Passionflower Tea Benefits, Side Effects, Liver & Everyday Use

June 02, 2020 1 Comment

Passionflower Tea Benefits, Side Effects, Liver & Everyday Use

Passionflower is a climbing-like vine, native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America. People have used passionflower for medicinal purposes since the 16th century. Today, passionflower is commonly used to help treat anxiety, insomnia, along with many other sleep disorders and conditions. There are around 550 different species of flowering plants. In this article we discuss the benefits, everyday use, liver safety, and side effects of passionflower. 

Passionflower Tea Benefits

Studies suggest passionflower may help reduce stress, anxiety, symptoms of menopause, ease insomnia and minimize certain forms of pain. Passionflower has shown the ability to increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid that works as an "actalike" neurotransmitter in your brain. Neurotransmitters function as chemical messengers. GABA decreases activity in your nervous system which can result in a calming effect thereby decreasing stress and anxiety levels. 

How To Take Passionflower 

Passionflower can be taken as a supplement (capsule) or it can be made into a tea by steeping dried passionflower in boiling water. Passionflower tea has a moderate flavor with a slight earthiness aftertaste that can be naturally sweetened with honey or stevia. 

Passionflower For Anxiety 

Clinical studies show that passionflower has anxiety-calming effects and can effectively help reduce anxiety levels. For example, in one clinical trial, researchers found passionflower had results similar to that of a prescription-based anti-anxiety medication. In fact, certain studies suggest passionflower may work as effectively as some anxiety prescription medication. 

A 2016 clinical trial found that passionflower decreased anxiety and improved memory in the participants. Two other clinical trials found that passionflower has sedative effects. These effects could be due, in part, to passionflower interacting with GABA levels in the brain. 

Passionflower For Sleep

Numerous scientific studies suggest passionflower helps people sleep and can improve sleep quality and duration. Research in 2017 suggests that passionflower can have positive effects on sleep patterns. 

One study, for example, found that passionflower significantly increased slow-wave (deep) sleep and reduced rapid eye movement sleep in participants. It was also reported that passionflower helped improve sleep quality and duration and allowed the participants to fall asleep more quickly. Another study found similar findings and reported, "passionflower reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased duration of sleep." 

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Phytotherapy Research that had participants drink a daily dose of herbal tea with purpose passionflower for seven days reported improvements in their quality of sleep. The participants were also found to sleep longer and fell asleep faster.

Can Reduce Symptoms of Menopause

Passionflower has shown the ability to help reduce symptoms of menopause in individuals. These symptoms include headaches, depression, insomnia, and anger. A recent study found that participants who consumed passionflower tea each day for 3-6 weeks experienced a significant reduction in menopause symptoms. More research may be needed, however, to confirm the effectiveness of passionflower in reducing symptoms of menopause. 

May Benefit Epilepsy 

Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder is a neurological disorder, "marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain." A 2007 study indicated that taking passionflower increased the time between seizures and decreased duration. Additional research may be needed to confirm the effectiveness of passionflower for epilepsy but initial results seem promising. 

Can Soothe Your Stomach 

Other members of the passionflower family may help soothe stomach problems. Passiflora foetida, commonly known as stinking passionflower has shown the ability to treat stomach ulcers. A study reported in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found that passionflower helped alleviate ulcers in rats. Passionflower also displayed antioxidant potential as well. 

Passionflower Side Effects (Capsule) 

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) categorizes passionflower supplements as "safe," however, it may come with a few possible side effects. This may include: 

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Nausea 

Passionflower Tea Side Effects

Similarly to passionflower supplements, passionflower tea has very few side effects. It may cause sleepiness and sometimes dizziness which can affect functioning.  

If you are pregnant, nursing, or are on blood pressure medication for low blood pressure it is best to consult with your physician before consuming passionflower. 

Is Passionflower Bad For Your Liver? 

There is no clinical research or sound studies to indicate that passionflower is bad for your liver. As the NCBI stated, "passionflower has not been implicated in causing serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent liver injury."

Passionflower Dosage

Research suggests that taking 800 mg daily of a passionflower supplement for up to 8 weeks at a time has been safely used. 

When used in excessive amounts ( over 3.5 grams) passionflower may be unsafe.

• Whether it’s safe to use passionflower topically (on skin) is not yet conclusive.
• Passionflower should not be used during pregnancy as it can induce uterine contractions. There have been few studies conducted to determine the safety of passionflower supplementation while breastfeeding.

Is It Safe To Take Passionflower Everyday

Yes, research suggests that it is safe to take passionflower everyday for up to 8 weeks at a time. Passionflower has not been shown to cause serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent liver injury. 

Passionflower Supplement

Passion flower is an herbal supplement composed of the flowers, leaves, and stem cells of the plant. It is also available as infusions, teas, liquid extracts, and tinctures to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and stomach ulcers. As a dietary supplement, passionflower can benefit those with moderate-to-high-levels of anxiety, sleep disorders, heart rhythm complications, menopausal symptoms, as well as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

With Easy Sleep you can naturally support better sleep quality with the help of clinically studied ingredients like soothing valerian root, calming L-theanine, natural herbs like passionflower, and essential vitamins and minerals like chelated iron and magnesium citrate. 

Passionflower Side Effects, Benefits, Sleep & Anxiety Summary

Passionflower is a climbing-like vine, native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America. People have used passionflower for medicinal purposes since the 16th century. Studies suggest passionflower supplements may help reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of menopause, ease insomnia and minimize certain forms of pain.

Passionflower may also help soothe stomach problems as passionflower has shown the ability to treat stomach ulcers. 

Passionflower Dosage For Sleep

Numerous scientific studies suggest passionflower can help improve sleep quality and duration. Research in 2017 suggests that passionflower can have positive effects on sleep patterns. Common passionflower dosage for sleep is 800 mg daily for up to 8 weeks at a time. 

Side Effects of Passionflower 

Both passionflower supplements and passionflower tea side effects that are not common but have been reported include:

• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Uncoordinated movement (ataxia)

Frequently Asked Questions About Passionflower

Q: Is it safe to take Passion flower everyday?

A: When taken by mouth passionflower is safe for most people when used as a flavoring in foods. It's possibly safe when taken as a tea for 7 nights, or as a medicine for up to 8 weeks. Possible side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion.

Q: Does passionflower reduce anxiety?

A: Studies show that passionflower can help reduce levels of anxiety, improve sleep as well as improve symptoms of depression. 

Q: Is passion flower bad for your liver?

A: Passionflower is an extract of the flowers of the plant Passiflora incarnata that is claimed to have natural sedative properties and is used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Passionflower has not been shown to cause liver injury.

Q: What are passionflower side effects?

A: Possible passionflower side effects include confusion, dizziness, and nausea.  

Q: Can I take passionflower and melatonin together?

A: Yes, for better sleep results you can take passionflower and melatonin together. Both can be found in Easy Sleep supplement. 

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