Passiflora for anxiety disorder.
RCTs examining the effectiveness of passiflora for anxiety are too few in number to permit any conclusions to be drawn.PubMed 17253512 ↗
Open Source Apothecary At Home / The herbs
Passionflower
Real trial evidence for anxiety, and a genuinely beautiful native vine. — Passiflora incarnata
remedyPassionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has randomised trial evidence for anxiety — including trials against placebo and comparisons with benzodiazepines where it performed comparably with less impairment. It is also traditionally used for insomnia, usually blended with valerian and lemon balm.
The effect is mild and it is not a substitute for treating an anxiety disorder, but it is one of the better-evidenced calming herbs. The aerial parts are used, harvested at flowering.
It is a native North American vine (maypop) that dies back to the ground each winter and returns — genuinely ornamental, with extraordinary flowers, and the fruit is edible. It grows aggressively in the right spot.
Caution: it adds to sedation and there are rare reports of liver enzyme effects. Do not combine with sedatives and alcohol.
What the studies found
Effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: a systematic review.
Given the limitations of the findings due to the quality of the included studies and the different comparisons made between interventions, further RCTs are required to confirm the effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in dentistry.PubMed 33495257 ↗
Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review.
Passiflora incarnata may be helpful in treating some symptoms in neuropsychiatric patients.PubMed 33352740 ↗
Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance.
However, well-designed larger clinical trials are needed before these herbs can be recommended and to further assess their psycho-oncologic relevance.PubMed 29464801 ↗
Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review.
Based on the available evidence, it appears that nutritional and herbal supplementation is an effective method for treating anxiety and anxiety-related conditions without the risk of serious side effects.PubMed 20929532 ↗
Growing it
| | | |---|---| | Life | Herbaceous perennial vine; dies back, returns | | Propagation | Seed (slow), or root cuttings | | Light | Full sun | | Soil | Any; drought tolerant once established | | Support | Needs a trellis or fence — it climbs | | Harvest | Aerial parts at flowering | | Dry | Shade, ambient |
It spreads by roots and will travel. The fruit (maypop) is edible when ripe and yellow.
Preparation
Tea — 1-2 teaspoons dried aerial parts per cup, evening. The common use.
Tincture — the conventional form.
Blends — nearly all insomnia trials use combinations with valerian, lemon balm and hops.
Fresh aerial parts — harvested at flowering for tincture.
Cautions and interactions
- Adds to sedation with alcohol, sedatives and opioids. Do not combine and drive.
- Avoid in pregnancy — traditionally avoided.
- Rare reports of liver enzyme elevation and hypersensitisation.
- Do not use it as a substitute for treating an anxiety disorder.
When this is not a self-care problem — get help
- Any suicidal thought — get help now. In the US, call or text 988.
- Severe agitation or confusion with sedative medication — urgent assessment.
Related
Sources
- Passiflora for anxiety disorder. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2007; doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004518.pub2 PubMed 17253512
- Effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: a systematic review. BMJ open 2021; doi:10.12968/denu.2016.43.1.83 PubMed 33495257
- Passiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders-A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2020; doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2010.03.002 PubMed 33352740
- Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance. Phytotherapy research : PTR 2018; doi:10.1002/ptr.6033 PubMed 29464801
- Nutritional and herbal supplements for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders: systematic review. Nutrition journal 2010; doi:10.1185/030079903125002603 PubMed 20929532