Passion flower: the medicinal plant against sleep disorders

If you want to improve your sleep or if you have problems with your sleep due to nervousness, you should use the passion flower more often in the evening. Read for yourself why the passion flower can help with sleep disorders, sleep problems, restlessness and stress and how you can best take the plant.

It's blue, comes from the tropics and is incredibly effective: The passion flower, also known as passiflora, has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant to treat nervousness, anxiety, sleep disorders and difficulty falling asleep. There are many different types of passion flower, but one passion flower herb is particularly effective. What is meant is Passiflora incarnata - a medicinal plant that is clearly superior to other passion flowers. The ingredients of the passiflora help you with sleep disorders in the evening, but you can also take the passion flower herb for nervous restlessness, anxiety and nervousness.

 

Passiflora effect - which passion flowers are actually medicinal plants?

When people talk about passiflora, many think of the blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea), which is not kept as an herb, but mostly as a houseplant or ornamental plant. Did you know that there are more than 530 passion flower plants?

Most of the plants are native to tropical and subtropical regions, especially South and Central America, Asia and Australia. Passion flower plants like the Passiflora produce red, yellow, white, light green and blue flowers and fruits, some of which are edible.

In addition to many unknown passion flowers, the blue passion flower with its typical blue flowers is the best known sub-genus of the Passifloracae. The plant is believed to be the epitome of passion flowers, although the herb does not promote sleep. Another subgenus is the plant Passiflora edulis, which produces edible fruits. These contain plenty of vitamin C, niacin and vitamin B3. The acidity of these passion flower fruits is very high, which is why the climbing shrub Passiflora edulis is more suitable for the production of juice.

The subgenus Passiflora incarnata proves that passion flowers not only look pretty as a houseplant, but are also real medicinal herbs. Passifolra incarnata is a climbing and houseplant whose medicinal properties were already appreciated by the Aztecs, Incas and many other indigenous peoples.

After the discovery of the plant in Peru by the Spaniards, who saw the plant symbolically for the passion of Christ and interpreted this as a sign that Christ supported their conquests over the Aztecs, Mayas and Incas, Passiflora incarnata spread as a medicinal plant in the 17th century also in Europe, before the emigrants in America discovered the effects of the plant for themselves in the 19th century. From then on, the triumphant advance of Passiflora could hardly be stopped. The passion flower was particularly popular as an anxiety-relieving tea.

Numerous studies followed to prove the calming healing effects of passionflower. So it is not surprising that in 2011 Passiflora incarnata received the title “Medicinal Plant of the Year”.

Passion flower sleeping pills: which active ingredients does the passion flower passiflora have?

Secondary plant substances (flavonoids) such as chrysin, which researchers discovered in the XNUMXs, are responsible for the healing properties of the passion flower passiflora. The passion flower also contains essential oils and essential fatty acids.

The antioxidant effect of protocatechuic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid is particularly noteworthy in this regard. Although traces of plant toxins have been detected in the parts of the passion flower Passiflora, they do not pose a risk to your health.

What parts of the plant of the passion flower passiflora are used?

The valuable ingredients are mainly found in the leaves and flowers of the passion flower Passiflora incarnata, which are either dried before use and then used as a tea or ground into a powder.

Did you know that many indigenous peoples in America, such as the Incas and Aztecs themselves, use the roots of the passion flower Passiflora incarnata in traditional medicine? Although not as an extract but drunk as a tea, the roots of the Passiflora incarnata help with liver problems in a wide range of effects, whereby the natives also use the roots of the passion flower Passiflora to cleanse the blood. Mainly, however, the plant is said to have a calming, anxiety-relieving effect.

Passionflower sleep: DEEP SLEEP¹ 

DEEP SLEEP¹ with Melatonin offers you in the evening a balanced recipe made from selected medicinal plants that use melatonin to shorten the time to fall asleep. In addition to a high-dose extract of the passion flower Passiflora incarnata, our daily dose contains hops and lemon balm. The recipe is rounded off by the sleep hormone melatonin, which shortens your time to fall asleep and thus brings you into the deep sleep phase.^1,4 All in one: the perfect passion flower capsules for you!

 

 

Passion flower onset of action: What is the effect of the passion flower Passiflora incarnata?

Due to the unique combination of highly effective ingredients, the passion flower passiflora and its extract are primarily of interest as a medicinal plant, medicinal drug, natural sedative and sleep aid. When dosed correctly, the valuable active ingredients of the passion flower passiflora unfold their calming effect in your brain by stimulating the production of the neurotransmitter GABA. GABA, also known as gamma amino butyric acid, is a natural sleep aid that your body can produce itself. GABA has a sedating effect and thus helps you to reduce nervousness and to find sleep. GABA also has an anti-anxiety effect.

Unfortunately, the resources are used up quickly because you are confronted with an incredible amount of stimuli and information every day that your brain can only process with difficulty. The result: You feel stressed because you are coming under increasing pressure. However, the more stress you have, the more GABA your brain uses up.

Many people then find themselves in a vicious circle that it is difficult to break. Sleep problems are often the result of a stressed lifestyle. You can tell by the fact that you suffer from insomnia in the evening and cannot get out of bed in the morning. During the day you are then unfocused and tired.

In addition, you often not only suffer from sleep disorders, but also from restlessness. Anxiety can also be a result of chronic sleep disorders because you become increasingly worried and cannot switch off. In this way, you use up your "endogenous sedative" within a very short time, so that your brain can no longer keep up with the production of GABA.

What is really interesting is that the passion flower Passiflora can have an extremely calming, antispasmodic and anxiety-relieving effect. Some researchers even suspect that the messenger substance chrysin, a flavonoid of the passion flower passiflora, binds to the receptors of the neurotransmitter GABA in order to mimic its function and effect.

Scientists from the Brazilian University of Maringa were able to prove the calming effect of the passiflora in a study, whereby the test subjects at the time took a special (alcoholic) extract of the passion flower passiflora.¹

Which areas of application are there for Passiflora?

Due to its relaxing, calming and anxiety-relieving effect, the leaves and flowers or the extract of the passion flower passiflora help

• nervousness
• States of tension
• sleep disorders
• Anxiety and anxiety disorders
• Stress
• depressive moods

It is best to take the passion flower passiflora before going to bed. Then the flavonoids of the passion flower passiflora can best unfold their calming effect. Not only your body comes to rest with the plant Passiflora - your brain can also process the information of the day better, so that you can switch off with Passiflora, fall asleep faster and again sleep better .

That the passion flower in particular is Passiflora

• sleep disorders,
• States of tension and
• unrest

helps, proves a study by the French university Laboratoire d'Ethnobotanique et de Pharmacologie in Metz. By giving their test subjects a high-dose, calming and anxiety-relieving (aqueous) extract of the passion flower passiflora, the candidates were not only able to fall asleep better and stay asleep with the extract - they also needed much less sleep. Nevertheless, the next day they were fit and rested.²

A study by the Australian School of Psychology and Psychiatry at Monash University in Victoria was able to confirm this positive effect of Passifloraceae.³ The participants in the study drank a passiflora tea made from dried passion flowers every day. Two grams of passion flowers were already enough to achieve a sleep-inducing, anxiety-relieving and calming effect with the medicinal plant.

After just a few weeks, the participants who drank the passion flower of the Passifloraceae daily as a medicine, noticed an alleviation of the symptoms. With the help of passiflora, they were not only able to fall asleep faster - they also felt significantly fitter by taking the medicinal plant passiflora.

 

Passion flower effect: who should take the passion flower passiflora?

In principle, taking the passion flower passiflora is suitable for every person whose everyday life is characterized by problems with sleep, restlessness, fatigue, fear, stress or depressive moods. Passiflora incarnata is also the perfect medicinal plant for shift workers who have to work in the evening or at night. Even children and adolescents can take the passion flower to alleviate anxiety and nervous restlessness. However, it is better to use tea as an extract here, as the effect could be too strong.

Interestingly, the passion flower is used as an herb not only for sleep problems, but also for restlessness and anxiety disorders, which is why the medicinal plant is suitable as a medicinal plant and natural sedative for nervous people who struggle with fear of flying or exam fear.

What side effects can occur when taking the medicinal plant Passiflora incarnata?

The passion flower is a natural medicinal plant that does not have any side effects. Synthetic tablets seem to work instantly, but the sedatives have numerous side effects that can be detrimental to your health. Dizziness, nausea, nervous restlessness, tremors and tiredness are not uncommon. Benzodiazepines are often used as sleeping pills and sedatives. However, with long-term use, these tablets have an addictive potential that should not be underestimated.

Therefore, slight problems with sleep should be counteracted, for example, with relaxation techniques, a healthy diet, exercise and, if necessary, with sleep-promoting plants or extracts, before trying tablets. In the case of clinical sleep disorders, you should be examined and treated in the sleep laboratory.

If you use passion flower, unlike with many tablets, you don't have to fear any side effects or impairments in everyday life. You will feel calmer and more balanced without feeling sleepy or tired. Your sleep will also feel more restful.

Which is better: passion flowers (caerulea) as a tea or dietary supplement?

Basically, the following applies: As a medicinal plant, the passion flower has an effect both as a tea and as an extract or preparation. The leaves and flowers of the passion flower are dried to make a tea. The mixture is then available under the name Passiflora herba (passion flower herb) to alleviate sleep disorders and nervous restlessness.

Passionflower teas have the great advantage that they are particularly mild and cannot be overdosed. That is why the leaves and flowers are particularly suitable for children.

Food supplements made from Caerulea, which are commercially available as tablets or capsules, are just as effective. Since this is a concentrated extract of the passion flower, preparations are also much more concentrated in flavonoids and therefore more effective than the teas of the plant.

 

 

What are the benefits of passionflower dietary supplements?

Dietary supplements are practical and easy to use. The tablets and capsules usually consist not only of a special passion flower extract, but also of other natural medicines that support the calming and sleep-promoting effects of Passiflora incarnata.

Another advantage is that medicinal products from the plant, as already mentioned, contain far more flavonoids than teas, which stimulate the production of GABA.

 

Dosage of passion flower - how much is recommended?

If you want to drink the passion flower as tea, a heaped tablespoon is sufficient as a dosage, pour hot water over it and let it steep for about ten minutes. In order to relieve sleep disorders or nervous restlessness, you should take the tea made from passion flower over a longer period of time. It is best to drink the plant's tea in the evening before going to bed. Then the drink can best develop its healing effects.

Food supplements that contain the natural dry extract of passionflower in a concentrated form are much easier to dose. When taking it, you should follow the information on the package insert. Although no side effects are known from the use of dietary supplements made from passionflower, you should still not exceed the stated maximum daily dose.

 

Where can I buy passion flower?

The choice is yours: you can buy passionflower either as a tea or as a dietary supplement in stores or online. At first glance, teas are cheaper than a dietary supplement, but you have to drink several cups a day to counteract problems falling asleep, nervous restlessness, stress, anxiety and tension.

It is much easier to take a natural medicine that you can integrate perfectly into your everyday life. In contrast to a tea, a dietary supplement contains the concentrated extract of the passion flower Passiflora incarnata in the recommended daily dose as a dosage.

The perfect combination of other medicinal plants (hops, valerian root or lemon balm extract) even enhances the sleep-promoting and calming effect of the passion flower.