Sleep Supplements: The Calming Effects Of Passion Flower Extract

A lot of people suffer from stress and having trouble falling sleeping due to anxiety. Given an alternative, most would rather not turn to prescription medication since the horrors of substance dependence and the side effects of sleeping pills are so well documented. But there are a number of natural, herbal remedies that are non-addictive and provide a safe, gentle alternative to prescription drugs. One of these remedies is the passion flower.

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) has long been used as a folk remedy in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The plant grows in the Midwest and Southeast regions of North America and extracts have been shown to have anti-anxiety properties. And yes, an added bonus (if you can call it that) is that it is also used as an aphrodisiac.

The extract of this flower has a relaxing, mild sedative action and does not cause excessive sedation or mental or physical dysfunction. Passion flower is believed to work by increasing levels of a neurotransmitter called gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) that creates a relaxing effect by lowering the activity of some brain cells. The active compounds present in the extract include flavonoids such as Chrysin that mimic the action of benzodiazepine to produce a calming effect.

Passion flower is not a quick fix and it takes regular use over a month to reach its peak. It is generally recommended that intake should include a break of a couple of days a week. Numerous studies have substantiated the claim that it encourages sleep and relieves nervous irritability. It also alleviates cramps that prevent deep and restful sleep.

A European study of patients with generalized anxiety disorder compared the efficacy of passion flower extract with oxazepam. The results found that not only was it as effective as prescription medications at relieving anxiety, but it did not impair job performance as compared to oxazepam. Other studies have also found it a "reliable herbal sedative" with anxiolytic effects.

Men, take heart. Passion flower has been used to treat female mood disorders during menses, childbirth and menopause. And women can rejoice from the fact that research has shown the benefits of the extracts in reducing the cravings, irritability and anxiety of quitting nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and opiates like heroin. It also greatly reduces the tremors that accompany alcohol withdrawal.

Parents of hyperactive kids will be happy to hear that passion flower has been used to treat children who have problems concentrating and are nervous, high-strung and easily excited. You should note, however, that its uses in opiate detoxification, ADHD and seizures have not been proved in sound scientific studies, so are considered hearsay.

There are a number of other conditions where passion flower has proved useful, including bronchial asthma, shortness of breath, cardiovascular neuroses, heart disease, weak circulation, insomnia and anxiety disorders, menopause symptoms, and in senior citizens.

Although passion flower extract has been shown to be completely nontoxic, and has been approved for food use by the FDA, care should be taken before combining it with other herbs or prescription drugs. It is not recommended in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and in combination with prescription sedatives.

However, if you want a safe and natural way to achieve a calming, relaxing, deep sleep, passion flower is an excellent herbal alternative to prescription medication and is included in many herbal sleep supplements.

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.