Passionflower (Latin Passiflora) is a climbing plant native to the warmer regions of the Americas. The species Passiflora incarnata is used as a medicinal plant, and its leaves and stems are drunk as a tea. The plant is effective against nervous restlessness, tension and irritability, anxiety and some other ailments.
Occurrence and cultivation of passionflower
In Europe, Passiflora incarnata can be kept as a houseplant and blooms beautifully. In the climate of Latin America grow about 500 different species of passionflower, almost all of which develop extremely magnificent, colorful star-shaped flowers. In some varieties, these flowers have a diameter of up to 18 centimeters. The variety used as a medicinal plant is Passiflora incarnata, whose foliage consists of three- to five-fingered, lobed leaves. In the wild, it is found in Mexico and the southeastern United States, especially in the warm states of Louisiana and Florida. It can grow up to ten meters tall and is closely related to the edible Passiflora edulis. Its fruit is the passion fruit, which has a very distinctive flavor and high vitamin C content. In Europe, Passiflora incarnata can be kept as a houseplant, flowering beautifully. Since it blooms in the first year, it can also show its splendor in our garden and serves as a pasture for many species of insects. It blooms in August and September and will tendril several feet before freezing to death until the first cold weather. In 2011, passionflower was named medicinal plant of the year.
Effect and application
Passionflower of the variety Passiflora incarnata contains flavonoids, especially apigenin and luteolin, in its leaves and stems. Both are plant pigments that are also found in other plants and have been shown to have medicinal properties. The calming effect of passionflower has been proven in laboratory tests, but the exact mode of action has not yet been fully researched. The Indians of North America already used the passion flower as a medicinal plant, but its roots. Infusions of the dried leaves have been known since the 17th century and were used even then against nervousness, hysteria and insomnia. As a sedative, the plant can also be used for attention problems, depressive mood or against fear of flying. Passionflower can also help with a nervous stomach, irritable bowel syndrome and to relieve menopausal symptoms. For commercially available drugs, its herb is processed as an extract into capsules or tablets. However, liquid extracts, drops or teas are also available. Some of these are mono-preparations without other active ingredients, but others are combinations with valerian or hops. Adults and children over 12 years of age can take these preparations without concern, since no side effects and no habituation effect are known. For a tea, about one to two teaspoons of dried passionflower herb are poured over with boiling water and steep for ten minutes. About three cups daily provide a noticeable effect. For uncomplicated use, nerve teas are also available in tea bags. A tincture can also be easily made yourself. For this purpose, passionflower herb is doused with alcohol and must then infuse for at least two weeks in a sealed container. Then the tincture is poured off and filled into a dark bottle. Daily, 10 to 50 drops should be taken as needed. The tincture can be diluted with water for ingestion. In homeopathy, the fresh plant is used to prepare a mother tincture, but otherwise the dried parts of the plant are used. When used homeopathically, ten drops are taken three times a day. The calming, anti-anxiety, and sleep-promoting properties of passionflower are especially popular for relieving menopausal symptoms.
Health significance, treatment and prevention.
Restlessness, nervousness and sleep problems are often companions of difficult life situations but also of hormonal change processes such as menopause. Although these complaints are often triggered by other problems, they require gentle yet effective treatment. Finally, personal difficulties are exacerbated by poor sleep and nervousness. This spiral can be broken or prevented altogether by timely and consistent treatment.A herbal preparation from the passion flower, free of side effects, can contribute greatly to alleviation when used regularly. Thus, it provides an overall improved sense of well-being that often enables the solution or treatment of further problems in the first place. Treatment with passion flower extract can also be carried out over a longer period of time and provide a beneficial accompaniment to everyday life. Those who feel calmer, more secure and also more awake after a healthy sleep are also less likely to resort to addictive stimulants or unhealthy wake-up drugs. Thus, the natural remedy passionflower can be an effective companion and helper against inner restlessness during stress and difficult phases of life. Passionflower extract can also be used profitably as a preventive measure. Anyone who frequently suffers from professional or private stress can become a victim of burnout syndrome. This state of extreme emotional exhaustion can lead to psychosomatic illnesses, depression and even suicide. A regularly conducted 3-week cure with passionflower tea or drops can help to cope better even with regularly recurring stressful situations. Therefore, it makes sense to have passion flower tea from the pharmacy on hand. Those who tend to get exhausted in stressful situations will help themselves to better sleep, greater inner peace and serenity if used in time. In a 3-week course of treatment, three to four cups of tea are drunk daily, lukewarm and at most slightly sweetened, slowly and in small sips. This not only counteracts the threat of exhaustion, but is also a natural aid to healthy and peaceful sleep.