All passion flowers, in Latin passiflora, belong to the large plant family of the passion flower family, most of which are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. The climbing plants not only enchant with their extraordinarily beautiful flowers, some species also produce edible fruits, while a certain passion flower, which we also cultivate as an ornamental plant, has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. In this country, the natural remedy is available under the name "passion flower herb".

Passionflower herb always comes from Passiflora incarnata

Contrary to the information that can be found erroneously on some websites and also on packages, the passion flower herb cannot be obtained from all Passiflora species. Passion flowers are by no means one type of flower, but a large family with over 500 very different species. Never try a tea made from your local passion flower, because some passiflora are poisonous. Their consumption can cause unpleasant to painful physical reactions. The passion flower herb always comes from the species Passiflora incarnata, the flesh-colored passion flower. The plant is native to the southeastern United States and also produces edible fruit. In 2011 Passiflora incarnata was voted "Medicinal Plant of the Year".

Effects and traditional areas of application

P. incarnata has been used by Native Americans for thousands of years both as a food and as a medicinal plant, as evidenced by various archaeological finds and reports from the European conquerors in the 16th and 17th centuries. Not only the slightly sour-tasting fruits were eaten, but also the young leaves and shoots. The natives, on the other hand, did not use the herb as a remedy, but rather the roots. The traditional areas of application were quite extensive, although today's possible uses are almost exclusively limited to the naturopathic treatment of nervousness, sleep disorders and nervous restlessness. Although the use of passion flower herb has been documented for many thousands of years, there are no modern scientific, clinical studies that prove the effectiveness of the remedy.

ingredients

Passionflower herb contains many ingredients, e.g.

  • Flavonoids such as isovitexin and isoorientin
  • Coumarins and coumarin derivatives (umbelliferone and scopolentin)
  • essential amino acids
  • Essential Oils

In addition, passionflower herb has repeatedly made headlines due to contamination by aflatoxins.

Application of the passion flower herb

Passionflower herb can be used either as a tea or infusion, in the form of liquid or dry extracts, as well as tablets or capsules. Finished medical products rarely contain only passion flower herb, but mostly mixtures. In particular, combinations with St. John's wort, valerian, hops or lemon balm have proven to be useful, since Passiflorae herba can often supplement or even enhance their effects.

Prepare tea from passion flower herb

For an infusion of dried passion flower herb, you need a teaspoon of finely chopped Passiflorae herba, which you first pour boiling water over, leave to steep for about 10 minutes and then strain through a tea strainer. For a better taste, the tea can be sweetened with a little honey. Either drink two to a maximum of three cups throughout the day or, if you have trouble falling asleep, one to two cups right before you go to sleep. The well-dried passion flower herb should be stored in a cool, dark place and used within three to six months at the most.

Side effects and contraindications

Side effects or interactions are not yet known, at least for the pure infusion of Passiflorae herba. With the various combination preparations and the high-dose extracts, the matter is of course different. High doses of Passiflorae herba can cause the opposite of what it was actually taken against and lead to sleep disorders, increased sweating, headaches, etc. Because combination pills reinforce each other, they can cause drowsiness, drowsiness, and a drop in blood pressure. For this reason, some drugs are recommended to refrain from driving or operating machines after taking them. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are generally advised not to use it due to the lack of studies.

tips and tricks

If you cultivate a Passiflora incarnata yourself at home, you can of course extract the passion flower herb yourself for a soothing tea. To do this, cut off young shoots and leaves of the plant and dry them carefully. However, be aware that accurate information about the ingredients of Passiflora incarnata and its dried herb cannot be given and is also dependent on care.

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Vegetable garden