This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
This herb is NOT recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to the developing fetus.
This herb is NOT recommended while breastfeeding as effects on infants are unknown.
Consult your healthcare provider before use.
2 Known Drug Interactions — Some May Be Serious
2 Moderate
This herb may interact with medications you are taking. Review the interactions table below and consult your healthcare provider before use.
What is a herb–drug interaction?
A herb–drug interaction happens when a plant or supplement changes how a medication works in your body — making it stronger, weaker, or more likely to cause harm. Herbs contain active compounds that can speed up or slow down the enzymes and transporters your body uses to process drugs.
Why it matters
•St. John's Wort can make birth control, antidepressants, and blood thinners less effective.
•Garlic can increase bleeding risk with warfarin and other blood thinners (also ginkgo, ginger, and turmeric).
•Kava can amplify sedation when taken with anxiety or sleep medications (also valerian).
The risk is highest for older adults, anyone taking several medications, and people with chronic conditions.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take — and check below before combining.
Passionflower may enhance sedative effects of benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants.
This list reflects a curated subset of documented interactions and is not exhaustive. The absence of a drug here is not proof that it is safe to combine. Always confirm with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Passionflower contains flavonoids such as chrysin, vitexin, and apigenin that interact with GABA-A receptors in the brain. By enhancing GABA activity, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, passionflower reduces neuronal excitability and produces calming anxiolytic effects. Unlike benzodiazepines, passionflower appears to modulate GABA receptors more gently, providing anxiety relief without causing significant sedation or dependency. The German Commission E approved passionflower for nervous restlessness based on this mechanism and traditional use (Evidence Level B).
Can passionflower interact with other medications?
Yes, passionflower can interact with several medications. It should not be combined with CNS depressants including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or sleep medications like zolpidem, as this may cause excessive drowsiness or respiratory depression. Passionflower may potentiate anticoagulants and interact with MAO inhibitors. Due to potential interactions with anesthetics, discontinue passionflower at least two weeks before scheduled surgery. Always consult a healthcare provider before combining passionflower with prescription medications.
What is the recommended dosage of passionflower for anxiety?
The typical adult dosage for passionflower is 200-400mg of standardized extract daily, divided into doses. For tea, steep 1-2 grams of dried herb in hot water, drinking 1-2 cups daily. Liquid tincture dosing is typically 1ml taken three times daily. Standardized extracts ensure consistent levels of active flavonoids. Start with lower doses to assess individual tolerance. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner for personalized dosing, especially when treating specific conditions like generalized anxiety disorder.
Is passionflower safe to take during pregnancy?
No, passionflower is not considered safe during pregnancy and should be avoided. Traditional reports suggest it may stimulate uterine contractions, potentially increasing the risk of miscarriage or premature labor. There is insufficient safety data for breastfeeding, so nursing mothers should also avoid passionflower. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding should consult their healthcare provider for safer alternatives for anxiety or sleep support. The German Commission E explicitly contraindicates passionflower during pregnancy.
Does passionflower really help with anxiety and insomnia?
Clinical evidence supports passionflower's use for anxiety relief, with studies suggesting effectiveness comparable to some prescription medications for mild to moderate generalized anxiety (Evidence Level B). For insomnia, passionflower may improve sleep quality, particularly when combined with other calming herbs like valerian or lemon balm. Unlike stronger sedatives, passionflower provides anxiolytic benefits without significant next-day drowsiness or cognitive impairment. The German Commission E has approved passionflower for nervous restlessness based on clinical evidence and traditional use.
What side effects can passionflower cause?
Passionflower is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses. Common side effects include mild drowsiness, dizziness, and occasional nausea. At higher doses, some users report confusion, disorientation, or impaired coordination. Rare side effects include rapid heartbeat and altered consciousness. Allergic reactions are uncommon but possible, particularly in individuals sensitive to plants in the Passifloraceae family. Discontinue use if adverse effects occur and seek medical attention for severe symptoms. Side effects typically resolve after stopping the supplement.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 29 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Passiflora incarnata is a perennial plant with documented therapeutic properties used to reduce stress and treat insomnia, anxiety, and depression [PMID:33352740].
Background
Passiflora incarnata is a perennial plant species within the Passifloraceae family, primarily found as vines in Central or South America, with rare occurrences in North America, Southeast Asia, and Australia [PMID:33352740, PMID:24140586]. It is widely utilized in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries [PMID:32765195].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Europe for insomnia and anxiety, and as a sedative tea in North America [PMID:29354614, PMID:24140586]. In Brazil, it has been used as an analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-asthmatic, and sedative [PMID:24140586]. Other reported traditional uses include treating dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, neurosis, neuralgia (Turkey), hysteria and neurasthenia (Poland), and diarrhea, burns, and hemorrhoids (America) [PMID:29354614, PMID:24140586].
Active compounds
Major phyto-constituents include flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and volatile constituents [PMID:15261959]. Specifically, it contains C-glycosyl flavones such as isovitexin, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, and swertisin [PMID:20522969], as well as anthocyanins [PMID:38148662].
Mechanism of action
Sedative and sleep-promoting properties are attributed to interactions with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain, specifically the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory neurotransmitter system [PMID:33561990].
Clinical evidence
Evidence BGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Passiflora extract was found to be effective in the management of GAD, with efficacy comparable to oxazepam and a lower incidence of job performance impairment [PMID:11679026].
Evidence BInsomnia Disorder
Total sleep time (TST) was significantly increased in the Passionflower group compared with placebo [PMID:31714321].
Evidence BDental Anxiety
Passiflora incarnata reduced State-Trace Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores in patients undergoing third molar extraction compared to placebo [PMID:38743126].
Evidence AAnxiety and Depression
Systematic reviews indicate that passionflower produces benefits comparable to standard anxiolytics and antidepressants [PMID:29464801]. High-quality evidence exists for its use in anxiety disorders [PMID:29575228].
Safety & adverse effects
Passionflower has not been implicated in causing clinically apparent liver injury or serum enzyme elevations [PMID:31643352].
Evidence summary
Evidence is strongest for the treatment of anxiety (supported by systematic reviews and RCTs) and insomnia. While promising, some reviews suggest that further randomized controlled trials are indicated to provide more convincing evidence for certain psychiatric indications.
2.PMID: 32765195 (2020) — Herbal Medicinal Products from Passiflora for Anxiety: An Unexploited Potential. · TheScientificWorldJournal
3.PMID: 31714321 (2020) — Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. · International clinical psychopharmacology
4.PMID: 11679026 (2001) — Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. · Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
5.PMID: 29464801 (2018) — Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance.
6.PMID: 31643352 (2012) — Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of Passiflora incarnata in Participants With Stress and Sleep Problems. · Cureus
7.PMID: 29575228 (2018) — Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: 10-year updated review. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
8.PMID: 33561990 (2021) — Herbal Remedies and Their Possible Effect on the GABAergic System and Sleep. · Nutrients
9.PMID: 15261959 (2004) — Passiflora: a review update. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
10.PMID: 38743126 (2024) — Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trial. · Oral and maxillofacial surgery
11.PMID: 29354614 (2017) — Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review. · Journal of menopausal medicine
12.PMID: 24140586 (2013) — Passiflora incarnata L.: ethnopharmacology, clinical application, safety and evaluation of clinical trials. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
13.PMID: 38148662 (2024) — Spectral characteristics of the flavones and anthocyanins present in passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). · Photochemistry and photobiology
14.PMID: 20522969 (2010) — Pharmacognosy and chemotypes of passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.). · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin