We sell passionflower in 2 formats, a 1000 mg capsule and a 2 fl oz tincture, and neither has been tested directly. The honest differences are alcohol, dose control and cost per serving.
Here is how they compare, including the tea format we do not sell.
Quick Answer: Passionflower Capsules or Tincture?
Choose the capsule for a fixed amount and no alcohol: 1000 mg of ground herb, 1 a day, 60 per bottle, $16.99. Choose the tincture for a liquid: 2 mL, about 40 drops, per serving, roughly 29 servings, $29.00, made with alcohol. Neither product has been tested in a clinical trial.
Key Takeaways
- The capsule is 1000 mg of ground herb, 60 per bottle.
- The tincture serving is 2 mL, about 40 drops, made with alcohol.
- Per serving, the capsule costs about $0.28 and the tincture about $0.98.
- Neither of our 2 formats has been tested in a clinical trial.
- If you avoid alcohol, the capsule is the 1 format to choose.
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The Two Formats Side by Side
Same herb, different vehicle. These are the numbers from our 2 labels.
| Capsule | Tincture | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 60 vegan capsules | 2 fl oz glass bottle |
| Serving | 1 capsule, 1000 mg of ground herb | 2 mL, about 40 drops |
| Servings | 60 | About 29 |
| Price | $16.99 | $29.00 |
| Cost per serving | About $0.28 | About $0.98 |
| Alcohol | None | Made with alcohol |
The capsule is roughly 3 times cheaper per serving. The tincture's case rests on liquid convenience, not on strength.
Both contain the supplement species, explained in which passionflower species is sold as a supplement.
The Alcohol Question
This is the difference that matters most, and it is rarely mentioned on tincture pages.
- How tinctures are made: Herb steeped in alcohol, which extracts it.
- Ours: Steeped for up to 3 months, then hand strained.
- The contradiction: Passionflower should not be combined with alcohol.
- The scale: A 2 mL serving holds far less than a drink.
A small amount per serving is still a reason to pick the capsule in 4 situations: pregnancy (where passionflower is avoided anyway), recovery from alcohol, medicines that forbid alcohol, and liver disease.
Tea, the Format We Do Not Sell
Passionflower tea is searched far more than either of our formats, and it has the only sleep trial using a tea.
- The trial: 41 healthy adults, 1 cup nightly for 1 week.
- The result: Better sleep quality on 1 of 6 diary measures.
- The limit: Tea strength varies with steeping time.
- Safety window: Tea may be safe for up to 7 nights.
The authors reported a short-term subjective benefit from a low dose.[1]A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality — Phytotherapy Research (2011) View source NCCIH puts the tea safety window at 7 nights.[2]Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health View source
A 2020 extract trial in insomnia added about 23 minutes of sleep.[3]Effects of Passiflora incarnata Linnaeus on polysomnographic sleep parameters in subjects with insomnia disorder — International Clinical Psychopharmacology (2020) View source Both are weighed in the tea trial on sleep quality and its companion study.
Dose Control
Each format fails in a different way, and knowing how helps you pick.
- Capsule: Fixed at 1000 mg; you cannot take half easily.
- Tincture: Adjustable by the drop, but easy to over-pour.
- Tea: Depends on the amount of herb and steeping time.
- The rule: Whichever you choose, keep the amount constant.
The only everyday anxiety trial used 45 drops a day of a liquid extract over 4 weeks.[4]Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam — Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics (2001) View source That is close to our 40-drop serving in volume, but not in strength, because extracts differ.
What the Trials Used
Neither of our products was tested, so the useful question is which format the trials resemble.
- Pre-procedure trials: Oral extract doses of 260 to 500 mg.
- Anxiety trial: Liquid extract drops.
- Sleep trials: 1 tea, 1 extract.
- Our capsule: Ground herb, not extract, so mg do not transfer.
The largest trial gave 200 people 500 mg before wisdom tooth surgery.[5]Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial — Clinical Oral Investigations (2021) View source How to turn any of this into a routine is in how much to take in each format.
Which to Choose
Five situations cover most people.
- You avoid alcohol: Capsule.
- You want the lowest cost per serving: Capsule.
- You dislike swallowing capsules: Tincture, in a little water.
- You want to adjust by small steps: Tincture.
- You are pregnant: Neither.
Our Honest Default
For most adults the capsule is the simpler choice, for 3 plain reasons.
- No alcohol: Which suits a herb that should not meet alcohol.
- A fixed amount: The same 1000 mg every time.
- Cost: About a third of the tincture's price per serving.
That default is the vegan capsule version; the tincture remains a fair choice if drops suit you better.
Speak to a Clinician Before Taking Either Format If
- You take a benzodiazepine, a sleeping pill, an opioid or another sedating prescription
- You drink alcohol in the evening, or need to drive after taking it
- You already take valerian, kava, hops or another sedating herb
- You are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding
- You have surgery or a dental procedure with sedation within 2 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is passionflower tincture used for? +
The same uses as the capsule: occasional tension and sleep. 0 trials have tested our tincture directly.
How do you make passion flower tincture? +
Commercially, the herb is steeped in alcohol and strained. Ours steeps for up to 3 months before hand straining.
What are the potential side effects of taking passionflower extract? +
The same as other forms: drowsiness, dizziness and confusion, per NCCIH. A tincture adds a small amount of alcohol per 2 mL serving.
What are passion flower capsules good for? +
A fixed, alcohol-free amount of the herb. Ours is 1000 mg of ground passionflower, 1 capsule daily.
What is passionflower tea good for? +
1 trial of 41 adults found better rated sleep quality after a week of nightly tea. We do not sell a passionflower tea.
Is a tincture stronger than a capsule? +
Not necessarily. Strength depends on the extraction and the amount, and 0 studies compare our 2 formats.
Does the alcohol in a tincture matter? +
For most adults the amount in 2 mL is small. It matters in pregnancy, alcohol recovery, liver disease and with some medicines.
Can I mix the tincture into tea or water? +
Yes, a little water is the usual way, and our label suggests taking it with a meal. 1 serving is 2 mL.
How long does a bottle last? +
The capsules last 60 days at 1 a day. The 2 fl oz tincture gives about 29 servings of 2 mL.
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