Evidence supporting the use of: Passionflower
For the health condition: Fear (excessive)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has a history of traditional use for alleviating symptoms related to anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness, which can be related to excessive fear. Its use dates back to Native American herbal medicine and was later adopted by European herbalists. Traditionally, passionflower preparations were used to calm the mind and promote restful sleep, indirectly addressing symptoms that overlap with excessive fear, such as nervous tension and agitation.

Modern herbalists and traditional medicine practitioners often recommend passionflower for conditions described as "nervous fear" or "overwhelm." The rationale is based on its reputed calming and sedative properties. While there is some overlap between anxiety and excessive fear, in traditional frameworks, fear as a symptom is sometimes addressed with calming herbs like passionflower, though not always distinguished from general anxiety or nervousness.

Scientific studies on passionflower generally focus on its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects rather than specifically on fear. While these studies suggest some benefit for generalized anxiety and related symptoms, direct evidence for treating "excessive fear" is lacking or extrapolated from broader anxiety research. Thus, the use of passionflower for fear is primarily rooted in traditional practice, with only modest supporting evidence from modern studies, and the evidence rating is 2 out of 5.

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