Can a Passion Flower Be Harmful?

Passion flower, more commonly spelled passionflower, is the common name of Passiflora incarnata, a perennial flowering vine that produces orange berries. All above-ground parts of passionflower can usually be consumed for medicinal purposes, but passionflower can be harmful at high doses and should not be combined with certain drugs.

Function

• Take passionflower to relieve anxiety, reduce nausea and help with sleep problems. Passionflower can be consumed as a tea, a tincture or a pill.

Side Effects

• Under normal conditions, passionflower does not cause side effects. However, at high doses, passionflower's two potentially harmful alkaloids, harman and harmaline, can adversely stimulate a woman's uterus. According to Healthline.com, some authorities dispute these alkaloids' harm at normal doses.

Interactions

• The alkaloids in passionflower may augment certain medications' intended effects, including those of prescribed and over-the-counter sedatives and of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are antidepressants used in the treatment of anxiety, depression and eating disorders. As a precaution, do not take passionflower while on any of these medications.

Proper Dosage

• Use the recommended dosage on purchased passionflower inserts or containers. When brewing passionflower tea at home, take 4 to 8 grams per day by dissolving 1 teaspoon of passionflower in 5 ounces of simmering water two to three times per day.

Warning

• Passionflowers' vines, leaves and unripe fruit release cyanide when damaged. Cyanide is a poison that can make animals and humans sick when consumed in large amounts. Do not leave pets or children unattended near passionflower.