Merchient’s ingredient library
The library supports 2 wordings for passionflower; the strongest is “Traditionally used in herbal medicine to help relieve restlessness or nervousness” (limited, 0.25-8 g dried herb top (or extract equivalent) a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Treats insomnia”.
Also called: Passiflora incarnata, Passion flower
Reviewed
Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.
Supported wordings
Limited evidenceWording 1
Claims Facts
“Traditionally used in herbal medicine to help relieve restlessness or nervousness.”
| Daily dose | 0.25-8 g dried herb top (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Traditional use in Health Canada’s monograph; no other listed source covers it. |
| Dose details | Adolescents 12 to 17 and adults. Water extracts (decoction, infusion, aqueous dry extract) start at 1 g a day. |
| Form | Dried herb top, powder or extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Passionflower |
Limited evidenceWording 2
Claims Facts
“Traditionally used in herbal medicine as a sleep aid for occasional sleeplessness during times of mental stress.”
| Daily dose | 0.25-8 g dried herb top (or extract equivalent) a day |
|---|---|
| Support | Traditional use in Health Canada’s monograph; no other listed source covers it. |
| Dose details | Adolescents 12 to 17 and adults. Water extracts (decoction, infusion, aqueous dry extract) start at 1 g a day. Take 1 hour before bedtime as needed. Health Canada asks people to see a practitioner if sleeplessness lasts more than 4 weeks. |
| Form | Dried herb top, powder or extracts |
| Source | Health Canada monograph: Passionflower |
Wordings to avoid
Claims Facts
| Wording to avoid | Reason |
|---|---|
| “Treats insomnia”Names a sleep disorder; Health Canada says sleeplessness lasting more than 4 weeks needs a practitioner. | Disease |
| “Treats anxiety”Names a mental health disorder; the supported wording is restlessness or nervousness. | Disease |
| “Works like a sleeping pill or a benzodiazepine”Compares the product to a drug. | Drug |
| “Helps you fall asleep, without ‘occasional’”FDA’s 2000 rule (page 1031) says help falling asleep implies treating insomnia unless the context makes clear the product is only for occasional sleeplessness. | Disease |
Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.
Vera, Merchient’s AI employee, reads your site and emails you the riskiest line, why, a safer rewrite and how many more like it she found. Reply, and you get the free first report.
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