Passionflower Herb

COMMON NAME

Standardized: passionflower
Other: apricot vine, maypop, wild passionflower

BOTANICAL NAME

Passiflora incarnata L.
Plant Family: Passifloraceae

OVERVIEW

Passionflower is cooling to the body, calming to the mind, and soothing to the spirit. It quells disquietude, calms the ruminating mind, and can promote natural relaxation and stress reduction*. This plant is gentle yet profound. It can be administered as a soothing tea for children or the elderly and can help to calm a restless mind.

BOTANY

P. incarnata, in the Passifloriaceae family is a perennial climbing vine with generally 3 lobed, palmate leaves sporting, according to the late herbalist Michael Moore, "complicated but comely flowers." Indeed, the flowers are quite striking, flamboyantly displaying five stamens and three stigmas which "protrude from the flower's center like the antennae of a spaceship" writes Steven Foster. Further, there are five petals and sepals, and a collar of threadlike, frilly, lavender colored, coronal filaments. One begins to see where the "passion" came from…however, actually, the name has more virtuous origins. The story goes that in 1569, in Peru, a Spanish doctor, Nicolas Monardes 'discovered' this plant. It eventually made it into the hands of Spanish missionaries who saw the flower as a physical representation of the crucifixion of Christ. The three stigmas represented the 'nails of crucifixion', the coronal filaments were the 'crown of thorns', the five stamens were the wounds, and the ten sepals were representative of ten of the disciples (Judas and Peter got left out due to their overall poor behavior). Thus, this flower was used as a teaching tool, to tell the story of Christ to the indigenous people. P. incarnata is native to the Southeast of the United States ranging south from Virginia to Florida and as far west as Texas7, Mexico and Central and South America.8 This vine grows in relatively poor sandy soil and prefers full sun and a trellis or fence to wrap itself around. It often grows in disturbed areas and, in spite of its majestic appearance and usefulness, considered a weed. There are a multitude of species, over 500 in fact, many of which are native to the Americas3. One such species P. edulis, is the tasty tropical "passion fruit" which is eaten as a fruit and made into juice in Mexico and south to its native stomping grounds in Brazil and neighboring countries. It is used as a common flavoring in the United States9. Several other species such as P. foetida, P. Mexicana, and P. tenuilobain the southwest of the United States2 and P. lutea in the southern U.S.10 have been used similarly to P. incarnata.

HISTORY AND FOLKLORE

Passiflora sp. has a rich history of traditional use dating back to pre-historic times. Seeds that were thousands of years old were found around Virginia, where the Algonkian Indians thrived. Early European settlers have records of the Algonkian Indians eating the passionflower fruit. The Cherokee used P. incarnata root extensively for a variety of purposes. Additionally, various parts of the plants, including the fruits, were made into a beverage, and the leaves and young tendrils were boiled or fried and eaten. Various indigenous groups were known to use the plant as a topical poultice.  P. incarnata has had documented uses in Europe going back to 1787. In the spirit world, passionflower has been used as a magical charm to attract friendships and to bring peace, and the leaves can be placed in a house to illicit harmony and lessens discord.

USES AND PREPARATIONS

Primarily the above ground parts (the entire vine including leaves, stems and flowers) are dried used as a tea or tincture or are powdered and encapsulated. Fresh or dried plant material may be made into a tincture.

PRECAUTIONS

Specific: No known precautions.
General: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.

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