Passionflower for Irritability, Relaxation and a Deeper Sleep
What is Passionflower?
The importance of sleep and relaxation
Sleep is defined by inhibited sensory and reduced muscle activity, with a repeated and prolonged period of rest needed to help the body function at its optimal level. Sleep is essential for every aspect of life, with even a single night of bad sleep likely to adversely affect your work performance, relationships, and state of mind. Whether it's the result of specific sleep disorders like insomnia and hypersomnia, or simply trying to do too much, lack of sleep is associated with a range of physical and mental problems. In order to understand how passionflower aids sleep and promotes relaxation, it's important to understand the four stages of sleep and the difference between REM and non-REM sleep cycles.The 4 stages of sleep
While it's somewhat of a continuum, there are generally believed to be four separate stages of sleep. The first three stages are known as non-REM sleep (NREM), and the final stage is known as REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement, with this deep stage of sleep distinguished by fast, random eye movements, low muscle tone throughout the body, and vivid dreams.- Stage 1 is the lightest stage of NREM sleep, with this period distinguished by drowsy feelings, slow eye movements, and slowing brain wave activity. Some people experience hypnotic jerk movements during this stage, with subjective drifting feelings also common.
- Stage 2 is the first stage of real defined NREM sleep. Common features of stage 2 sleep include slowing brain waves, sudden bursts of oscillatory brain activity mixed with K-complex EEG waveforms, and dropping heart rates and temperatures.
- Stage 3 is known as deep NREM sleep, with this restorative stage defined by delta wave brain activity that is much slower than the previous two stages. Awakenings are rare during this stage, which is also when sleepwalking or sleep talking occur.
- REM sleep is the deepest stage of sleep, with vivid dreaming common, eyes moving fast from side to side, and the brain much more active than the previous three stages. Getting enough REM sleep is essential for your general health and wellbeing.
4 reasons to try Passionflower for sleep
People have problems sleeping for many reasons, from hormonal imbalances and physical complaints through to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. As mentioned above, sleep problems can be the result of a vicious cycle, with compounds sometimes taken to promote rest and relaxation. Passionflower has been used historically to treat restlessness and agitation, and also shows promise in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The ability of this plant to calm the mind and promote rest presents itself in the following ways:Passionflower for anxiety
Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the world, with millions of people suffering from this condition every day. Passionflower has shown promise in treating generalised anxiety disorder, which is the modern name used to describe a range of symptoms such as constant worry, restlessness, and trouble with concentration. In fact, passionflower was used historically to treat conditions such as “restlessness” and “hysteria," which share many symptoms with the modern definition of anxiety. Passionflower contains a number of beneficial flavonoids that are useful in decreasing anxiety, including chrysin and benzoflavone, among others. These compounds increase the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which mirrors many of the effects induced by benzodiazepines and other standard anti-anxiety medications. GABA limits the reactivity of the brain’s neurons, which decreases “excitability” and helps to calm the mind. According to a study that compared passionflower to the benzodiazepine drug oxazepam, its reputation as a safe and natural mild sedative exists for a very good reason. The conclusion of the paper mentioned: "The results suggest that Passiflora extract is an effective drug for the management of generalized anxiety disorder, and the low incidence of impairment of job performance with Passiflora extract compared to oxazepam is an advantage. A large-scale trial is justified."Passionflower for depression
Depression is another potentially debilitating mental health disorder that affects millions of people around the world. Depression is associated with a range of behavioural and physical symptoms, including changes in sleeping patterns, changes in appetite, low energy level, poor concentration, and bad self-esteem. Passionflower can be taken to promote mental health and wellbeing, and has shown promise in studies for the treatment of depression. Both anxiety and depression are prevalent among cancer patients, with a number of significant negative symptoms noticed in early and late-stage cancer studies. According to a recent study into herbal medicines for depression and anxiety, passionflower was one of a few compounds shown to have benefits comparable to standard anxiolytics and antidepressants. Along with lavender and saffron, passionflower appears "to be worthy of consideration for the treatment of depression and anxiety with minimal risk of serious side effects. They appear to be reasonable options for patients who prefer a natural approach."Passionflower for irritability
Passionflower for relaxation
Passionflower has long been used to induce relaxation and promote healthy sleep patterns. As mentioned above, sleep is a complex phenomenon constituted by four separate stages and two electrophysiologically different types: NREM and REM sleep. All sleep phases can be disturbed by external and internal factors, with certain substances known to prevent continuous awakenings and increase sleep duration. A number of studies have looked at the relaxation qualities of passionflower, both in animals and humans. According to one study where passionflower was administered to rats, the plant can be considered as an appropriate sleep inducer. In order to reach this conclusion, cerebral EEG and muscular EMG activities were recorded during sleep both before and after administration. The rats who were given the passionflower extract experienced a decrease in wakefulness and more time spent in REM sleep. According to a separate double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, this time using humans and passionflower tea ingestions, passionflower was associated with short-term subjective sleep benefits for healthy adults. Passionflower is a gentle natural plant with a long history of use as a herbal medicine. Despite a lack of evidence regarding anti-disease activity, passionflower has been shown to relieve adverse mental health symptoms and promote healthy relaxation and sleep patterns. Most of the benefits of this plant are related to benzoflavone, which is capable of producing similar effects to some sedative drugs without many of the unwanted side effects.
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