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Background
Native peoples of the Americas used passionflower as a mild sedative. Sixteenth-century Spanish explorers learned about passionflower in Peru.
Today, passionflower is used as a dietary supplement for anxiety and sleep problems, as well as other conditions such as pain and menopause symptoms. It may also be applied to the skin for burns and to treat hemorrhoids. Passionflower is available dried (in a form that can be used to make tea) or as a liquid extract, capsules, or tablets.
How Much Do We Know?
Passionflower’s effect on anxiety and other conditions hasn’t been studied extensively.
What Have We Learned?
Some older research suggested that passionflower and two anxiety-reducing drugs might have similar effectiveness, although the small number of studies didn’t allow clear conclusions to be drawn. A more recent review suggests that the majority of passionflower studies have serious flaws and therefore do not support its use.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Passionflower is generally considered to be safe but may cause drowsiness. If you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t take passionflower. Tell your health care providers about any supplements you are using or are considering using.
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