Passifen (Passiflora) By Douglas Laboratories Overview & Drug Interactions

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a climbing vine with fragrant white and purple flowers that is native to the Americas. It is purported to have a number of potential health benefits, including reducing anxiety and improving sleep. It is thought to work by increasing the levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate mood and anxiety. Passionflower may also have mild sedative and muscle-relaxing effects and may be helpful in the treatment of muscle spasms and other muscle disorders. Dietary supplements containing passionflower are generally standardized to contain no less than 1.5% of the flavanoid vitexin.

Strychnos ignatii is a climbing shrub native to the Philippines and Southeast Asia, with its seed known as the Ignatius bean. This bean contains toxic compounds like strychnine and brucine. Historically, it was used in traditional medicine for its stimulating properties and to treat paralysis and digestive issues. However, due to its toxicity, it's considered unsafe. Ingesting 30-50 mg of the bean (containing about 5 mg of strychnine) can cause restlessness, anxiety, heightened senses, increased reflexes, balance issues, stiff and painful neck and back muscles, twitching, spasms of the jaw and neck muscles, kidney failure with urine discoloration, muscle tissue breakdown, severe tension, and difficulty breathing due to muscle spasms. Because of these effects, extreme caution should be exercised, and medical guidance is strongly advised before using Ignatius bean.

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for the proper functioning of the body. It plays a role in many important physiological processes, including the contraction and relaxation of muscles, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the regulation of blood pressure. Magnesium is found in a variety of foods, including leafy green vegetables, nuts, and grains, and it is also available as a dietary supplement. There are several different forms of magnesium that are available as supplements, all of which can be used to prevent deficiency. Additionally, magnesium is purported to have several different health benefits, such as improving sleep, reducing muscle cramps, reducing anxiety, and preventing or treating migraines. Although magnesium is essential for health, magnesium-containing foods and supplements can interact with some prescription medications if used at the same time.