Passionflower: Benefits , Variants and Side Effect

With about 500 species, the passionflower is part of the Passiflora family of plants and grows mainly in South America and the southern part of the United States. One type of passionflower, Passiflora incarnate, has been used since the 16th century as medicine [1]. As per some studies, consuming passionflower benefits in treating insomnia, anxiety, and other certain conditions by boosting the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. Note that GABA is a chemical prepared by the brain which helps to regulate our moods.

Apart from this, passionflower benefits include calming down your mind, thanks to the role played by GABA as an inhibitory transmitter [2]. Moreover, passionflower is known to have cured wounds, liver conditions, earaches, boils, and more.

Passionflowers have a distinct and beautiful look, and it may interest you to know why and how they got their name. As per the Biblical canon, ‘the Passion’ refers to the final phase of the life of Jesus Christ, and the flower has been named so due to its resemblance to a crucifix, which makes it a metaphorical representation of the same. The blue varieties of this flower are referred to as Krishna Kamal as well as Panch Pandav in India as passionflowers are pentamerous or have five parts.

Read on to learn about the roles played by passionflower for anxiety treatment and to manage other conditions.

What are some of the Passionflower Benefits? 

• Taking passionflower for anxiety can be a prudent choice. 
• There are many clinical trials involving rats, mice, and human beings that have shown that passionflower can relieve anxiety and has a sedative effect, just like traditional medications to treat anxiety. One particular study showed that it could reduce the anxiety of patients before undergoing major surgery. However, the degree to which passionflower is effective may vary as per the individual and isn’t conclusive as per studies.
• Intake of passionflower can help you sleep better. 

In a particular trial, participants were made to drink a dose of herbal tea with purple passionflower for a week. The result reflected that it had substantially improved their quality of sleep. Studies with animals also discovered that intake of passionflower reduces the time required to fall asleep, as well as increases the overall sleep timing. It is also proved to increase timings for deep sleep among rats. However, this benefit needs further research to determine the way that passionflower affects the sleep cycle in human beings.

Additional Read: Anxiety and Ways of Managing it 

Consuming passionflower may boost your gut health. 

A particular variant of passionflower, Passiflora foetida, usually referred to as stinking passionflower, can help keep stomach problems at bay. It has antioxidant properties and is an effective remedy for the treatment of stomach ulcers. Another variant, Passiflora serratodigitata, has been researched to have treated ulcers in rats. However, to determine the exact role of passionflower in treating stomach conditions in human beings, further research is required.

Eating passionflower supplements may help reduce menopause symptoms. 

The usual signs of menopause include anger, insomnia, depression, headache, and more. In a particular study, participants found that all these symptoms reduced significantly after consuming passionflower for 3-6 weeks.

Apart from all these passionflower benefits, a study from 2007 [3] has indicated that taking a certain medication named papisay, a mixture of P. incarnata and other components, can help increase the time between seizures. Other studies have found that passionflower may have anti-inflammatory effects. Apart from that, passionflower can also help boost memory. While more studies are needed to be conducted to verify these benefits, passionflower does have curative properties.

Different Variants of Passionflower 

• Wild, passion vine, or maypop (P. incarnata) 
• Yellow (P. lutea) 
• Blue (P. caerulea) 
• Blue bouquet (a hybrid of blue) 
• Scarlet (P. coccinea) 
• Cincinnata (P. cincinnata) 
• Citrina (P. citrina) 
• Gritensis (P. gritensis) 
• Purple granadilla (P. edulis), which develops into edible passionfruit

What are the possible side-effects of passionflower? 

While there are multiple passionflower benefits, and it is usually regarded as safe to have, there are also certain mild side effects of the herb. In some cases, taking passionflower may lead to symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, and drowsiness. If you are a woman who is expecting or breastfeeding, make sure to consult your doctor before consuming passionflower.

How to have a passionflower? 

When it comes to consuming passionflower, you can prepare a cup of herbal tea by adding dried passionflower to boiling water. Apart from this, you can take passionflower in liquid form or as tablets or capsules.

With a comprehensive knowledge of passionflower benefits and side effects, you can conveniently make it a part of your routine. Make sure that you are buying the passionflower extract from a trusted source to ensure its authenticity. For any guidance regarding passionflower, ginkgo Biloba or other types of unconventional or ayurvedic diet food for your meals, you can get a doctor consultation and decide wisely.

To enjoy maximum ease and simplicity, you can opt for the Bajaj Finserv Health platform and choose from a variety of doctors across specialties. Simply filter the results based on your city of preference as per factors like their experience, qualifications, gender, languages are known, time of availability, and more. Go for a remote consultation or in-clinic visit as per your preference and get your queries resolved in no time. Choose your health today for a healthier tomorrow!