Passionflower

Oct 29, 2024

2 min read

Latin Name: Passiflora incarnata

Plant Family: Passifloraceae

Common Names: Apricot Vine, Maypop, Love in a Mist, Passiflore, Passion vine

Constituents: alkaloids, glycosides, sterols, catechol, saccharides,

Actions: nervine, sedative, hypnotic,

Flavors: bitter, bland, cooling, calming

Information:

Passionflower herb whether leaf, vine, or flower, is a great herb for the nervous system. Its sedative and nervine actions show its effect on the nervous system in being able to calm and restore. Passionflower is an herb that works well on its own. It is useful for insomnia, anxiety, over thinking, and burn out. This is an herb said to be good for nervous system debilitation that can be caused by acute issues of shock or acute disease, and also be beneficial for chronic nervous system issues. It's beneficial in use for both.

Passionflower has a sinking energy to it, meaning that if the Yang energy is rising and going up too often, this is a great plant that can help bring the energy back down. We may see this in headaches, indigestion, etc.

Passionflower is said to nourish the Heart Yin, releasing anxiety and heart palpitations. Some other organ affinities it has and can offer support for are the febrile system which controls seizures and epilepsy, making it an herb for those conditions. Another organ system Passionflower has an affinity for is the respiratory system, being beneficial for issues like whooping cough or asthmatic cough. (Holmes)

In a world where anxiety is rampant, Passionflower is a great aid. It's also supportive of sleep and mental chatter that just goes round and round.

It has antispasmodic and analgesic actions that are beneficial for muscle tension and pain.

There have been studies showing Passionflower as a beneficial herbs for women’s irritability, mood swings, headaches in menopause.

Its cooling energy in the body is beneficial for heat and constraint issues within the body. When there is constraint, it causes palpitations, irritability, heat rising, restlessness, and congestion. Passionflower is great to relive the constraint and tension in the organs and muscles, let the energy circulate more freely, and bring the energy back down. Think of the climbing and winding tendrils or its vine and how it supports that calm, beautiful, delicious smelling peace to flow through you.

I enjoy the flowers in an herbal smoke blend.

Spiritual Uses/Lore: Very connected to Jesus Christ. Used by missionaries and monks, this is actually a herb that was used to staunch passion and libido. Was a very special herb brought back to Europe from the Americas by early colonists.

Growing: “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap.”

Pairs well with: St Johns Wort, Skullcap, Lemon Balm, Hops, California poppy