Parts Used
The above ground parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of the passionflower are used for medicinal purposes.
Available Forms
Available forms include the following:
Infusions
Teas
Liquid extracts
Tinctures
How to Take It
Pediatric
No studies have examined the effects of passionflower in children, so do not give passionflower to a child without a doctor's supervision. Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight.
Adult
The following are examples of forms and doses used for adults. Speak to your doctor for specific recommendations for your condition:
Tea: Steep 0.5 – 2 g (about 1 tsp.) of dried herb in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes; strain and cool. For anxiety, drink 3 – 4 cups per day. For insomnia, drink one cup an hour before going to bed.
Fluid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 10 – 20 drops, 3 times a day
Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 10 – 45 drops, 3 times a day
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.
Do not take passionflower if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
For others, passionflower is generally considered to be safe and nontoxic in recommended doses.
Possible Interactions
Passionflower may interact with the following medications:
Sedatives (drugs that cause sleepiness) — Because of its calming effect, passionflower may make the effects of sedative medications stronger. These medications include:
Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin)
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium)
Drugs for insomnia, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), ramelteon (Rozerem)
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine, doxepin (Sinequan), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Antiplatelets and anticoagulants (blood thinners) — Passionflower may increase the amount of time blood needs to clot, so it could make the effects of blood thinning medications stronger and increase your risk of bleeding. Blood thinning drugs include:
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Aspirin
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors or MAOIs) — MAO inhibitors are an older class of antidepressants that are not often prescribed now. Theoretically, passionflower might increase the effects of MAO inhibitors, as well as their side effects, which can be dangerous. These drugs include:
Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
Phenelzine (Nardil)
Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
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