Passionflower Herb and Powder Profile
Also known as- Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora caerulea, Apricot Vine, Blue and Purple Passionflower, and Maypop.
Introduction
Passionflower is a climbing vine native to South Texas, Mexico, and Central America. Growing to a length of 30 feet (9 meters) under ideal conditions, the vine bears three-lobed leaves, purple flowers, and yellow-to-orange egg-shaped fruit. The name of the plant comes an analogy between the plant's ornate flower to the elements of the crucifixion of Jesus, white and purple to symbolize heaven and purity, five stamens for the five wounds he suffered, three style for the three nails used to affix him to the cross.
Constituents
Chrysin, harmane, harmaline.
Parts Used
Dried leaves and stems. Passionflower powder must be stored at temperatures below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), and should be used within six months of purchase.
Typical Preparations
Teas, tinctures and encapsulations. Sometimes found in relaxing bath blends and sleep pillow mixes.
Summary
Herbalists in Mexico, Central America, and Texas have used passionflower as a calmative and sleeping aid for over 200 years. Relieving muscle tension, the herb lowers blood pressure and calms anxiety. Passionflower is also a source of chrysin, a chemical that helps the body release testosterone. Chrysin stimulates the production of testosterone, and thus can seldom aggravate conditions caused by excessive testosterone (baldness and prostate problems in men, unusual aggression, hair growth, and skin problems in men and women). Passionflower is most appropriate for men who have conditions such as gynecomastia (enlargement of the breasts) caused by excessive estrogen. While chrysin keeps testosterone from being converted into estrogen, it also blocks some of the receptors on cells that cause them to respond to estrogen.
Passionflower is the herbal remedy of choice for treating nausea and vomiting resulting from withdrawal from Vicodin, cocaine, heroin, or opiate painkillers. It may also help in attention deficit disorder and restless legs syndrome. Compounds in passionflower occupy the same receptor sites in the brain as the benzodiazepine drugs Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Valium (diazepam), but cause less drowsiness. Passionflower may also help withdrawal from alcohol.
Finally, passionflower is help for nerve pain caused by post-herpetic neuralgia, the sometimes intense pain following outbreaks of shingles.
Precautions
Pregnant women should avoid passionflower, since it can stimulate uterine contractions. Safe dosages for children under 6 have not been established.
