Study: Passion Flower Found to be Effective as Synthetic Drugs for Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD)

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Passionflower is a perennial creeping vine native to the tropical parts of the United States. It makes a spectacular garden ornamental, and many people plant passion flower to their home garden for enhancing beauty. Apart from its physical appearance, passion flower is a great sedative, a nerve calming agent and a sleep aid. Its leaves were used in Native American medicine to heal bruises and cuts.

Passion flower contain a powerfully protective compounds known as quercetin, it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In herbal medicine, passion flower’s aerial parts have long been used to treat certain health conditions.

Stress and Anxiety

Passionflower is also generally used to fight stress, nervousness and anxiety and found to be effective as synthetic drugs for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)!  Furthermore, unlike the commonly prescribed drug oxazepam, it doesn’t cause drowsiness or deterioration of work performance.  According to scientist passionflower increase the levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, and make you feel more relaxed, calm and stress free. (i) (ii)

Improves Your Sleep

Humans have been using Passionflower to treat sleep disorders from ancient times. It is found that passionflower improves sleep quality and can be an effective treatment for insomnia. Passion flower combined with valerian root may be one of the best combinations to help with insomnia and drinking a cup of Passionflower tea about one hour before bedtime may improve sleep quality. (iii)

Lower Blood Pressure

Drinking Passionflower tea daily has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure levels. Scientist believe that the blood pressure reduction was due to of antioxidant compounds present in passion flower called edulilic acid. The passionflower extracts were elevated degrees of an anti-oxidant enzyme also found to decrease significantly the average levels of oxidized lipids. (iv)

Reduces Inflammation

Passion flower also reduce disease-causing inflammation. The high level of phenolic compounds showed the powerful antioxidant activity of the extract of the passion flower plant.

Passion Flower Anxiety Reliever Tea

Ingredients:

1–1/2 teaspoons dried chamomile
1–1/2 teaspoons dried passion flower
1 teaspoon local honey (optional)
I cup of water

Directions:

Bring the water to a low boil then turn off the stove and add the herbs to the water.
Cover with a lid right away so that the oils from the flowers do not evaporate.
Allow it to steep for about 10–12 minutes.
Remove from the stove, strain if needed, and pour yourself a cup.
Then add some local, organic honey if desired.
Drink any time when you may feel anxious.

Additional Sources:

http://www.homeremediesweb.com/passionflower-health-benefits.php

https://healthyfocus.org/6-proven-benefits-of-passion-flower/

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Geary Andrew
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Minor in business and liberal arts. I've written about health for more than a decade. Veteran freelance writer with expertise in health, wellness, parenting and lifestyle issues. I am passionate about educating and empowering people to achieve and maintain optimal health and is committed to providing the highest quality health care.