Passionflower belongs to the Passiflora family, the same family as passionfruit, and can be used as a natural herbal sleeping aid. It is considered a nervine, meaning that it can therapeutically support the nervous system to provide a sedative effect and therefore can induce calming to promote sleep. Passionflower is also an anxiolytic, with clinical studies showing it can effectively reduce lifestyle-related stress and anxiety to ultimately improve sleep and sleep quality.
Origin
China
Concerns
- Poor Sleep
- Insomnia
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Overactive Mind
Benefits
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About
Passionflower has been used for many years, dating back to the 16th century when it was utilised for medicinal purposes. It grows throughout South America and is a part of the passiflora family, the same family as passionfruit. Passionflower is considered a nervine, meaning that it can help to support and act therapeutically on the nervous system to provide a sedative effect.
Consumption of this botanical can not only help to treat insomnia, but also the common symptoms that may affect sleep, including anxiety and certain forms of pain. This is because passionflower is thought to help increase the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the body, a chemical that helps the brain regulate mood. It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that can induce a calming effect on the body, thus assisting with sleep.
Clinical studies show that passionflower is effective in reducing stress and anxiety caused by lifestyle stressors, which ultimately can improve sleep and sleep quality. When compared to oxazepam, a drug that is usually used to treat anxiety, passionflower is shown to be equally as efficacious with fewer negative effects on function. A herbal mixture containing passionflower was also tried and tested to be effective in treating insomnia.
Research and studies
We're led by an evidence-based approach, where each product – and every ingredient – has a purpose. As the science of nutrition evolves, we're constantly learning too.
Nutrients
Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders—a systematic review
Functional Foods in Health and Disease
Passionflower extract improves diurnal quality of life in Japanese subjects with anxiety: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam
Indian Journal of Pharmacology
Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal sedative-hypnotic formulation NSF-3 in primary insomnia in comparison to zolpidem: A randomized controlled trial
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