Used by herbalists for an interesting range of ailments
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnate or Maypop) is a climbing member of the Passifloraceae family, originally a native of the eastern United States but now found throughout the warm temperate regions. Growing to about 10m, it has fine cylindrical stems that contain three to five lobed palmate leaves supported by long, clinging tendrils. The plant is famous for its spectacular flowers, which are supposed to represent the passion of Christ on the cross; the three stigmas representing the nails, the five anthers, the wounds, the ten petals, the apostles, and so on. The colours of the flowers are blue, mauve and yellow. Each flower produces an oval green-to-yellow fruit containing a pulp, which is very popular in health drinks.
Passion flower contains alkaloids such as harman, harmol and passiflorine; flavanoids including apigenin and kaempferol; saponarin and sterols. These combine to make the plant hypnotic, vasodilator, analgesic, antispasmodic, sedative, hypotensive and a tranquilliser. It is also believed to strengthen the heart muscle.
The plant has a history of treating anxiety and stress. First used by the Native Americans, its applications were taken up by early settler physicians and used to treat insomnia, asthma arising from stress, diarrhoea and to dress boils and wounds.
Any number of non-prescriptive preparations for sleeplessness contain passion flower.
The herb is supposed to work best on thin, nervous women, while those of a more robust build, have less predictable results.
Extracts from this plant are used by herbalists to treat an interesting range of ailments, which include insomnia, facial tics, inflammation of nerve endings, such as herpes zoster, to lower blood pressure, slow the heart rate – it is thought to be the best herbal remedy for tachycardia. It is recommended for irritable bowel syndrome, attention deficit disorder in children (ADHD), and to reduce the tremours in Parkinson’s disease.
Recent medical research has revealed that passion flower has an important role to play in treating the withdrawal symptoms suffered by cannabis, heroin, alcohol and nicotine addicts; it is invaluable in combating delirium tremors (DTs).
Passion flower grows extremely well in Cyprus and will easily withstand our mid-summer temperatures, and if you live in an area that is subject to frost you will have to protect it. If you do not have a fruiting variety, don’t worry, the flowers are sufficient reward.
No extracts of passion flower should be taken when pregnant, while driving or when operating machinery.
Next week Caraway
