Passion Flower is a vine found along the roadside across North America. It has been used traditionally as a sedative, reducing hyperactivity and anxiety. Passion flower’s chemical components, maltol and ethylmaltol relax areas of the brain and reduce muscle tension. They bind to the same receptors used by sedative medications. Passion flower can be used for stress, anxiety, insomnia, hyperactivity and nervousness.

Top Health Benefits & Uses For Passion Flower

Sedative

Passion flower’s chemical components, maltol and ethylmaltol relax certain areas of the brain and reduce muscle tension.Although the exact mechanism isn’t yet known, it is believed that the passion flower helps to boost GABA levels in the brain, thus promoting relaxation. This allows Passion Flower to benefit anxiety and to help promote sleep in those with insomnia. 

Mood Support

Interestingly, in addition to its sedating abilities, some species of passion flower have been found to contain constituents that act as MAO inhibitors, thus providing them with antidepressant properties much like pharmaceutical medications with the same action (eg. Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate).

Main Constituents of Passion Flower

Chrysin

One particular species of passion flower, called Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) is the main source of a substance called chrysin. Chrysin has long been favoured as an estrogen inhibitor in body-building circles, while more recent research has found it to be effective against cardiovascular disease. 

Taking Passion Flower Supplements

Dried passion flower plants can be made into tea. Passion flower can also be purchased in capsules or as a tincture. Passion flowers may be found in formulas for relaxing the mind and body and for promoting sleep. The dose of passion flower varies depending on whether it is alone or in a combination formula, with doses ranging from 50-500mg daily in divided doses. It seems to work well when taken with other sedating herbs like valerian.