Pregnant women are especially susceptible to the effects of drugs and herbs. Effects that might not cause problems for an adult can seriously harm a developing fetus, especially in early pregnancy, when major organ systems are developing. Passion flower, also called passionflower, is an herbal medication made from the flowers, leaves and stems of the plant. Passion flower is not safe for use in pregnancy. Do not take this herbal supplement without your medical practitioner's approval.
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Passion flower's main use is as an anti-anxiety agent. The herb appears to increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid, also called GABA. This chemical induces relaxation by lowering some types of brain cell activity. Sedative side effects of passion flower include dizziness, confusion, sleepiness or altered consciousness.
Uterine Effects
Ingredients in passion flower can stimulate uterine contractions if taken in large quantities, BabyCenter UK reports. The ability to stimulate contractions stems from the Harman alkaloids in the plant, according to animal studies, the Drug Safety Society website reports. Uterine contractions could contribute to infertility by not allowing an embryo to implant or could contribute to pregnancy loss by causing miscarriage.
Fetal Risks
Passion flower contains cyanogenic glycoside gynocardine, which can break down into cyanide, a known toxin. Some cyanogenic compounds can cross the placenta and reach the fetus; cyanide can also cross the placenta. While some animal studies show that cyanide can have embryotoxic effects, cyanide doesn't cause any known syndromes, "Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation: Handbook of Prescription Drugs and Comparative Risk Assessment" reports. Aetna Intelihealth also states that many herbal tinctures contain large amounts of alcohol, which pregnant women should also avoid due to the possibility of fetal alcohol damage.
Considerations
In England and Europe, many over-the-counter herbal preparations contain passion flower, mostly products used as sleep aids or sedatives. When purchasing over-the-counter preparations during pregnancy, read labels carefully. Although many women feel herbs are gentler and safer than prescription medications, this is not always the case.
References
- eMedTV: Passion Flower
- MedlinePlus: Passionflower
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Passionflower
- Drugs.com: Passion Flower
- Babycenter UK: Herb and Drug Safety Chart
- "Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation: Handbook of prescription Drugs and Comparative Risk Assessment ": H. Garbis et al; Elsevier Science; 2002
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