Using Passionflower for Better Sleep

The passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a plant that comes from the southern U.S. and Central and South America. Native Americans and Aztecs appreciated the healing properties of the passionflower, as they knew about the plants calming effects. It is commonly used as an aid to treat insomnia.

The passionflower was discovered in the 16th century by Spanish missionaries. The center of the flower resembles the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head at the crucifixion. The passionflower became a natural remedy to help people fall asleep at night.

The passionflower functions as a relaxant and calms the nervous system as it reduces muscle spasms. It is used to treat symptoms like asthma, and even severe hay fever. At one time, this herb was available as an aid for sleep problems in the U.S. Passionflower combines with other natural sleep remedies as an aid for insomnia and different kinds of sleep orders.

The ingredients for natural sleep aids often contain combinations of lemon balm, St. John’s Wort, chamomile, valerian root, and lavender flowers. Passionflower is effective and can be used by both adults and children and is non-addictive.

Take passionflower according to the proper dosages, per the product instructions. Recommended dosages are 2 – 5 grams of the herb as a tea, 3 – 5 times a day. The dosage should be spread throughout the day and taken a half-hour before bedtime.

You can drink passionflower as a tea for a natural sleep remedy. Put a tea bag into boiling water and drink this beverage as you begin to relax. Passionflower can also be purchased in loose tea form and brewed and then strained into a cup. If you don’t prefer to drink tea, you can buy passionflower extract as a tincture, liquid extract, or in capsules. If using in liquid form, simply add a few drops to some water or juice.