Used as an infusion, decoction, tincture and smoke. Passiflora, commonly known as Passion Flower, is a woody vine that has been used historically to improve mood and sleep difficulties. It is often prescribed to women as a way to relieve symptoms of PMS. The phytochemical breakdown of Passion Flower includes several flavonoids that are believed to be responsible for Passion’s anti-anxiety effects. The most active and well studied of these flavonoids are vitexin, isovitexin and chrysin. Constituents responsible for the pharmacological activity of passion flower have been the subject of ongoing research throughout most of this century. Passion flower does contain one or more so-called harmala alkaloids, but their number and identity are disputed. Besides, such alkaloids generally act as stimulants, not depressants. A Polish report that both an alkaloid fraction and a flavonoid pigment fraction produced sedative effects in mice was subsequently followed up by Japanese investigators. They were able to isolate small amounts of the pyrone derivative maltol from an alkaloid-containing extract of the plant. Maltol was found to induce depression in mice and to exhibit other sedative properties. The scientists concluded that the depressant effects of maltol, no doubt, counteracted the stimulant action of the harmala alkaloids but were not strong enough to explain the total sedative effects of the plant extract. Flavonoids including vitexin, isovitexin, isoorientin, schaftoside, and isoschaftoside have also been identified and may contribute to biological activity. Further studies are obviously necessary before the active principles of passion flower can definitely be identified. Researchers are not exactly sure what effect Passion Flower’s flavonoids have on the central nervous system, though it is thought that they may effect the benzodiazepine receptor sites in the brain. Unlike prescription benzodiazepines, however, Passion flower is not habit forming as it does not bind directly to the receptor sites. Passion flower is a wonderfully relaxing remedy and one of the best tranquilizing herbs for chronic insomnia, having no addictive effects and allowing you to awake refreshed and alert in the morning. Passion flower has a sedative and antispasmodic action, relaxing spasm and tension in the muscles, and calming the nerves and lessening pain. Passion flower can be used for neuralgia, shingles, sciatica, Parkinson’s disease, muscle pain, twitching and spasm, anxiety, agitation, stress and any physical problem that is stress-related, such as colic and asthma, as well as high blood pressure. Wherever physical symptoms are related to or aggravated by anxiety or tension, passionflower can be added to your chosen prescription; for example for hot flashes, migraine, headaches, abdominal pain or a tickly cough. Numerous clinical trials have shown Passiflora to be an important therapeutic factor in relieving feelings often attributed to a

Visit merchant

Sphere: Related Content