I am currently taking Holy Basil, Ashwagandha, magnesium/calcium and occasionally Curcumin. Would it be ok to occasionally take a passion flower tincture for times of worse stress, and also is it likely to interfere with a blood test?

Thank you!

Hoppi ^_^

I don't have any personal experience with these herbs, but here's some info about interactions from holistic-herbalist.


Possibility Of Interactions With Passionflower:



There is possibility of increased sedation or low blood pressure with the following drugs. These studies are done on the animals. These results are not done on humans. And these reactions are not reported in humans.

• With Sedatives - Increased Sedation and Low Blood Pressure - passionflower was found to enhance the effect of Barbiturates like Phenobarbital, a medicine used to promote sleep and to treat seizures. So it should be used with them with caution.
• With Anti-histaminics - anti-histaminics like hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine possess sedative or drowsiness like side effects. Passionflower could increase this effect. So it should be used with caution. Now, most of the later anti-histaminics that are popular in use are either without sedative effect or with only minimal effect. So there is not any possibility of interactions with these medication.
• With Benzodiazepines - It appears quite startling that passionflower appeared to work similar to Benzodiazepines, the drug for anxiety. Still some caution should be exercised with this group of medication.
• With Mono Amine Oxidase Inhibitors - as tranylcypromine (Parnate).
• With Tricyclic Antidepressants - as amitryptiline.
• With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - as fluoxetine.
• With Narcotics - like Codeine.

Risk Of Bleeding:



There is increased risk of bleeding with use of passionflower with the following drugs.

• Anti-coagulant or Anti-platelets drugs like warfarin, heparin.
• Pain Killers as aspirin, ibuprofen.

Risk Of Nausea Or Vomiting:

It was reported when the alcohol containing tinctures are taken with metronidazole like drugs.
So Caution should be exercised while driving or operating machinery.
Interactions With Herbs & Supplements:

• Increasing the drowsiness - with herbs and supplements causing drowsiness like kava, valerian and with other supplements that interact with MAO inhibitors, SSRI, Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates. Some of the substances that are having or suspected to have such interactions and some MAO inhibiting activity are - 5HTP, California poppy, Chromium, DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), DLPA (DL Phenylalanine), Ephedra, Evening primrose oil, Ginkgo biloba, Hops, Fenugreek, ST. John's wort, Mace, SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), Sepia, Tyrosine, Yohimbine bark extract.
• Other sedative or hypnotic herbs like -
• Calendula, Calamus, California poppy, Capsicum, Celery, Catnip, Couch grass, Dogwood, Hops, Gotu kola, Goldenseal, German chamomile, Elecampane, Lemon balm, Sage, Skullcap, Shepherd's purse, Siberian ginseng, Stinging nettle, Wild carrot, Wild lettuce, Verba mansa
• Theoretically increased risk of bleeding - with Ginkgo biloba (more), Garlic and Saw palmetto (less). Literature reviews reveal no reported case of bleeding with passionflower use.
• There are some other herbs that can increase the risk of bleeding and this has not been proven in many instances - Alfalfa, American ginseng, Angelica, Anise, Asafoetida, Arnica, Aspen bark, Bilberry, Black cohosh, Birch, Bog bean, Boldo, Borage seed oil, Bladdewrack, Bromelain, Cat's claw, Capsicum, Celery, Clove, Chamomile, Coleus, Chaparral, Cordyceps, Danshen, Devil's claw, Evening primerose, Fenugreek, Dong quai, Flax seed, Ginger, Guggula, Gymnestra, Horse chestnut, Horse radish, Lovage root, Male fern, Meadow sweet, NDGA (Nordihydroguairetic acid), Papain, Panax ginseng, Parsley, Poplar, Prickly ash, Red clove, Propolis, Quassia, Rue, Sweet Birch, Sweet clover, Turmeric, Reishi, Siberian ginseng, Wild carrot, White Willow, Wild lettuce, Willow, Wintergreen, Yucca.
• Theoretically Increased risk of Elevated Blood Pressure - with Caffeine, Ephedra

Possibility Of Interaction With Food:

Use of passionflower with tryptophan or tyramine containing foods might cause an increased risk of elevated blood pressure (Hypertensive Crisis). Some of the suspected Protein foods are - Preserved or aged banana, avocados, bean curd, large amount of caffeine, caviar, cheese and liver. This might have been in some part due to the high concentration of preservatives.

__________________
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~

NatMedTalk and Beyond

Thanks for the info! I asked the same q on Yahoo Answers and was told by someone who works for a vitamin company that it's totally fine and they are all good for anxiety

The only problematic herb to mix with other things like pf and also Benzos and anti-depressants is Kava-Kava o.O