Herb Of The Month

April showers bring May flowers… and also one of the prettiest flowers that graces the vine, the purple PASSION FLOWER (Passiflora incarnata).  Are you troubled with tension headaches?  Do you toss and turn, unable to fall asleep because you are overstressed, anxious and exhausted?  Do you have fibromyalgia or need a restful, sound sleep without the addictive side effects usually associated with synthetic sedatives?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may need “Nature’s Tranquilizer.”  You many need Passion Flower.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Passion Flower is the State Flower of Tennessee, and there are about four hundred known species of Passiflora, with most being indigenous to the Americas. Passiflora is a native of North, Central and South America and bears beautiful white to pale lavender flowers with edible berries that ripen only in warm, sunny climates.

In the sixteenth century, early Spanish explorers were astounded by the beauty of the exotic climbing vine that resembled elements of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and named it Passion Flower in honor of the agonies of Christ. They soon found it to be a source of medicine for the Native Americans.  The Houma tribe added it to drinking water as a tonic, and in the Yucatan, it was a remedy for insomnia, hysteria and convulsions in children.  Other tribes used it in poultices to heal bruises, and the early Algonquians brewed Passion Flower in a tea to soothe their nerves.

In 1783, a visiting European doctor described its use as a remedy for epilepsy, and other early physicians prescribed the fruit juice as a wash for sore and tired eyes.  The plant was largely ignored in conventional North American medicine until the late 1800s, when it became a popular nineteenth-century remedy for insomnia.  It finally received official recognition in the United States National Formulary from 1916 to 1936, and the whole plant is used in herbal medicine.

Passion Flower may be a useful bridge between traditional herbal medicine and the treatment of modern ills, especially in cases of anxious states, depression and patients trying to wean themselves from synthetic sleeping pills and tranquilizers.  Despite the dearth of research into Passion Flower in the United States, the herb is frequently prescribed in Europe to ease tension, restlessness, irritability and mild insomnia.

Read on for some of the ways in which Passion Flower may promote your well-being.

Passion Flower is said to be a very gentle (but effective) sedative that appears to have a depressant effect on the central nervous system.  The alkaloids and flavonoids are believed to be effective, non-addictive sedatives, which promote restful, sound sleep, particularly in cases of nervous insomnia.   It is one of nature’s best tranquilizers and has been used for centuries as a reliable remedy for nervous, menopausal and premenstrual tension, irritability, fatigue and tension headaches.

Passion Flower is said to gently shift moods, alter perception and aid concentration; and the alkaloids are thought to act in a similar way as MAO inhibitors, which may be of some help in cases of temporary depression.  In Italy, Passion Flower is used to treat hyperactive children.

Its relaxing qualities appear to extend to relaxing spasms, relieving muscle tension and other manifestations of extreme anxiety.  This can be beneficial for restless leg syndrome, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and irritable bowel syndrome.

Passionflower is considered an anodyne that reduces pain, and as such, is used to relieve headache and nerve pain, the pain of fibromyalgia, shingles and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).

Passionflower may relieve hypertension and promote healthy blood pressure.  Some tests claim that it relaxes the walls of the arteries, which may be useful for maintaining good heart health.

There have been reports that Passion Flower stops chemical reactions that cause nausea and vomiting as a result of withdrawal from cocaine, heroine or opiate painkillers, and this may prove useful for those patients trying to withdraw from such substances.  A bitter principle in Passion Flower is thought to be beneficial for functional digestive problems as well.

Passion Flower may help a diminished sex drive. The herb is a source of an antioxidant chemical known as chrysin, which appears to help the body conserve testosterone.  It does not cause the body to produce more of the hormone, but by conserving it, the action has a direct effect of increasing testosterone levels, which may promote sex drive.

Native Americans knew the secrets of Passion Flower hundreds of years ago, and today, many European herbalists prescribe it. Perhaps we should listen to the voices of the past and the wisdom of the present. Passion Flower may provide the relief you need for a healthier future. 

Take 10% off when you order our Herb of the Month! Below are the regular retail prices. When you add the product to your shopping cart, you will see the 10% discount applied. This offer is valid for the month of May on our Passion Flower single herb products and cannot be combined with any other discount.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Do not exceed recommended dosage.

Contraindications:

Pregnant and nursing women should not use Passion Flower.  Since it may cause sleepiness, it should not be used before driving or operating machinery.  Children should never be given this herb in any form, and older adults and older children should take low dosages (preferably in consultation with a physician).  Do not use Passion Flower if you take MAO inhibitors, and it should not be taken with other prescription sedatives or sedative herbs, as it increases their effects.

Capsule Information:
Our Passion Flower supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mg. each.