I am a 27-year-old female with severe anxiety. I do not want to take drugs but have heard that passiflora can help. Any suggestions?

Anxiety is a very common mental health disorder in the North American population. The disorder peaks in the 2/3 decade of life and is more common in women. The disorder is treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medications, but many people are now turning to herbal medicine.

One of the herbal plants widely touted to treat anxiety is passiflora (passionflower extract). From anecdotal reports, it appears that this herb can relieve anxiety. 

To date, there have not been many clinical studies that have rigorously looked at the effectiveness of this herb. Only one study in a small number of patients showed that passiflora was as effective as benzodiazepines. Simply based on this one study, it is difficult to draw any conclusions about its safety or effectiveness. The only way to know if passiflora works for your anxiety is to try the herb out. However, it is best to speak to your doctor before you make any changes in your medications.