Passiflora incarnata (passion flower) improves sleep and can help with ADHD, alcoholism, and a dozen other ailments.

Various studies have shown that the passionflower, and particularly the Passiflora incarnata variety, can improve sleep. Other studies even suggest that the symptoms of ADHD decrease.

Sleep better with passionflower:

In this Mexican study, test subjects sleep better and rate sleep quality higher than the placebo group. The sleep research is concluded in this way:

"The obtained results suggest that Passiflora incarnata contains components that facilitate the presence of the slow wave sleep and inhibit that of REM sleep. Additional experiments should be carried out in order to isolate the active principles and evaluate their effects on each sleep phase."

"Shortening of sleep latency and increasing the amount of slow wave sleep by the extracts of Passiflora incarnata suggest that this plant possesses adequate properties to be considered as sleep inducer."

Less trouble with ADHD:

In this small study, Ritalin and passionflower extract were examined. The passionflower extract had significantly fewer side effects than methylphenidate (Ritalin). The children who used the amphetamine had less appetite and were more nervous than the children who Passiflora incarnata used. The research into ADHD is concluded in this manner:

"We conclude that Passiflora may be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of ADHD. In addition, a tolerable side-effect profile may be considered as one of the advantages of Passiflora. Nevertheless, our study is relatively small and our results require confirmation in a larger study."

Even more applications:

Passiflora incarnata can also help with nervousness, nervous heart complaints, Parkinson's disease, seizures, muscle cramps, hysteria, hypertension, PMS, epilepsy, skin conditions, hemorrhoids, burns, asthma, whooping cough, bronchitis, infections, and as a painkiller for many ailments. Also for problems associated with menopause. Furthermore, it is used as a means to reduce the consequences of alcoholism, to facilitate quitting drinking, and is also used for delirium tremens.

How do you use the passion flower?

The leaves of Passiflora incarnata can be used medicinally; they should be picked just before flowering, between late spring and mid-summer. The leaves can also be collected after flowering and dried in the shade.

How it works according to us:

Research is still being conducted into the precise mechanism of action. However, it is known that the active substances only have a positive effect provided there is synergy. This means that the substances individually have no effect or may even have a negative effect, but as a whole, they do work. In our opinion, the synergistic effect of these specific alkaloids (harmine, harmaan, harmol), plant sterols, and flavonglycosides stimulates dopamine and serotonin receptors effectively because the MAO-inhibiting effect partially prevents the breakdown of dopamine and serotonin. Individuals with an attention deficit or hyperactivity specifically have a deficiency in dopamine stimulation in the anterior part of the brain and therefore benefit from passionflower extracts.

Buy Passiflora incarnata:

Buy a soothing sleep supplement with Passionflower. Make sure it is the Passiflora incarnata variety. You can combine it with valerian (do not combine with valerian for longer than 3 weeks), melatonin, lemon balm, and chamomile, or buy a supplement with a combination.

You can also grow the flower yourself and see how beautiful it is, and thereby also see the beauty nature has to offer.

Warning:

Passionflower is a mild MAO inhibitor. The maximum dose of passionflower is 4 to 8 grams. At normal dosages, no harmful side effects are known. Very occasionally, people experience dizziness, weakness, hypersensitivity reactions in the form of nausea and vomiting, or benign cardiac arrhythmias. An excessive dose is sedating, and operating machinery or driving a car is then inadvisable. Passionflower is not an addictive substance. People who use sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and sedatives should only take passionflower on a specialist's prescription because passionflower can interact with these medications, reducing or altering their effectiveness.