Passion Flower for Anxiety and Insomnia in ADHD

Did you know that lack of focus, forgetfulness, and easy distractibility are not the only problems suffered by those afflicted with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)? Children and adults with ADHD are also at risk for psychological conditions like anxiety and insomnia. Although researchers don’t know why these conditions occur with the disorder, their existence is a fact that ADHD sufferers have to contend with.

The good news is that co-morbid ADHD conditions tend to go away as soon as the symptoms are treated. In the meantime, you can reduce the impact of anxiety and insomnia with herbal remedies like passion flower. Passion flower is a perennial climbing vine characterized by its lovely blue, purple, or pink blossoms. Although the plant is native to North, South, and Central America, it is now cultivated in Europe for its powerful medicinal properties.

Passion flower is typically used as an alternative treatment for anxiety. Like the psychoactive drug benzodiazepines, passion flower increases the levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It is inhibitory because it slows down the activity level of the neurons, reducing excess brain activity and producing a calmer state of mind. This inhibitory action occurs when GABA receptors are triggered to introduce more chloride ions into the neurons. In doing so, the brain enters a calm, tranquilized state conducive to sleep or relaxation. Benzodiazepines and herbs like passion flower make GABA more effective at introducing chloride ions into the neurons.

Besides promoting good sleep and lowered anxiety, passion flower can be of great help to anyone on the gluten-free casein-free diet. One of the leading causes of ADHD is the presence of opioid peptides in the brain – addictive morphine-like substances that have a mild, tranquilizing effect. Opioid peptides come from gluten and casein, two proteins from wheat and animal milk, respectively. The human digestive system is not designed to break down these proteins, and any poorly-digested gluten and casein gets converted into opioid peptides. The gluten-free casein-free diet involves avoiding all wheat and dairy products in an effort to detoxify the body of remaining opioids. But just like morphine addicts, anyone deprived of opioid peptides experiences withdrawal symptoms. Most of the time, these withdrawals come in the form of inflated ADHD symptoms – a hyperactive child becomes more violent, or someone with anxiety feels more agitated. Fortunately, these withdrawal symptoms are only temporary and can be alleviated with the help of passion flower. New studies show that passion flower is superior at managing opiate withdrawals.

So if you’re looking for a natural way to alleviate insomnia and anxiety with ADHD, visit an herbalist and ask what passion flower can do for you. Passion flower is available as dried herbs or an alcohol-based extract. For dosage and administration, ask the advice of a trained herbalist.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.