Passion Flower for Anxiety, Sleep + Benefits & Side Effects

Native Americans have another pearl in their ancient herbal pharmacy – passion flower. This plant has stunning flowers, delicious fruits, and calming effect, but clinical research has yet to cast more light on it. Read on to discover the benefits, dangers, and interesting facts about passion flower. What is Passion Flower? Over 500 different species of passionflower ( Passiflora ) belong to the Passifloraceae family of herbs. The most common ones include [ 1 ]: Passiflora incarnata – purple passionflower Passiflora caerulea – blue passionflower Passiflora edulis – “passion fruit” or maracuja Passiflora foetida – “stinking” passionflower Most species are climbing vines while some grow as shrubs or small trees. In late spring, they bloom large and beautiful flowers which last only a day. Spanish conquistadors named this unique flower after the “ Passion of Christ “; they found a complex symbolism between the numbers of flower parts and certain events from the last days of Jesus’ life. The flower also resembles a clock, and many nations call it a “ clock-flower .” Passion flowers are native to Latin America, but they grow well in any tropical area. People cultivate them for their sensational flowers and delicious fruits. People around the globe enjoy the fruit of Passiflora edulis , the famous “passion fruit” or maracuja. Native Americans also use dried leaves of passion flower for smoking. Proponents: Relieves anxiety Improves sleep quality Reduces menopausal symptoms May relieve substance dependence May help with attention disorders Skeptics: Clinical trials have notable caveats May cause weakness and digestive issues Interacts with psychoactive drugs Dangerous for pregnant women Purple passionflower or maypop ( Passiflora incarnata ) has a long history of use in traditional medicine. This evergreen vine climbs up to 6 m and tolerates urban conditions, including roadsides and waste grounds. Native […]

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