How to Beat Stress with This One Delicious Herb (*Hint It's Passionflower)

How to Beat Stress with This One Delicious Herb (*Hint It's Passionflower)

I think we can all agree that it would be really disappointing if passionflower wasn’t life-changing. Just the word “passionflower” evokes images of lying on a white sand beach with a coconut in one hand and a mindless summer read in the other.

It seems the higher ups on the herb-naming committee knew exactly what they were doing, because passionflower truly is as relaxing as all that. 

This beneficial herb is derived from a climbing vine that likes to live in warm sunny places, like Central and South America and the southeastern United States. It’s been sought after for centuries for its stress-relieving benefits, including treating insomnia and anxiety.  

While there are around 500 different species of passionflower, the one known for its calming benefits is the Passiflora incarnata species. It’s generally offered up as a tincture or shot to soothe a busy mind or even upset stomach. 

Need to relax? Find out how a quick dose of passionflower can make you feel like you’re digging your toes into the shores of Tahiti, without having to leave your kitchen.

What is Passionflower?

Before we get into the warm sunny feelings it creates, let’s dive into what passionflower is all about.

Passionflower, also known as Passiflora incarnata, is a popular herbal supplement that’s been known to treat issues like insomnia, seizures, and anxiety. This beautiful vine, with a bright purple flower, has been used since the 16th century as a sedative to help people maintain their cool. After it was brought to Europe, it became widely popular across the continent as an herbal remedy. 

To this day, passionflower is combined with other calming herbs for its sedative effects––like lemon balm, hops, kava, and chamomile––and used as a flavoring agent in certain foods and beverages.

What are passionflower’s benefits?

If you’re looking for a natural way to relieve anxiety without medication, passionflower might just become your new go-to. Studies show an interesting link between the delicious herb and the mitigation of anxiety and insomnia symptoms. As with all new supplements, it’s recommended that you begin with small doses at first (and under the guidance of your doctor!) to see how it interacts with your system. 

Ready for those sumptuous, beach-like benefits we mentioned earlier. Here are a few ways passionflower can take you to a new level of zen:

1. You know that nagging pit of anxiety in your stomach? Passionflower can help!

Passionflower supplements are thought to accelerate mood-boosting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in your brain. This in turn can help you relax.

Getting ready to go under for surgery? A study published in Anesthesia and Analgesia explored how passionflower’s sedative effect helped ease the fears and anxieties of those scheduled for upcoming surgery. In fact, patients who used it reported less anxiety than those who received a placebo.

If getting up for work or just going to the grocery store makes you about as stressed as going in for surgery, we get it, and yes, passionflower can help with that too.

2. Say goodbye to 2:00 a.m.

Would you describe your relationship with the clock on your nightstand as “complicated”? If you can’t seem to shut off your brain and get to sleep, a passionflower can help. Pairing passionflower with valerian root is a popular natural remedy for reducing pre-bed jitters and inducing deeper shut-eye.

sleeping man

A double-blinded, placebo-controlled study found that adults who drank passionflower tea for a week straight noticed improved sleep patterns. Sleeping pills may come with a good night’s sleep, but also a host of possible nasty side effects. When seeking out a natural sleep solution, a passionflower-based drink may be your ticket to sweeter dreams.

3. Soothe your mind. Soothe your stomach.

Ever feel nauseous during a high pressure situation? Get sick with nerves? It should come as no surprise that your mental health can impact the way you feel in your stomach. The Passiflora foetida and Passiflora serratodigitata have shown some link to soothing stomach pain. On an even grander level, some studies point to passionflower as a potential treatment for ulcer management

How Can I Take Passionflower?

Like most herbal supplements, there’s more than one way to enjoy the benefits of passionflower. Some of our favorites include:


1. Seep it into a relaxing tea.

In most health food stores, you can find dried passionflower to steep in hot water to make your own tea. If that sounds like an effort (listen, we know you’re busy), you can also purchase passionflower tea in prepackaged bags to take the stress out of de-stressing. 

Drinking Tea

2. Pop a pill (the healthy way).

Like to keep it simple? A daily supplement works great when you’re on a time crunch. 

3. Have you tried tinctures?

You can purchase a passionflower tincture that incorporates all the best of the flowering herb, including the leaf, flower, and stem. Simply mix the extract into water, and enjoy it between meals. If you’re feeling crafty, give this DIY passionflower tincture recipe a try!

4. Let’s be honest––cold pressed juice shots will always be the most fun way.

KOR Shot’s DE-STRESS is filled to the brim with a stress-relieving blend of passionflower and Reishi mushrooms for calming the mind and easing the soul. 

Note: Always read the label of any passionflower supplement. In general, you’ll find that passionflower is considered safe and nontoxic. As with any herbal supplement, be sure to check with your medical provider or pharmacist before using. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also consult their doctor prior to taking passionflower supplements. 

Keep calm and carry on with passionflower. 

Whether you just want to get a good night’s sleep or keep your cool in traffic, calling upon the powerful properties of passionflower may help. 

Have you ever tried passionflower supplements? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

Need a little Zen right now? Then it may be time to unwind with our newest DE-STRESS shot. This shot contains ingredients to calm your mind, like passionflower and Reishi mushroom. If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, this shot will carry you away, like a gently lapping ocean. 

 


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