms
That interaction between the brain and nervous system might explain why herbalists in the past used Passionflower to help those with epilepsy.
Passionflower is perfectly safe to be taken by adults, children, and during pregnancy at recommended doses.
Herbalist H Felter writes, 'Passiflora is used chiefly in spasmodic affections and as a rest-producing agent. While somewhat hypnotic but acting slowly, it is better as a nerve calmative, rest resulting from its quieting influence, and sleep following in consequence of this rest rather than through any narcotic effect of the drug. It is one of the best agents we possess to allay restlessness and overcome wakefulness, when the result of exhaustion, with cerebral fullness, or due to the nervous excitement of debility.
Passiflora is antispasmodic. If given when the aura is felt it may ward off or mitigate an attack of epilepsy, but is of no value when the seizure takes place. It is a better remedy to limit spasms of childhood... Whooping-cough is often mitigated by passiflora, and for spasmodic asthma it frequently proves one of the most effective of remedies.
It is admirably adapted to young children and old persons to promote rest and sleep, and it acts similarly when sleeplessness is caused by worry, overwork-physical and mental-or due to the exhaustion of fevers. Few remedies are better to produce sleep during typhoid fever. The sleep induced by the restful influence of passiflora is a quiet, peaceful slumber, undisturbed by any unpleasantness, and the patient awakens calm and refreshed. Our experience with passiflora has shown it to be slow in producing sleep, and usually more effective in the second twenty-four hours than the first.'.
In modern herbal practice, Passiflora incarnata is more commonly used as a nervine and sleep remedy.
It’s commonly found in herbal sleep teas because it’s so effective - and produces a deep restful sleep without the grogginess or side effects of other drugs.
What Research Says about Passionflower
Several studies have shown promise in its ability to reduce symptoms of anxiety, often compared to low-dose benzodiazepines, but without the risk of dependence or withdrawal.
In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Passionflower extract was found to be as effective as oxazepam (a powerful benzodiazepine drug similar Valium) for managing anxiety.
However, the Passionflower resulted in no incidence of a reduction in job performance unlike what was seen in the drug arm of the trial. The dose used was 45 drops of Passionflower extract per day.
(Akhondzadeh S et al: J Clin Pharm Ther 26(5):363-367, 2001)My Personal Experience with Healing Herb, Passionflower
If you have experienced long periods of stress or worry in your life, then your nervous system can become depleted. Nourishing and strengthening the nerves with Passionflower and other nervines can help move a person out of prolonged anxiety and to feel calmer, more grounded, and more relaxed every day.
Passionflower when combined with Skullcap is wonderful to promote deep quality sleep. It actually knocks my husband out into a deep snoring sleep on the couch whenever he has some.
Passionflower and Lemon Balm is a good combination for lightening an emotional load that might be causing anxiety.
And lastly, Passionflower and St John’s Wort together to relax and release any hidden or stuck traumatic memories that’s preventing the person from relaxing and sleeping well - often for many years.
In good health,
Jess x
P.S. Like to try nature’s calming ally - the beautiful Passionflower - in a personal sleep remedy? You can book into the clinic to see Jess and get a personalised sleep or nerve formula here.