GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Of the hundreds of species of passionflower,
the one most commonly used in medicine is Passiflora incarnata, a plant native to North, Central, and South America. Despite its name the
Passion flower is not an aphrodisiac!
ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:
The Passion flower is well-known for its
sedative and anti-anxiety
effects, both of which have been confirmed with
scientific research. Animal studies indicate that harmala
alkaloids present in the Passion flower appear to relax certain smooth muscles such as those
lining the digestive tract and uterus, thus the herb may
also be useful as a digestive aid
and soothing agent for menstrual
discomfort.
THERAPEUTIC DAILY AMOUNT:
The recommended therapeutic amount of the
dried herb is 4-8 grams three times per day. Alternatively, 2-4 ml of Passion flower tincture should be taken per day. European herbalists
recommend Passion flower products containing no less than
0.8% total flavonoids.
MAXIMUM SAFE LEVEL: Not established
SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Some experts advise not to take Passion flower extracts in combination with MAOinhibiting antidepressant drugs. As the Passion flower contains
compounds (harman and harmaline) that affect the uterus it
should not be taken during pregnancy.
