The health benefits of passionflower
Also known as “passion flower” or “grenadilla”, passionflower is a plant with sedative properties, used to combat anxiety, nervousness and sleep disorders.
Passionflower (passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower (passiflora incarnata) is a climbing perennial plant which belongs to the Passifloraceae family. It is native to South America, and grows in regions with warm and tropical climates (Asia, Australia and Africa).
Passionflower was discovered during the 16th century by Spanish missionaries in Peru [1] . The plant was named by the Jesuits “Passiflora” (from the Latin passio and flor – literally “passion flower”) because of the specific appearance of the liana flower considered “Christ-like” . The latter brings together all the elements of the crucifixion of Christ and the Passion of Christ: the crown of thorns, the 3 nails, the whip, the hammer and the 5 wounds [2] .
The plant is also famous as "grenadilla" because its fruit resembles a miniature pomegranate.
The Aztecs already used passionflower for its therapeutic properties [3] , particularly to soothe nervousness and anxiety . In Europe, it was used for medical purposes only from the 19th century. Today, it is recognized as a medicinal plant and is one of the most common natural remedies in the United States.
Passionflower has purple and white colored flowers, which are harvested during flowering. In these flowers, there is an edible fruit of yellow and green colors, with a sweet and tangy taste. This fruit is often used in certain cocktails, sorbets, fruit juices, or even to make jam.
The health benefits of passionflower
Like many medicinal plants and herbs, passionflower has many health benefits and virtues.
The effectiveness and use of this plant have been recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) . Passionflower is therefore listed among the medicinal plants in the French pharmacopoeia.
Passionflower protects the nervous system
Certain constituents of passionflower have the same effect as the neurotransmitter GABA on affected brain regions. It helps calm and protect the nervous system, thus promoting relaxation and well-being.
Passionflower soothes anxiety and stress
The plant contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants known for their anxiolytic effects. As a result, passionflower helps soothe and calm the mind during difficult periods of stress and tension.
Passionflower improves sleep
By promoting relaxation, passionflower naturally improves the quality of sleep and makes it easier to fall asleep without addiction or side effects.
Passionflower acts as an antispasmodic
Also antispasmodic, passionflower is effective in the treatment of muscle spasms, and to relieve neuralgic pain as well as digestive disorders.
Passionflower reduces blood pressure
The plant contains antioxidant enzymes and molecules with properties that fight free radicals. It thus helps to reduce the level of oxidized lipids in the body.
Passionflower helps prevent cardiovascular disorders by reducing blood pressure and protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. These cause premature cellular aging and promote the development of cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The use of passionflower
In herbal medicine (use of plants or their extracts to naturally treat ailments of the human body), the aerial parts of the species “Passiflora incarnata” are used for their sedative and anxiolytic effects.
To reduce anxiety and combat sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea, nocturnal awakenings, etc.), it is recommended to take passionflower in the form of:
- Infusion: to make a passionflower infusion, boil 150ml of water and add a teaspoon (i.e. 1 to 2 g) of passionflower powder. The latter must be infused for approximately ten minutes. Passionflower infusion can be taken one to four times a day, between meals, and ideally half an hour before bed to benefit from restful sleep.
- Liquid extract in a bottle: there are drinkable solutions based on passionflower extract. Simply put a few drops of this liquid in water or in an herbal infusion, and drink the mixture one to three times a day.
- Tablets, capsules, gummies: passionflower can also be consumed in the form of tablets, capsules or gummies.
Délicure offers sleep gummies , vegan, natural and made in France. They contain relaxing plant extracts such as passionflower, linden and poppy, vitamins (B5 and B6) as well as melatonin (sleep hormone).
This combination of powerful active ingredients makes it easier to fall asleep quickly and improve the quality of sleep. To fully benefit from their effects, it is recommended to take two “Sleep” gummies 30 minutes before going to bed.
To relieve anxiety, Délicure also offers Stress gummies enriched with adaptogenic plants (rhodiola, saffron and holy basil), vitamin B6 and the amino acid GABA. A course of these gummies helps reduce the negative effects of stress on the nervous system, and promote relaxation.
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15261959/
[2] https://agritrop.cirad.fr/457884/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12244887/
