About.....Passion Flower

  Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) is also known as Wild Passion Flower, Passiflora, Flower Of The Five Wounds, Apricot Vine, Waterlemon and Maypop. Passion Flower bears small berry-like fruit called granadilla or water lemon. Both the leaves and the entire plant have been used in the past for various medicinal purposes. It is a woody vine with flowers that reminded early pilgrims of the passion and suffering of Christ. According to Jesuit missionaries who found this beautiful plant growing in South America, the blue and white color of the flower symbolizes heaven's purity.  The white petals symbolize the ten faithful apostles (minus Peter and Judas).  The corona correlates to the crown of thorns, the five red stamens are representative of the five wounds, and the three styles of the pistils represent the three nails. The tendril represent the whips used on Jesus and the pointed leaves, the spear. When the flower is only partially opened, it looks like the star seen by the Wise Men.

The primary properties of this herb are considered as anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, hypnotic, hypotensive, nervine, and sedative. The primary chemical constituents are known to be alkaloids (harman, harmine, harmaline, harmol, harmalol), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercitin, rutin), flavone glycosides, sterols, sugars, and gums.

Passion Flower has been used as a sedative in nervous disorders (including gastrointestinal complaints of nervous origin), difficulties in sleeping, and anxiety or restlessness, especially in children. It has also been used to support treatments of female anxiety during menses, childbirth and menopause. Passion Flower reduces spasms and depresses the central nervous system.

Passion Flower was first investigated scientifically less than 100 years ago when it was found to possess an analgesic (pain-killing) property, and to prevent, without side effects, sleeplessness caused by brain inflammation. Since then, the sedative properties of Passion Flower have been observed and documented in many studies.

Passion Flower is an extremely popular herb in Europe where it is often used to induce relaxation and sleep, an effect first experimentally verified in 1920. In that study, the researcher noticed that, unlike what happens with narcotics, sleep was induced normally, with easy, light breathing, and with little or no neural or mental depression. Upon awakening, the patients showed no signs of confusion or stupor or melancholy.

In 1979, about 50 preparations on the market in Germany contained Passion Flower - 42 were sedatives, and 6 were cardiotonics. These preparations were recommended for nervous or easily aroused children, cardiovascular neurosis, bronchial asthma, coronary diseases, weak circulation, sleep disorders, problems of concentration in school children, and geriatrics.

Passion Flower has a quieting activity on the central nervous system.  It helps to slow down the breakdown of neurotransmitters and aids sleep without leaving one feeling "hungover" the next morning. And Passion Flower is not addictive. It relieves headache pain due to stress and helps one end addiction to tranquilizers. The harmala alkaloids may contribute to opening the coronary artery, though this requires further investigation.

Known topical uses have been as a compress for swollen eyes, burns and skin irritations. A poultice or juice has been used for burns and wounds. Historical culinary uses included the following: the fruit has been eaten plain, added to ice creams, juiced or made into sodas; the plant has been made into a soup.

Large doses may cause nausea and vomiting. Avoid large doses during pregnancy.  Be careful to use Passiflora incarnata.....and not Passiflora caerulea, which is poisonous.

Send mail to CompanyWebmaster with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright (c) Copyright CompanyLongName
Last modified: December 12, 2006