Many people prefer taking naturally grown herbal remedies when possible, rather than prescriptions that are fabricated in a laboratory. Passion flower is such a remedy and although its usefulness is not without question, it has shown promise for several different purposes. However, as is the case with most supplements and medications, it does have certain side effects of which you should be aware.
History and Uses
Passion flower is a plant that was discovered in Peru in 1569 by explorers from Spain. Passion flower and passion flower extract has traditionally had a wide variety of uses, including as a natural sleep aid, as a remedy for upset stomach, to reduce high blood pressure and heart rate disorders, to relieve asthma, menopause, fibromyalgia, burns and so on. According to Medline Plus from the National Institutes of Health, passion flower may be effective for treating at least some of these conditions, but its usefulness has not yet been proven beyond question. It is also sometimes used as a flavoring in cooking.
Drowsiness
Since one of the most common uses for passion flower is as a sleep aid, it may sound odd to list drowsiness as a potential side effect. But, just as with any sleep aid, you should be cautious about allowing yourself sufficient time to sleep before driving, operating machinery and so on. Also be cautious about taking passion flower while on prescribed or over the counter sedatives and sleep aid drugs, since the effects may be significantly strengthened.
Blood Thinning
Be cautious about potential complications if you consume passion flower while taking blood thinning medications such as antiplatelets and anticoagulants. This could potentially increase your risk of bleeding-related disorders, interfering with your body's ability to stop bleeding and form clots when necessary. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, medications that could be problematic when taken along with passion flower include aspirin, warfarin and clopidogrel.
MAOIs
MAOIs, or Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, are a type of antidepressent. Drugs that are classified as MAOIs include Tranylcypromine, Phenelzine and Isocarboxazid. They are less frequently prescribed today, but if you do take one of these types of medications, use caution about also taking passion flower since the combined effects can be increased to unsafe levels.
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