Passionflower: A Natural Anxiety Remedy?

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is an herbal medicine traditionally used for the treatment of mild to moderate anxiety, insomnia and stress. There is mounting evidence of its practical application in people suffering anxiety using modern scientific research.

Safety of passionflower

Passionflower is understood to be safe for use without exception, including pregnant and lactating women.

Therapeutic doses of passionflower

20-40ml per week of 1:2 liquid herbal extract
1.5-2.5g per day (tablet)
6-10g infusion (tea) (TCM)
1-3ml tincture daily (TCM)

Study¹: Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam

This study found that Passiflora extract and oxazepam, a benzodiazepine, were both effective in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder, and no significant difference was observed between the two treatments at the trial’s end.

Oxazepam acted quickly, with more problems found relating to job performance impairment in subjects. Passiflora extract was determined to be an effective drug for the management of generalised anxiety disorder, with low interference in a person’s work performance being an advantage.

References

Bone, Kerry – The Ultimate Herbal Compendium, Page 52
Holmes, Peter – The Energetics of Western Herbs, Volume II, Page 792

1.
Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani M. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther. Published online October 2001:363-367. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2710.2001.00367.x