The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Passionflower' Category

Review of CAM for behavioral health

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Evidence for CAM to treat depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reviewed by researchers at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, in Kenner.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Nutritional herbal supplements for treating anxiety

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

Approximately 6.8 million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. It’s not surprising then that there’s interest in finding effective natural treatments.

The Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, in Los Angeles, California, reviewed the evidence for passionflower, lysine, magnesium, kava, and St John’s wort, alone or in combination. (more…)

Report of a valerian-lorazepam drug interaction

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

 Here’s a report from Spain of a patient who self-medicated with valerian (Valeriana officinalis L) and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L) while taking lorazepam (Ativan, a benzodiazepine drug). (more…)

Treating anxiety before surgery with passionflower

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Also known as Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), the purple passionflower has antianxiety and sedative effects.

Most studies of Passiflora incarnata have been in animals. Here’s a study in humans. (more…)

The health risks of panic attacks in postmenopausal women and CAM options

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007

The Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study reports “Panic attacks are relatively common among postmenopausal women and appear to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in older women.”

Let’s review the study and then the CAM connection. (more…)

A critical review of herbals to treat anxiety and depression

Monday, July 16th, 2007

In 2003, Professor Edzard Ernst writing on the Cochrane Collaboration website concluded, “Compared with placebo, kava extract is an effective symptomatic treatment for anxiety although, at present, the size of the effect seems small.” (more…)