Passiflora Incarnata (Passion Flower): Safety, Uses & Side Effects

A beautiful and exotic plant, Passiflora incarnata, or passion flower, has been used historically as a medicinal herb. But if you are considering passion flower or any herb for medicinal purposes, it is important to know the safety of the plant.

Uses

• As an herbal remedy, passion flower is used to aid digestion and as a sedative. It is also used to treat anxiety, insomnia and nervous stomach.

Side Effects

• Some side effects can occur when taking passion flower. They include nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat and drowsiness.

Safety

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved passion flower as safe for normal use.

Interactions

• Since passion flower has strong sedative properties, taking it with other sedatives may amplify the effects. Other medications it may interact with include caffeine, antibiotics, anti-anxiety drugs and antispasmodics.

Caution

• Although passion flower is on the FDA's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, use caution when deciding to take passion flower if you are pregnant or nursing or if you have a severe kidney or liver disease.