Seizures occur when electrical messages in the brain become disrupted. Although the exact cause of seizures is unclear, medical conditions including meningitis and head injuries can trigger them. Genetic factors might also play a role. If you suffer from a seizure disorder, your doctor will likely prescribe drugs known as anticonvulsants to prevent them from happening. A herb known as passionflower may help to soothe the nervous system and is sometimes used to help prevent seizures, although evidence to prove it works is lacking. Get medical advice before using it.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Passionflower, also known as fleur de la passion and passion vine, is used as an alternative remedy for a variety of medical conditions including insomnia, neuralgia and drug withdrawal symptoms. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that it also sometimes is used to treat the seizure disorder epilepsy. It contains a number of active compounds including flavonoids and alkaloids that might work synergistically to help prevent seizures.
Administration
Although passionflower is available in capsules and tablets, like many herbs, it can also be taken as a tea. You can buy ready made passionflower tea in health food stores, but you may prefer to make your own by steeping 2 g of dried herb in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes and then straining it. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that a typical dose is three cups daily. Confirm with your doctor that this dose is suitable for you.
Effectiveness
Clinical trials evaluating the effects of passionflower tea on seizures are lacking, so it is not possible to determine with certainty how effective it is. However, the results of an animal study published in the October 2010 issue of "Phytomedicine" show that passionflower extracts helped to reduce drug-induced seizures. Further studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Safety Considerations
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes that passionflower might cause side effects including dizziness, sedation and impaired cognitive function. It might also cause an allergic reaction in some people. Passionflower tea may interact with other medicines you may be taking including benzodiazepines and anticoagulants. Don't drink passionflower tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have any doubts about whether passionflower tea is suitable for you, consult a health-care practitioner.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Seizure Disorders
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Passionflower
- "Phytomedicine"; Passiflora Incarnata L. (Passionflower) Extracts Elicit GABA Currents in Hippocampal Neurons in Vitro, and Show Anxiogenic and Anticonvulsant Effects in Vivo, Varying With Extraction Method; S.M. Elsas, et al.; October 2010
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