A name like passion flower may trick you into thinking that it is an aphrodisiac, but it can actually help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and eliminate insomnia, to name a few benefits. Some studies have even suggested that passion flower may be as effective as synthetic drugs for general anxiety disorder.
You may be somewhat familiar with the name because it is the flower of the passion fruit vine, even though passion flower is actually a common name for about 400 or more species of Passiflora incarnate. People have used the flowers, leaves, and stems, all of which are edible, for their respective medicinal properties for hundreds of years. The most common way to use the passion flower is to brew it into a tea and drink the liquid.
Passion flower is regarded as an alternative medicine America, even though it has mainstream acceptance in other parts of the world. See how passion flower can benefit your health!
Heart Health
Passion flower tea has been known to have blood pressure-lowering properties, primarily due to the antioxidant compound known as edulilic acid. Some studies have shown that continuous consumption of passion flower tea for five days helped to decrease levels of oxidized lipids, which can accumulate in the arteries and lead to atherosclerosis.
More Restful Sleep
Multiple studies have concluded that passion flower has sleep-inducing properties. A double-blind study found that the people who drank passion flower tea slept more soundly than the placebo group. The passion flower contains flavonoids and phytochemicals that impact the neurotransmitter levels in the brain, helping you sleep through the night.
Stress Reduction
Drinking passion flower tea may help to reduce stress levels because of the phytochemicals known as quercetin and kaempferol. These two alkaloids have been known to improve mood, promote relaxation, and reduce the amount of stress hormones in the body. Reducing stress levels can help you feel more energized and relieve feelings of anxiety.
Reduced Inflammation
Studies conducted on the antioxidant and phytonutrient content in wild passion flower species have found that they may reduce disease-causing inflammation. More attention was paid to the seeds of the plant, but the plant as a whole contains potent antioxidants. However, a study found that, when dried passion flower was applied to animals with paw edema (build-up of fluid in the paws of animals), they had reduced inflammation and less fluid in the paw area.
Reduced Effects Of Menopause
Menopause is often associated with hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, irregular sleep patterns, and feelings of depression or anxiety. Studies have shown that passion flower may be beneficial for vasomotor signs like hot flashes. In fact, it may be a better alternative to conventional hormone therapy. Passion flower helps to increase the levels of amma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is a chemical in the brain, and low levels are typically associated with depression or anxiety. Passion flower, valerian, flaxseed, licorice, red clover, and black cohosh are all herbs that can help reduce hot flashes in menopausal, or premenopausal women.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
