Passionflower
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): what NIH, EU regulators and trials say about anxiety and sleep, and the cautions for pregnancy, surgery and sedating medicines.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Passionflower good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Traditional use for mild mental stress and sleep
Preliminary or mixedEuropean regulators accept passionflower herb for easing mild symptoms of mental stress and helping sleep, for adults and adolescents over 12, based on long-standing use.
Supplements: Traditional-use status only; it is not proof of benefit.
Anxiety symptoms
Preliminary or mixedA small amount of research suggests oral passionflower might reduce anxiety symptoms, but NIH says the conclusions are not definite.
Supplements: Small, short, mixed trials; no firm conclusion. Products and extracts differ.
Anxiety before surgery or dental work
Preliminary or mixedNIH says a small amount of research suggests oral passionflower might reduce anxiety before a surgical or dental procedure; this is not definite.
Supplements: Preliminary; weigh against the anesthesia caution.
Total sleep time in insomnia
Preliminary or mixedA 2-week trial in 110 adults with insomnia found more total sleep time than placebo on sleep-lab recording. Other sleep measures did not differ from placebo.
Supplements: One extract, 2 weeks; further study needed per the authors.
Stress
Not enough evidenceNIH says there is not enough evidence to say whether passionflower helps with stress, although it is marketed for it.
Supplements: Not shown.
ADHD, heart failure, menopause symptoms, fibromyalgia
Not enough evidenceNIH says there is not enough evidence to judge passionflower for these conditions.
Supplements: Not shown.
Forms and how long they have been studied
Not enough evidenceNIH says passionflower tea may be safe for up to 7 nights and a daily extract for up to 8 weeks; skin use safety is unknown. Food flavoring amounts are likely safe.
Supplements: Longer-term and child use not covered by the sources read.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (3)
- Anxiety SupportPreliminary or mixed
Small trials suggest passionflower might reduce anxiety symptoms, but NIH says conclusions are not definite and a network meta-analysis found no significant effect on its main scale.
- Better SleepPreliminary or mixed
One 2-week trial found more total sleep time than placebo in adults with insomnia; other measures did not differ and NIH calls effects on falling and staying asleep mixed.
- Calm & RelaxationPreliminary or mixed
Accepted in the EU for mild mental stress on the basis of traditional use; clinical studies were too small to confirm it.
Body systems (4)
- Reproductive SystemDocumented risk
NIH says not to use in pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions.
- Nervous SystemPreliminary or mixed
Used for calming and sleep; may cause drowsiness, dizziness and confusion, and might slow the nervous system with anesthesia.
- Sleep & RecoveryPreliminary or mixed
Traditional sleep aid; one trial showed longer total sleep time.
- Stress & MoodPreliminary or mixed
Traditional use for mild mental stress; small trials on anxiety are mixed.
Body parts (2)
- Reproductive OrgansDocumented risk
May cause uterine contractions, so it should not be used in pregnancy.
- Nervous SystemPreliminary or mixed
Calming and sedating effects are the basis for its use; side effects include drowsiness and confusion.
Functional actions (2)
- CalmingPreliminary or mixed
Traditional calming herb; human evidence limited and mixed.
- Sleep RegulationPreliminary or mixed
One trial found longer total sleep time; other measures no different from placebo.
Root causes (2)
- Medication Side EffectsDocumented risk
Might interact with anesthesia and other medicines used around surgery; ask a provider or pharmacist before combining with sedating medicines.
- Poor SleepPreliminary or mixed
Studied in adults with insomnia; modest, mixed results.
Conditions & symptoms (2)
- AnxietyPreliminary or mixed
Small trials suggest possible benefit; NIH says conclusions are not definite and a network meta-analysis did not find a significant effect.
- SleeplessnessPreliminary or mixed
One 2-week trial found more total sleep time than placebo; other measures did not differ.
Documented risks and interactions (4)
- Pregnancy: not to be used. NIH says passionflower should not be used during pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions and possibly other problems.
- Surgery and anesthesia interaction. Passionflower might interact with some anesthesia drugs and slow the nervous system too much. NIH advises avoiding it before surgery unless a provider recommends it, and telling the provider if used within 2 weeks of a scheduled operation.
- Drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. NIH lists drowsiness, dizziness and confusion as possible side effects. The EU committee noted no side effects had been reported when it assessed the herb.
- Liver safety. NIH LiverTox says passionflower has not been implicated in raised liver enzymes or clinically apparent liver injury.
Safety first. NIH says passionflower should not be used during pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions. [1] It might interact with some anesthesia drugs, so avoid it before surgery unless a health care provider recommends it, and tell your provider if you use it within 2 weeks of a scheduled operation. [1] Possible side effects include drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. [1]
Overview
Passionflower is a climbing vine with white and purple flowers, native to the southeastern United States and Central and South America. [1] It is promoted as a supplement for anxiety (including before surgery), sleep problems, stress, ADHD and pain. [1] The tea as a product is covered at Passionflower Tea.Scientific name and plant part
Passiflora incarnata L. is the accepted name in the GBIF plant database, in the family Passifloraceae. [2] NIH lists other names including maypop. [1] The EU regulator covers the above-ground parts of the plant, as dried herb or extracts. [3] Only this species is covered here. Check that a product names Passiflora incarnata. See Plant Names and Botanical Nomenclature.Traditional use (not proof)
NIH says passionflower has traditionally been used as a sedative, that Spanish explorers in 16th-century South America learned of it, and that it was then brought to Europe, where it became widely cultivated and entered European folk medicine. [1] The EU regulator (HMPC, summary published 2016) accepted use for relief of mild symptoms of mental stress and to aid sleep on the basis of long-standing use, in adults and adolescents over 12. [3] It stated that the clinical studies it reviewed were too small and had too many design shortcomings to draw firm conclusions. [3]What research shows (research, not tradition)
| Use | What the source found | Evidence label | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety, including before surgery or dental work | NIH says a small amount of research suggests oral passionflower might reduce symptoms, but conclusions are not definite. [1] A systematic review of nine trials (study length from one day to 30 days) found most reported reduced anxiety, with the effect less evident in people with mild symptoms. [4] | Promising but limited | Adults; various oral preparations |
| Anxiety, compared across herbs | A network meta-analysis found passionflower did not reduce Hamilton anxiety scores significantly in the summary network, though the authors said it merited further study. [5] | Mixed | Adults with anxiety |
| Insomnia | A 2-week trial in 110 adults with insomnia found an increase in total sleep time on sleep-lab recording compared with placebo (P = 0.049), while other sleep measures did not differ from placebo. [6] NIH says total sleep time might improve but the effects on falling and staying asleep are mixed. [1] | Promising but limited | Adults with insomnia disorder; extract |
| ADHD, heart failure, menopause symptoms, fibromyalgia, stress | Not enough evidence to say whether it helps. [1] | Insufficient evidence | None adequate |
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for long-term use or for use in children (we looked at the NIH fact sheet, the EU regulator's summary and the PubMed reviews and trial above).
Forms and why the form matters
The EU regulator describes dried herb as teas to drink and extracts in solid or liquid forms taken by mouth, and notes that combinations with other herbs are not covered. [3] NIH says passionflower may be safe as a tea for up to 7 nights and as a daily extract for up to 8 weeks; whether skin use is safe is not known. [1] Many products combine passionflower with other herbs, so combination results cannot be assigned to passionflower alone. See Herbal Blends and Formulas: What to Check.Official statements
- NCCIH (US NIH): effect on anxiety and other conditions has not been studied extensively. [1]
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC (2016): traditional use for mild mental stress and to aid sleep; see a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms last more than 2 weeks or worsen. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Does passionflower help anxiety?
A small amount of research suggests it might, but NIH says conclusions are not definite. [1] A network meta-analysis did not find a significant effect on its main anxiety scale. [5]
Does passionflower help you sleep?
One 2-week trial found an increase in total sleep time on sleep-lab recording. [6] NIH says effects on falling and staying asleep are mixed. [1]
Is passionflower safe before surgery?
NIH says it might interact with anesthesia drugs, so avoid it before surgery unless a provider recommends it. [1]
Can I use passionflower in pregnancy?
NIH says no, because it may induce uterine contractions. [1]
Is passionflower tea the same as an extract?
Not necessarily. NIH describes the tea and the extract separately, with different lengths of use studied. [1] See Passionflower Tea.
Related: Lemon Balm, Valerian, Better Sleep.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety and who should ask first
- Sedation: NIH says passionflower with anesthesia or other medicines used before and after surgery might slow the nervous system too much. [1] Sedatives and alcohol were not discussed in the passionflower sources we read, so ask a pharmacist before combining. See How Interactions Work.
- Pregnancy: not to be used, per NIH. [1] Breastfeeding: little is known. [1] See Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
- Children: the EU regulator limits its conclusions to adults and adolescents over 12. [3]
- Side effects: at the time of the EU assessment no side effects had been reported. [3] A systematic review of nine trials observed no adverse effects such as memory loss. [4] NIH nevertheless lists drowsiness, dizziness and confusion. [1]
- Liver: the NIH LiverTox database says passionflower has not been implicated in liver enzyme rises or clinically apparent liver injury. [7]
- Before surgery: see above and Herbs Before and After Surgery.
- Quality: product contents can differ from the label. See Quality Testing and Certifications.
References
- NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health). Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety. Available at www.nccih.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Passiflora incarnata L. (species 2874218). Available at api.gbif.org. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Passion flower: summary for the public (EMA/275240/2014, 2016). Available at www.ema.europa.eu. Read 2026-10-23.
- Janda K et al. Passiflora incarnata in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review. Nutrients 2020. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Zhang W et al. Medicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Pharmacological Research 2022. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Lee J et al. Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. International Clinical Psychopharmacology 2020. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- NIH LiverTox (NIDDK). Passionflower. Record updated 2020 (read as the PubMed entry). Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.