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Botanical illustration of Passion Flower
MedicinalSourced entry

Passion Flower

Passiflora incarnata

A climbing vine from the Americas, used as a calming herb since at least the 1500s. It is recognized in Europe for mild stress and to help sleep, and small studies suggest it may ease anxiety.

Safety at a glance

Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.

Passion Flower may interact with some medicines. If you take any medicine, read Interactions with medicines below and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

What is Passion Flower?

Plant family
Passifloraceae, the passionflower family
Parts used
The above-ground parts (herb)
Where it grows
Native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America
Genus
Passiflora
Species
incarnata

Also called

Passionflower, Maypop

Traditionally used for

  • Sleep
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Calming tea

Traditionally described as

  • May make you feel sleepy or relaxed

Health topics

Where Passion Flower appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.

  • Anxiety

    A small amount of research suggests it may ease anxiety, including before surgery, but results aren't definite.

  • Sleep Problems (Insomnia)

    Recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine to help sleep. Research suggests it may increase total sleep time, with mixed results otherwise.

  • Stress

    Recognized in Europe as a traditional medicine for mild symptoms of mental stress.

Traditions that use it

  • European Folk Medicine

    Brought to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and used in folk medicine; recognized today as a traditional medicine for mild stress and sleep.

How it's prepared

Common ways Passion Flower is prepared or sold. This isn't advice on how to take it; see Safety below.

Safety

Interactions with medicines

  • Talk with your healthcare provider before using passion flower with any medicines.[3]Health agency

Who should avoid it

  • Herbalists advise caution with passion flower if you have a slow heart rate or low blood pressure, or take sleep or anxiety medicines. Use Passiflora incarnata: other passion flower species haven't been used the same way, and some may be toxic.[4]General reference

Side effects

Pregnancy

  • Don't use passion flower during pregnancy: it may cause contractions of the womb. Little is known about its safety while breastfeeding.[3]Health agency

Before surgery

  • Stop using passion flower at least 2 weeks before surgery, because it may interact with anesthesia.[3]Health agency

How much to use

  • It's likely safe in the amounts used to flavor food. As a tea it may be safe for up to 7 nights, and as an extract for up to 8 weeks. Its safety on the skin isn't known.[3]Health agency

  • Passion flower medicines aren't recommended for children under 12. See a doctor if symptoms last more than 2 weeks or get worse.[1]Health agency

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • In the 16th century, Spanish explorers learned of passion flower's traditional use as a calming herb in South America and brought it to Europe, where it became part of folk medicine. Today it is promoted for anxiety, sleep problems, stress, ADHD and pain.[3]Health agency

  • Based on long-standing use, the European Medicines Agency recognizes passion flower as a traditional herbal medicine for relieving mild symptoms of mental stress and to help sleep, in adults and teens over 12.[5]Health agency

  • Passion flower (also called maypop) is a vine native to the southeastern United States. The Cherokee used the root as a poultice to draw out swelling from thorn wounds, as a tea in the ear for earache, and to wean babies. The Houma made a root tea as a blood tonic. It was introduced into American medicine in 1839 or 1840 by Dr. L. Phares of Mississippi. Today herbalists use the leaves, stems and flowers instead of the root.[4]General reference

  • Herbalists use passion flower for trouble sleeping (especially with racing, repetitive thoughts), anxiety, menstrual cramps, and muscle strains and sprains. These uses come from herbal practice and haven't been tested in clinical trials.[4]General reference

Research in people

  • A small amount of research suggests passion flower taken by mouth might ease anxiety, including anxiety before surgery or dental work, but the findings aren't definite. It may increase total sleep time in adults with insomnia, though results for falling and staying asleep are mixed. There isn't enough evidence for ADHD, heart failure, menopause symptoms, fibromyalgia or stress.[3]Health agency

  • The European Medicines Agency found the clinical studies of passion flower too small and too poorly designed to draw firm conclusions.[5]Health agency

In short

Can cause drowsiness; avoid in pregnancy and for 2 weeks before surgery.

Sources

  1. [1] Community herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba (EMA/HMPC/669740/2013) — European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)Government health agency
  2. [2] Passionflower — Herban Herbalist materia medica — Herban Herbalist (herb shop)General reference
  3. [3] Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)Government health agency
  4. [4] Passionflower: Ecology, Cultivation, Botany, and Medicinal and Edible Uses — Chestnut School of Herbal MedicineGeneral reference
  5. [5] Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata L., herba): summary of the HMPC conclusions (EMA/275240/2014) — European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC)Government health agency

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.