Evidence supporting the use of: Passionflower
For the health condition: Epilepsy

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has a long history of use in traditional and herbal medicine as a calming agent, primarily for anxiety, insomnia, and nervous disorders. Its use for epilepsy is rooted in traditional and folk practices, especially in some Native American and European herbal traditions, where it was believed to have anticonvulsant and sedative effects. However, there is limited scientific research directly supporting its efficacy for epilepsy specifically. Most modern herbal references mention passionflower as a nervine or mild sedative rather than as a primary treatment for seizures. Few animal studies suggest possible anticonvulsant properties, likely due to the modulation of the GABAergic system, but these results have not been robustly replicated or confirmed in human clinical trials. Passionflower is sometimes included as an adjunctive herb in traditional formulas for neurological conditions, but it is not recognized as a standard or proven treatment for epilepsy by contemporary medicine. Overall, while passionflower’s use for epilepsy is justified by tradition, the scientific evidence supporting this application is weak, and it should not replace established medical therapies for seizure disorders.

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