How to Work with Passionflower

If you've been following along with my Anxiety Toolkit series, you already know how important it is to have reliable herbal allies to help manage anxiety, stress, and even insomnia. Today, I’m excited to share one of my absolute favorite herbs for these issues: Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata).

As someone who has personally struggled with anxiety, I know how debilitating it can be. Passionflower is a go-to herb that helps me feel grounded and calm even on my worst days. Let’s dive into why it works so well, how you can use it effectively, and even tips on growing it at home.

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What Is Passionflower?

Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as Passionflower, Maypop, or Wild Apricot, is a climbing vine with strikingly beautiful, alien-like flowers. While the blossoms are stunning, the real medicine is found in the leaves and vine. Passionflower is packed with natural healing properties, making it a top choice for anxiety and stress relief.

Passionflower’s Medicinal Properties

Passionflower is known for its soothing effects on the nervous system. Here are some of its key medicinal benefits:

• Nervine: Calms and relaxes the nervous system.
• Sedative: Helps promote relaxation without grogginess.
• Hypnotic: Supports restful sleep.
• Antispasmodic: Relieves muscle spasms and tension.
  It’s most often used to ease anxiety, nervous tension, and stress, but it can also help with muscle spasms, tremors, and even conditions like Parkinson’s disease and seizures.

David Hoffman, a well-known herbalist, suggests using Passionflower whenever an anti-spasmodic is needed. This can be particularly helpful for hyperaroused nervous systems, providing calm without making you drowsy—a perfect option for students, workers, and anyone dealing with daytime stress.

How Passionflower Supports Anxiety

Passionflower's benefits for anxiety are largely due to its impact on GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), a crucial neurotransmitter that helps regulate nervous system activity. Here’s how it works:

• Increases GABA levels, helping to calm the mind.
• Reduces anxiety, preventing racing thoughts, intrusive thinking, and circular rumination.
• Promotes sleep by aiding relaxation and improving sleep quality.

Low levels of GABA are associated with increased anxiety, while higher levels support feelings of calm and relaxation. This makes Passionflower an excellent choice for managing symptoms of clinical anxiety, helping quiet the mind when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

How to Grow Passionflower at Home

If you live in zones 6-10, you can easily grow Passionflower yourself! It thrives in well-drained soil and enjoys full sun to partial shade. Here are a few tips:

• Climbing vine: It grows wild, so providing a trellis or fence for it to climb is important.
• Easy to grow: Once established, it can take over your garden, so make sure it has plenty of dedicated space.
• Grow from seed or transplant: If you’re impatient, transplanting a seedling will speed up the process. Otherwise, be patient with seeds as they can take a while to germinate.

Passionflower may take a few years to start blooming, but once it does, it’s ready to be harvested for its medicinal leaves and vines.

How to Use Passionflower for Anxiety and Stress

There are two primary ways to work with Passionflower: tea and tincture.

1. Passionflower Tea:

• Use 1 teaspoon of dried Passionflower per cup of hot water.
• Steep for 45 minutes for a stronger infusion.
• You can sweeten with honey, add milk, or flavor it with lemon for taste.

Tea is a gentle, relaxing option and can be incorporated into your nightly routine or a calming anti-anxiety tea blend.

2. Passionflower Tincture:

• Combine 1 part fresh Passionflower with 2 parts alcohol to make a tincture.
• For dried Passionflower, use a 1:5 ratio (1 part herb to 5 parts alcohol).
• Let it sit for 4-6 weeks, then strain and bottle. You can speed up the process by blending the mixture or giving it a few hot water baths.

For active anxiety, take 1-2 dropperfuls every 15 minutes until symptoms subside. For sleep, take a dose before bed and keep some by your bedside in case you wake up during the night.

Safety and Contraindications

Passionflower is generally considered safe, even when taken alongside most anxiety and depression medications. However, it may interact with:

• Sedatives like benzodiazepines or barbiturates.
• Blood thinners, as it can slow down blood clotting.
• MAOIs, where it may increase their effects.

Always do a quick check for any potential interactions with medications or conditions you have before starting any herbal remedy. If you’re unsure, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider or herbalist.

Passionflower is a gentle yet powerful herb that can bring peace to both body and mind. If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear how it works for you! 

Watch this post in more detail on the Herbalist Kristen YouTube channel for a more detailed educational experience! 

Kristen Prosen