Passionflower
Passiflora incarnataIts Western name comes from Spanish missionaries who saw symbols of the Passion of Christ in the flower; the Turkish name çarkıfelek (“wheel of fortune”) comes from its spinning-wheel shape.
What is Passionflower?
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a plant of the Passifloraceae family. Traditions that use it: North America. Part used: aerial parts.
What is Passionflower used for?
Traditional use: Indigenous peoples of the south-eastern US, such as the Cherokee, ate the fruit and used the root and leaves for wounds and swellings. Scientific evidence: limited. The EMA recognises passionflower as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep.
Is Passionflower safe?
Safety label: generally safe. Generally safe; it can cause drowsiness and dizziness, so do not drive after taking it. Avoid in pregnancy. Its effect may add to alcohol, sleeping pills and sedatives.
Traditional use
Indigenous peoples of the south-eastern US, such as the Cherokee, ate the fruit and used the root and leaves for wounds and swellings. Locally it is called maypop.
It reached Europe in the 17th century and is now used in European herbal medicines for anxiety and sleep problems.
In nature
Mix-up risk
The blue-flowered Passiflora caerulea is the commonest garden species in Türkiye; the medicinal one is P. incarnata. Passion fruit comes from P. edulis.
Preparation
A teaspoon of the dried aerial parts is steeped in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes and drunk in the evening. Standardised extract tablets also exist.
What science says
The EMA recognises passionflower as a traditional remedy for mild stress and to help sleep. A systematic review (2020) found positive results for anxiety and pre-surgery nerves but stressed that the studies were small and short. Placebo-controlled trials show a single dose before surgery reduces anxiety.
Safety
Generally safe; it can cause drowsiness and dizziness, so do not drive after taking it. Avoid in pregnancy. Its effect may add to alcohol, sleeping pills and sedatives.
Read more
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographPassiflorae herba: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- NCCIHUS National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: use and safety summary
- ResearchPassiflora incarnata in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review (Nutrients 2020)
- ResearchPreoperative oral Passiflora incarnata reduces anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients (Anesth Analg 2008)
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Passiflora incarnata
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe