Passionflower is a woody vine that grows in Peru and Brazil. Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest have for centuries used passionflower leaves as a nerve tonic and to reduce stress associated with “hot” personalities also prone to high blood pressure. The blood pressure lowering effects of passionflower has been scientifically validated in a study in the early 1980’s.1
Contraindications - None reported
Drug Interactions - None reported
References:
1. Lueung. A., Foster, S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients. New York: Wiley & Sons, 1966.
Stevia is a small perennial shrub that grows in Brazil and Paraguay. In Brazilian herbal medicine the active chemical stevioside found in the leaf is considered to be a cardiotonic and hypotensive. In 1991 Brazilian scientists reported stevioside’s effect of lowering blood pressure in rats.1 Also in 2000, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in China with 106 hypertensive men and women confirmed the blood pressure lowering effects of stevioside. The researchers concluded , “This study shows that oral stevioside is a well tolerated and effective modality that may be considered as an alternative or supplementary therapy for patients with hypertension” 2
Contraindications - Stevia should be used with caution by diabetics as stevia leaf has been documented to have a hypoglycemic effect and blood sugar levels need to be monitored as medications may need to be adjusted.
Drug Interactions - None reported.
References
1. Melis, M.S., et al. “Effect of calcium and verapamil on renal function of rats during treatment with stevioside.” J. Ethnopharmacol, 1991; 33(3): 257-262.
2. Chan, P., et al. “A double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in human hypertension” Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 2000; 50(3): 215-220.
