Passionflower
by Brittany Russell |
Due to the name, Passionflower has been thought to be an aphrodisiac but in fact, evokes the body and mind to relax. It may have nothing to do with passion, but it can be an herb to be passionate about. According to folklore, Spanish explorers and missionaries, who felt that the flower’s stems resembled the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ during his passion, named the flower.
American Indians used passionflower as a sedative and calming agent. They would crush the leaves and make a poultice to treat bruises and other injuries and use the wood vines to brew as a tea to soothe the nerves.
Passionflower is a vine known for its beautiful white flowers with purple, blue or pink calyx crown blooms. The plant is native to North, Central and South America. The dried aerial parts of passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) have historically been used as a sedative and for gastrointestinal complaints. Passion flower has a long history of use for symptoms of restlessness, anxiety and agitation.
An extract containing passion flower and hawthorn has been studied as a possible treatment for shortness of breath and difficulty exercising in patients with congestive heart failure. Although the results are promising, the effects of passion flower alone are unclear. Always speak to your doctor before introducing passion flower into your herbal regimen.
Uses:
Medicinal uses range from passionflower extract to tranquiliers – derived from the flowers themselves – can have a narcotic effect when taken internally. Also, used to treat tension, fatigue, insomnia, muscle spasms and hyperactivity in children. This herb is used often in mixtures today in European countries and not as much in the United States (although, it was popular in the early 1900).
Standard doses of passionflower can be taken in a variety of preparations. Doses of one half to two grams of dried herb can be taken orally three to four times daily. Tea made from dried herb (four to eight grams) can be taken daily, every 3 to 4 hours.
Passionflower is great in an herbal bath to calm and soothe the body overall. For best results, add to bathwater 1 pound of leaves.
Whether to calm your nerves, help you sleep or relax stomach ailments, try passionflower today!
References:
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-passionflower.html
- www.nutrasanus.com/passion-flower.html
- Kowalchik, Claire, Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1987.
