Passion flower herb extract has been used to treat a variety of ailments, including gastrointestinal upset, congestive heart failure, anxiety and insomnia, according to "Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies."
Passion flower herb extract should not be a substitution for your doctor's care. Consult your physician prior to using passion flower herb extract, or any other herb, to ensure it is safe for you to use.
Though side effects are rare, according to "Prescription for Natural Cures," they can occur.
Bleeding
Passion flower extract can inhibit the body's clotting factors, notes "1001 Home Remedies & Natural Cures: From Your Kitchen and Garden." Though this can be beneficial to someone with blood prone to forming thrombi, according to "Foundations of Nursing," it is dangerous to someone with normal clotting and could result in hemorrhage. Additionally, the use of passion flower extract can interfere with blood tests, such as the prothrombin time, sometimes referred to as PT.
Drowsiness
Drowsiness is a common side effect of passion flower extract, according to "Prescription for Natural Cures." Though some people use passion flower extract with this specific side effect in mind to treat their insomnia, many people experience excessive drowsiness and sluggishness for several hours after taking this herb. This side effect can be mitigated by taking passion flower extract in small doses with a snack before bedtime.
Liver Damage
Passion flower extract has been linked to liver damage according to "Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing." Without treatment, damage to the liver can result in liver failure, which can lead to death. Though this is a rare side effect, "Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing" suggests people use passion flower extract only under the direct supervision of their physicians and contact their doctors right away if they become jaundiced, gain weight rapidly, experience abdominal pain or become very lethargic.
References
- "Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies"; Bill Gottlieb; 2008
- "Prescription for Natural Cures"; James Balch and Mark Stengler; 2004
- "1001 Home Remedies & Natural Cures: From Your Kitchen and Garden"; Esme Floyd; 2010
- "Foundations of Nursing"; Lois White, Gena Duncan and Wendy Baumle; 2010
- "Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Adrianne Dill Linton; 2007
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