Passionflower can be taken as a tea, tincture or capsule, and is often used in combination with other calming and mood-enhancing herbs such as hops, valerian and lemon balm. It's available in health food shops as a dried herb and extract in tinctures or capsules, but be sure to get quality products standardised to contain at least 3 per cent flavonoids - one of passionflower's active ingredients.

Hops (Humulus lupulus), which is often combined with passionflower in herbal remedies, is probably best known as an ingredient in beer, though it's also been used for centuries as a mild sedative and sleeping aid. Its sedative action works directly on the central nervous system, where it calms and quietens an over-active mind and body.

Any Precautions?

Passionflower has no reported side effects, though it is not recommended for those taking MAOI anti-depressant medications. Passionflower may also increase the effects of over-the-counter and prescribed sedatives, and so should not be combined with these drugs. Its safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established, so it is best avoided during these times.

How and When to Take It and How Much

Passionflower tea can be prepared by pouring a cup of boiling water onto a teaspoonful of the dried herb and leaving this to infuse for 15 minutes. Drink a cup in the evening for sleeplessness, and a cup twice a day for the easing of anxiety or restlessness. While passionflower is typically used in preparations containing other sedative ingredients, it may also be used alone, for instance in capsules of dried herb and standardised extract: lake 100 to 200mg, twice daily.

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