Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1997 Mar; 117(8): 1140-1.

[Nature medicine as intoxicant]

Solbakken AM, RÃ¸rbakken G, Gundersen T.

Aust-Agder sentralsykehus, Arendal.

Documentation is often scarce about adverse effects of herbal products used in alternative medicine. Five patients were admitted to hospital with altered consciousness after taking the herbal product Relaxir, a remedy for insomnia and restlessness, produced mainly from the fruit from the passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). Relaxir is thought to have an intoxicating and sedative effect and may also potentiate the effect of other drugs. It is questionable that herbal products liable to cause intoxication are sold without restriction.