Passion Flower overview

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Passion Flower flowers on a vine in the garden

aka Maypop and Passion Vine

Passiflora incarnata

Family: PASSIFLORACEAE

In Australia we have found that Passion Flower grows profusely; we planted it to climb a trellis on our front veranda, it did so enthusiastically that so we had to take it all down because it was closing off the veranda.

Passionflower^[1] is a powerful herb which helps nervous conditions, depression, anxiety and stress related ailments. Many people are so busy and feel overwhelmed in this 21st century and Passionflower has the ability to keep you calm and emotionally balanced whilst in a world of chaos.

Passion Flower uses

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Potent calmative qualities make it invaluable for treating stress in all its forms
People who suffer from Insomnia, Anxiety or depression have found Passion Flower to be a good alternative to Valium^® (diazepam)^[2] which has side effects^[3].

Passion Flower has also been found to help alleviate the process of withdrawal from addictive drugs such as Valium^[4].

Ailments that Passion Flower has been of benefit in treating:

Alcoholism Anxiety Asthma (stress related)[5] Blood Pressure (High) Candida Colic Convulsions Depression Delerium Tremens Digestive aid Epilepsy Female complaints Fever Gastritis

Nervous Headaches[5] Hemorrhoids Hot Flushes Hysteria Hyperactivity Insomnia Intestinal Inflammation Irritable bowel syndrome Irritability Menopause Muscle pain Nerve Pain Nervous Disorders

Neuralgia Opiate withdrawal Palpitations Parkinson's Disease Physical Exhaustion PMT (pre-menstrual tension) Rapid Heart beat Spasms Stress Tension Tremors Whooping Cough Withdrawal stress

Contra-indications: Passion Flower is  not recommended  for use during pregnancy nor in conjuction with antidepressant drugs More than 3 cups per day not to be taken without Professional advice.

Passion Flower actions

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Major medicinal actions of Passion Flower^[6]

Passion Flower Tincture

anodyne analgesic anesthetic anthelmintic antibacterial anticancer antidepressant antidiabetic antihypertensive antiinflammatory antileukemic

antimalarial antioxidant antirheumatic antiseptic antispasmodic antitumor antitussive antiviral aphrodisiac cholagogue choleretic

demulcent diuretic fungicidal hypnotic hypotensive kaempferol laxative narcotic nervine sedative vulnerary

That is a lot of health-maintaining activity in just one plant.

However there is more - here are other actions attributed to the constituents found in Passion Flower. Of course not all of these are considered major actions of Passion Flower, however the list does demonstrate just how comprehensive Passion Flower’s health maintaining abilities are.

Other actions of Passion Flower^[6]

allergenic antiaggregant antiaging antialcoholic antiallergic antialzheimeran antianaphylactic antianemic antiangiogenic antianxiety antiarrhythmic antiarthritic antiasthmatic antiatherogenic antiatherosclerotic anticarcinogenic anticariogenic anticataract anticolitic anticonvulsant antidementia antidermatitic antidote antiedemic antielastase antiencephalitic antiestrogenic antifatigue antifertility antiflu antigingivitic antiglaucomic antihepatotoxic antiherpetic antihiccup antihistaminic antihiv antiinsomniac antilymphocytic antimenopausal

antimetastatic antimutagenic antinephritic antinociceptive antiobesity antiophidic antiophthalmic antipancreatitic antiparkinsonian antiperiodontal antiperistaltic antipermeability antipharyngitic antiplaque antiplasmodial antipsoriac antiradicular antiserotonin antistaphylococcic antistress antisunburn antithrombic antithyroid antiulcer anxiolytic atherogenic beta-blocker beta-glucuronidase-inhibitor bradycardiac calcium-antagonist calmodulin-antagonist camp-phosphodiesterase-inhibitor cancer-preventive candidicide carcinogenic cardioprotective catabolic chemopreventive collyrium comt-inhibitor

cyclooxygenase-inhibitor cytoprotective cytotoxic deiodinase-inhibitor dna-protective estrogenic flatugenic hemostat hepatoprotective hypercholesterolemic hypocholesterolemic hypoglycemic hypouricemic immunomodulator immunostimulant immunosuppressant lipoxygenase-inhibitor metal-chelator metalloproteinase-inhibitor mutagenic myorelaxant neuroprotective osteogenic pesticide preservative proliferant prooxidant protein-kinase-c-inhibitor protisticide psychotropic teratologic tranquilizer tumorigenic tyrosinase-inhibitor uterotonic vasodilator vasopressor xanthine-oxidase-inhibitor

Passion Flower constituents

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Active constituents found in Passion Flower^[6]

Passion Flower Tincture

apigenin calcium ( Fruit 140 - 509 ppm ) d-glucose fiber ( Fruit 73,000 - 265,000 ppm ) glutamine gynocardin ( Leaf 100 ppm ) harmaline harmalol harmane ( Na 1 - 120 ppm ) harmine ( Shoot 70 ppm ) harmol iron ( Fruit 16 - 58 ppm ) isoorientin isovitexin kaempferol luteolin maltol n-nonacosane orientin phenylalanine phosphorus ( Fruit 430 - 1,564 ppm ) quercetin raffinose rutin scopoletin stigmasterol sucrose tyrosine umbelliferone valine vitexin

Passion Flower vine

Contains the alkaloids passiflorine, hormol, and harmine and flavonoids that are an effective non-addictive sedative and the plant is loaded with Vitamin C.

Passion Flower tea

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Passion Flower tea

Why choose a Herbal Tea?

Plants produce a vast range of substances - phyto-chemical s - which are very beneficial in restoring and maintaining health in we humans without side-effects. We believe that they are perfectly suited to preventative and curative health care because they are natural and harmonious to our bodies.

If you do not have fresh Passion Flower nearby or are not confident you can identify Passion Flower then dried material is the next best way to obtain their beneficial influence.

How long will Passion Flower tea keep it's potency?

Stored properly - in an air-tight glass container away from direct sunlight - Passion Flower tea will keep for up to 18 months without losing it's potency. If you are dealing with the onset of a severe condition we suggest it may be worth purchasing fresh material to have complete confidence in its healing potency.

When should I drink my Tea?

For best absorption, consume herbal teas 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.

Caring for your Passion Flower herbal tea

If you don't plan on using the tea immediately, it's best to keep it unopened and away from direct sunlight (in a closed cupboard or drawer). Exposed to the air it may absorb moisture and humidity, so if they are opened, reseal them tightly, or (preferably) put it in a glass jars with a tight-fitting lid (avoid metal containers).

Most will never require refrigeration or freezing - just keep them at average room temperature (70-80 degrees). Generally, the "shelf-life" for optimum freshness will be about a year if stored properly.

If you live in a warm, high humidity area, it may be impossible to keep moisture out of regularly opened and closed glass containers, and the plants may become mouldy. If this happens, discard them and purchase fresh ones. To prevent mould, try storing them in paper lunch bags so they can “breathe” (although this will reduce the shelf-life significantly).

Making an Infusion

pour a cup after it has infused

Preparing an infusion is just like making a cup of tea but allowing more time for the water to absorb the Passion Flower essence.

Pour boiling water over the tea (use a glass, stainless steel or ceramic vessel), cover it and allow to soak/steep for 20 minutes or so. Stirring it a few times while steeping is helpful - and is an ideal opportunity to focus your mind on the benefits it will bring to you.

Generally use 1 teaspoon of dried Passion Flower in a 250ml cup of water is sufficient. The standard dosage is one teacup (250ml), two or three times daily.

For convenience, your entire day's dosage can be prepared at night (2-3 cups at one time) and left overnight and then refrigerated for use throughout the day. You can drink it cold or heat it if you want it warm.

Making a Decoction

Because some tea (with bark, stems or roots in them) contains tough, woody material, a decoction is the recommended method for making your medicine.

Instead of just soaking it in hot water, the plant material is boiled for a longer period of time to soften the thicker woody pieces and release its active constituents.

Use a ceramic, glass or enamel pot with a snug fitting lid, if you don't have one then a stainless steel pot is good but definitely not aluminium or teflon.

Add the amount of herb needed (1 teaspoon per 250ml of water) to the proper amount of cold water in the pot depending on how many doses you wish to prepare.

Turn the heat to medium high and bring to a vigorous boil then put the lid on the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle but cheerful simmer for 20 minutes.

If you can see steam escaping or smell the aroma of the herb, your lid is not tight enough and valuable essential oils may be escaping.

After 20 minutes, remove from heat and cool slightly, for maximum potency we encourage you to let it stand overnight.

Strain the mixture through a tea strainer into a wide-necked bottle, jug or cup, making sure to press on the material in the strainer with a spoon or similar to get as much of the liquid/decoction out of the material as possible.

Standard dosages for decoction are generally one-half to one cup, two or three times daily.

A day's dosage can be prepared the prior evening (2-3 cups at one time), allowed to continue to soak while it cools overnight to ensure maximum potency and refrigerated until ready to use throughout the next day.

Passion Flower tincture

tincture Quantity: 50ml for AUD$50.00 postage extra

Is it Safe for me to take Passion Flower Tincture?

If you have any concerns or apprehensions please use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service so that we can make sure that what you want is completely safe for your situation or condition.

We especially encourage you to get in touch if you have any of the following health problems or conditions:

An enlarged prostate gland Are preganant or breast-feeding Blood clotting problems Cancer Diabetes

Epilepsy Glaucoma Heart disease High blood pressure Immune system problems

Liver problems Psychiatric problems Parkinson's disease Stroke Thyroid problems

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You have two options when you purchase Passion Flower tincture:

1. For external use which you can apply externally to the soles of your feet or topically on an external condition - you can purchase these without a consultation.
2. For internal use. If you wish to take it internally because of the potency of these tinctures you need to be sure they will not cause complications with an existing health condition or prescribed drugs you may be taking.

Passion Flower tincture

If you are in any doubt about the possibility Passion Flower tincture causing complications with prescription drugs or a medical condition you may have please get in touch so that we can advise you on the suitability of a particular tincture.

Especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

You can have an online consultation or visit our clinic for a thorough consultation if you wish to purchase our potent tinctures for internal use.

There are fewer concerns when using Passion Flower tincture externally and our many years of experience has shown that the tincture is just as effective being applied into the soles of the feet or applied topically on external conditions where they will be absorbed into your system.

Our clients who have come for a consultation use the same tincture internally and we recommend they take half an eyedropper (about 1.5ml) of herbal tincture in a small glass of water three times per day for adults and a quarter of an eyedropper in a small glass of water for children.

Passion Flower tincture is a potent liquid extract made from organic Passion Flower. It is a concentrated way of getting herbal medicine into your body easily especially applying them to the soles of your feet. Once a tincture is prepared, it has an extremely long shelf life. Tinctures should be kept in a cool, dark cupboard to maintain their potency.

If you are on any prescribed medication we strongly advise you to use our free Herbal Tincture enquiry service to make sure that the medication and potent Passion Flower tincture are compatible.

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making medicine for internal use

How to Use Passion Flower Tincture internally

How do I prepare my Passion Flower Tincture?

Just add the recommended dosage - which is usually 1.5ml or one eyedropperfull - to a glass of drinking water or any other cold drink.

Then drink it.

When should I drink my Passion Flower Tincture?

For best absorption, consume herbal tinctures 30 minutes or more before meals or drinking other liquids to avoid diluting it while it is in your digestive tract.

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How to Use our Tinctures externally

how to apply a tincture to the soles of your feet

If you are treating an external condition - such as a skin infection - then simply apply the tincture directly to the site using the eyedropper or a suitable swab.

If you are treating an internal condition then the best way to get the tincture into your body is through the soles of your feet. The skin is a highly absorptive organ and the feet have the reflexology facility which helps get the healing properties of the herbs right to the place inside you where they will do the most good.

If you don't have someone to do it for you, the easiest way we've found is to apply it sitting down. Rest one foot on your other leg's thigh (use a towel to make sure the tincture doesn't drip on your furniture or clothes), squirt a small amount of tincture onto the palm of one hand (about 1.5ml or half an eyedropper), rub it gently into the sole of your foot. In most cases you will find it has been absorbed within 30 seconds or so - you'll know when your foot feels dry. Then do the same to your other foot and the treatment is complete.

Passion Flower history

Passionflower is native mainly in the tropics of America and was introduced first to Bermuda and then elsewhere in the world, it seems that it's origin was first in France.

In 1867 it was first recognized in America for it's effective sedative qualities and has been retained in certain national pharmacopoeias and is very popular in alternative medicine dispensaries.

Passion flower acquired its name from descriptions of its flower parts supplied in the Seventeenth Century by Spanish priests in South America^[7]. It was known by the Spanish as “La Flor de las cinco Llagas” or the “The Flower With The Five Wounds”. The parts were interpreted from drawings and dried plants by Giacomo Bosio, a churchman and historian, in Rome (1609), as representing various elements of the Crucifixion.

Passiflora are known by many names worldwide:-

from the Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism ^[8] :

Passiflora incarnata L PASSIFLORACEAE Passion Flower Maypop Passiflora species are predominantly of subtropical American origin, and several have been employed traditionally for a variety of complaints. This herb was introduced in 1867 in the United States for its effective sedative properties, and has been retained in certain national pharmacopoeias ; it is also a popular folk medicine and constituent of some proprietary herbal sedative preparations. Passion-flower, from the Latin, passiflora, is named after the supposed symbolic association between the anatomical and numerical arrangement of the flowers and the elements of the crucifixion. Description Perennial vine on strong, woody, hairy stem 6 m to Io m tall, climbing by means of axillary tendrils. Leaves serrate, 3-lobed, cordate, petiolate, 7.5-12.5 cm long. Flowers attractive, white, with pink or purple calyx, 4-7.5 cm wide, appearing early to late summer and followed by edible, yellow, ovoid fruit 5 cm in diameter. Distribution Native to southern United States. Introduced to Bermuda and elsewhere. On loamy, nutrient-rich soils in full sun. Cultivation Cultivation Wild. Occasionally cultivated ; the commercial sources of the edible passion fruit or Granadilla are Passiflora edulis Sims, or less commonly P. ligularis Juss. P. caerulea L is the most common species grown as a climbing shrub in warmer temperate zones. Constituents (fruit) Ascorbic acid ; flavonoids; citric and malic acids; amylopectin; fixed oil. (flowering plant) Alkaloids comprising harmine, harmol, passiflorine; a cyanogenic heteroside; flavonoids; passiflortannoid ; maracugin. Uses (dried fruiting and flowering tops, fruit) Antispasmodic; sedative; anodyne. Principally of benefit in the treatment of nervous tachycardia, anxiety and insomnia ; also used in certain types of convulsion or spasmodic complaints such as epilepsy. Its anodyne effects are employed in various neuralgias. The fruit is edible, refreshing, tonic and employed in commercial drinks in some countries. Contra- indications Sedative. To be taken only under medical supervision.

Passion Flower cultivation

a single Passion Flower flower

Passion Flower is a perennial climbing vine and has strong hairy woody stems, grows 6m to 10m tall. Spreading over the vine in late summer are attractive pink, purple and white flowers 4-7.5 cm wide and edible yellow avoid fruit 5cm in diameter follow. The parts used to make herbal teas and tinctures are the flowers, stems and leaves[9]. The leaves make an excellent poultice for burns and skin complaints. The mystery of the beautiful blossom developing from an unassuming bud was compared to the Passion of Christ because the plant parts were thought to represent the crucifixion, giving rise to the name passion flower.

Marie Iannotti’s Growing Notes^[10]:

Sun: Passion flowers need at least 4 full hours of sunlight a day; more in cooler climates and some partial shade in the hottest areas. Plants may need winter protection in Zone 6.

Soil: The soil should be well-draining, but rich. Passion flowers grow and bloom best when the soil is kept moist. They don’t handle drought well. Soil pH can be in the neutral range, anywhere from about 6.1 to 7.5.

Planting: The addition of compost to the planting hole will help retain moisture. Some type of support is needed for the vines to grow on. It can be a trellis, a structure or another plant.

Most varieties of passion flower can be purchased as plants. They can also be propagated from either seed, softwood cuttings, layering or rhizomes.

Growing Passion Flower from Seed:

To save seed, allow the fruits to ripen completely. Open the pods and remove, clean and dry the seeds before storing.

Passion flowers seeds can be difficult to sprout and hybrid varieties will not grow true from seed. Start seed by soaking for 1-2 days in warm water. Viable seed will sink to the bottom of the glass. Floating seeds can be discarded.

Start seed in damp potting mix. Place seed on surface of soil and pat down, but don’t cover. They need to be exposed to light, in order to germinate. Place the pot in a plastic bag and seal to retain moisture. If you can provide bottom heat to the pot, you’ll have a better chance of sprouting. A heat mat or even the top of a refrigerator should work.

It can take weeks or months for passion flower seeds to sprout. Keep the soil moist at all times. When sprouts do appear, keep them out of direct sunlight until there are true leaves and don’t handle the plants until they are large enough to transplant.

To Grow Passion Flower as a Houseplant: Provide bright, indirect sunlight, but keep out of drafts. Minimum indoor temperature is about 50° F.

Maintenance: Passion flowers are low maintenance during the growing season and do not need to be deadheaded. Pruning is basically done to keep the size in check, to remove dead wood and to make the plant fuller.

Some vines will not need any pruning, but pruning will result in a fuller plant. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring. In cooler climates, the vines may die back to the ground anyway.

To protect borderline plants during winter, stop feeding in late summer. Mulch the area around the roots, once the soil temperature drops.

Problems & Pests:

It seems the more tropical the climate, the more pests there are to attack passion flower. But generally the plants have minimal problems.

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