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

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Synopsis

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

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has a long history of traditional use for alleviating symptoms related to nervousness, anxiety, and irritability. Traditionally, Native American tribes and later European herbalists used passionflower as a calming remedy, particularly for individuals experiencing agitation, restlessness, or irritability associated with stress or insomnia. The herb has been incorporated into various traditional herbal medicine systems as a mild sedative and anxiolytic.

From a scientific perspective, modern research has primarily focused on passionflower's potential to ease anxiety and promote sleep, with limited direct investigation into its efficacy for irritability specifically. Some small clinical studies and animal research suggest that passionflower extracts may have calming effects on the central nervous system, possibly through modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity. This could theoretically extend to reducing irritability, especially when irritability is linked to anxiety or sleep disturbances. However, there is a lack of robust, high-quality clinical trials directly assessing passionflower's effects on irritability as an isolated symptom.

In summary, the use of passionflower for irritability is primarily supported by traditional use, with weak to moderate indirect scientific support through studies on related symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia. More targeted research is needed to conclusively validate its effectiveness specifically for irritability.

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