The passionflower vine is a native of the Western hemisphere, named for symbolic connections drawn between its appearance and the crucifixion of Jesus. Native North Americans used passionflower primarily as a mild sedative. It quickly caught on as a folk remedy in Europe and was thereafter adopted by professional herbalists as a sedative and digestive aid. The herb is considered to be a mildly effective treatment for anxiety and insomnia , less potent than kava and valerian , but nonetheless useful.
Animal studies suggest that passionflower extracts can reduce agitation and prolong sleep.
There have been no controlled double-blind studies of passionflower in humans, except in combination with other herbs. 2 Several constituents of passionflower have been credited with causing its sedative effect. However, none has been proven effective. At the current state of knowledge, the best we can say is that we don't yet know how the herb works. Dosage The proper dosage of passionflower is 1 cup 3 times daily of a tea made by steeping 1 teaspoon of dried leaves for 10 to 15 minutes.