• Naturalne sedative and anti-stress effects
• Helpful in nicotine, opoid and THC addiction
•  Herbal medicine designated for assessment by EMA
• Relief from withdrawal symptoms
• Standardised plant extract
• Beneficial effect on sleep quality
• Anxiolytic properties
• Longer REM sleep
• Helps fall asleep

Now Foods Passion Flower is a dietary supplement with Passiflora incarnata extract, standardised to contain flavonoids as vitexin and isovitexin. Passiflora incarnata is a plant which is a herbal medicine designated for assessment by EMA (European Medicines Agency), used traditionally as an anxiolytic and sedative agent. The packaging contains 90 capsules, suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Passiflora incarnata is a species of plant native to tropical areas of South and North America. It is believed that Passiflora incarnata shows the greatest therapeutic potential among around 500 species of the Passiflora genus. Passiflora incarnata is the subject of monographs in many countries around the world, including British Pharmacopoeia. The plant acts mainly on the central nervous system.

Passiflora incarnata has sedative and anti-stress properties It is suggested that active compounds from this plant stimulate GABAergic transmission via benzodiazepine receptors. Benzodiazepines are an important class of drugs with sedative, anxiolytic and soporific effects. Numerous studies on animals have demonstrated sedative effects of Passiflora incarnata extract. Higher doses of extracts with a high content of flavonoids have been reported to have anxiolytic properties.

Passiflora incarnata exerts anxiolytic effects Randomised, double-blind studies were conducted on patients with generalised anxiety disorder. One group were given passion flower extract, the second one were treated with oxazepam (an anxiolytic drug). The efficacy of the plant extract was evaluated after 4 weeks. Comparing the two groups, no differences were found in the level of anxiety.

The next study (placebo-controlled) concerned the impact of passion flower on reducing preoperative anxiety, associated with the fear of local anaesthesia. Patients from the treatment group were given dry passion flower extract 1.5 hours before a surgery. Preoperative anxiety was significantly reduced.

Passiflora incarnata improves sleep quality. According to study results, Passiflora incarnata helps lengthen REM sleep, characterised by enhanced brain activity, required for optimum recovery of the body. Participants of the study were drinking an infusion from Passiflora leaves before going to bed for a week. According to polysomnograms and reports of the subjects, there was a considerable improvement in sleep quality. After waking up, patients had more energy and were more rested.

Passiflora incarnata may relieve withdrawal symptoms and help treat addictions. Acccording to studies, the plant may be helpful in an addiction to nicotine, ethyl alcohol, opioids and cannabinoids, including THC. In animal experiments it was observed to relieve unpleasant symptoms of withdrawing an addictive substance. After taking benzoflavone (one of the constituents of passion flower extract), animals addicted to nicotine did not feel cravings for cigarettes.

When studying the impact of passion flower on opioid addiction, it was noted that taking benzoflavone and morphine together reduced the development of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Similar effects were observed in the case of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Benzoflavone from passion flower helped also reduce the incidence of anxiety states and withdrawal symptoms which are associated with an addiction to ethyl alcohol.

To sum up, Now Foods Passion Flower is a high-quality product which contains plant extract with great therapeutic potential. The supplement is recommended especially for increased mental tension and sleep problems and to lower levels of stress and help treat addictions.