Passionflower Tea

Overview

Passionflower tea is made from the aerial part (herba) of Passiflora incarnata L. [1]

What EU regulators concluded

The EU committee concluded that, on the basis of long-standing use, passion flower preparations can be used for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep, for adults and adolescents over 12. In the EU, the herbal medicines committee (HMPC) accepts this kind of use as "traditional use": the effectiveness is considered plausible and the product has been used safely for at least 30 years (at least 15 within the EU), although clinical trial evidence is insufficient. That is a regulatory category, not proof from trials. [1] The committee also considered published clinical studies, but the low number of patients and other serious design shortcomings prevented firm conclusions. [1]

What the EU monograph describes for the tea (not a recommendation)

For adolescents, adults and the elderly, the monograph describes a herbal tea of 1 to 2 g of the comminuted herb in 150 ml of boiling water as an infusion, 1 to 4 times daily, with a doctor to be consulted if symptoms last more than 2 weeks. Use in children under 12 is not recommended. [1] This describes an authorised product; it is not a personal recommendation.

Safety

• Contraindication: hypersensitivity to the active substance. [1]
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: safety has not been established, and use is not recommended. [1]
• Interactions: none reported at the time of the monograph. [1] That means none were reported, not that none exist. It has a sedating reputation; ask a pharmacist if you take sedatives or drink alcohol.
• Liquid extracts containing ethanol must carry ethanol labeling. [1]

Research on the tea itself

PubMed lists 19 randomized trials mentioning passionflower (see Research).