Feeling wired but tired is a familiar story for many of us. In a world that seems to move faster by the day, stress and sleeplessness have become the norm rather than the exception. It’s no wonder that more people are turning to natural remedies in search of relief – and Passionflower has quietly emerged as one of the most talked-about options for easing mild anxiety and promoting better sleep.
Used for centuries in traditional Western herbal medicine, Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is now enjoying a well-earned renaissance. Its calming properties are being rediscovered by those seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions, with advocates praising its ability to soothe nervous tension, settle a restless mind, and encourage the body to truly unwind – all without that dreaded morning-after grogginess.
Among the voices championing Passionflower is Katherine Douglas, founder of BraveFace, a New Zealand-based wellness brand offering herbal support for stress, anxiety and sleep. Katherine is no stranger to the health world. With a Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Melbourne Business School, and as Group General Manager of Consumer Business at Douglas Pharmaceuticals – her family’s company – she brings a unique blend of science, innovation and heart to the conversation.
“Why is it that we often wait until we are sick to take care of our health, when there are things we can do to help prevent us from getting sick in the first place?” Katherine says. “I am passionate about building brands in this space.”
That passion took shape during a product brainstorm, when one of her team’s naturopaths shared that more and more patients were presenting with anxiety – and getting great results from a particular herb. “That comment stuck with me,” Katherine recalls. “I started noticing just how many people in my own life were quietly dealing with anxiety too. A quick message to my group chat confirmed it: all six friends said yes, they experienced it, and most weren’t doing anything about it.”
That moment planted the seed for BraveFace, a brand designed to bridge the gap between homeopathic solutions and prescription medication. “There seemed to be a huge gap between the options available on the market,” she says. “The idea of BraveFace was born – herbal, effective support for stress, mild anxiety and sleep, backed by research, and built around a mission to reduce the stigma and give people tools to take back control of their mental wellbeing.”
Several BraveFace products place Passionflower at their core – a hero ingredient that Katherine says is “a great example of how nature can support both mental clarity and deep rest depending on how and when it’s used.”
When consumed in smaller amounts, Passionflower works as a calming agent, easing feelings of unease during the day. “In smaller doses, like in our CoolHead product, it helps relieve symptoms of mild anxiety based on traditional use, by gently calming the mind and body,” Katherine explains. “And, in larger doses, as used in HeadRest, it acts as a natural nervous system relaxant, and relieves restless sleep based on traditional use, helping the body wind down at night.”
This ability to function both during the day and at night makes Passionflower uniquely versatile – and there’s science to support its calming effects. “It’s thought to work by interacting with the body’s GABA system, a key neurotransmitter involved in calming the nervous system,” she says. “By supporting GABA activity, Passionflower may help reduce nervous tension and promote a sense of calm.”
Though more clinical research is always welcome, traditional use and emerging evidence continue to back Passionflower’s role in supporting mental wellbeing. “Many people find it to be a gentle, effective option, especially when looking for natural support,” Katherine says.
Still, she emphasises that herbs aren’t meant to be used in isolation. “At BraveFace, we see our products as one tool in a broader mental wellbeing toolkit alongside things like diet, movement, breathwork, therapy, and, in some cases, medication,” she says. “Everyone’s experience with stress and anxiety is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”
While Passionflower is often effective on its own, combining it with other herbs can tailor its benefits to different needs. In CoolHead, BraveFace blends Passionflower with Gotu Kola, “which is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve memory and cognition,” Katherine says. “The goal was to create a formula that helps you feel calm and focused, not calm and sleepy.”
In contrast, HeadRest pairs Passionflower with Chamomile, a classic calming herb traditionally used to support a good night’s sleep.
One of Passionflower’s most appealing qualities is how quickly it works. “Most people feel its calming effects within 15 to 30 minutes, making it ideal for those moments when you need rapid relief from anxious feelings or help winding down for sleep,” Katherine notes.
Unlike many pharmaceutical options, Passionflower tends to support rather than override the body’s natural rhythms. “Passionflower, in particular, is a gentle herb that works by calming the nervous system, rather than sedating it,” Katherine explains. “It supports the body’s natural ability to wind down, which means many people wake feeling refreshed, not foggy.”
That’s particularly important for people who are wary of becoming dependent on sleep aids – or who simply don’t want to feel out of it the next morning.
For Katherine, the power of herbs like Passionflower lies in their ability to gently restore balance – and empower people to take a more proactive, preventative approach to wellbeing. “When you start looking at the root cause, rather than just managing symptoms, things can change in a really powerful way,” she says. “So to anyone unsure, I’d say: what do you have to lose? Try it and see how your body responds.”