The main two types of passionflower are the Passiflora caerula and the Passiflora incarnate. The later species is the official passionflower that is most commonly used in medicinal purposes. All passionflower species descend from the Passifloraceae family. Other names that passionflower is known as are apricot vine, blue passionflower and maypop. Passionflower is a climbing vine native only to the Americas (North, Central and South). It can grow up to 30 feet in length with “three-lobed leaves, purple flowers, and egg-shaped fruit…” (Balch, 106)
The Medicinal Functions of Passionflower
The most common function of passionflower is to be used as a sedative. It can be used to settle the nervous and lower blood pressure. This can be extremely helpful in the aid of relieving anxiety, ADD (attention deficit disorder), insomnia and restless legs syndrome. In men, passionflower can be used to increase sex drive. Anxiety can cause the body to break down testosterone, which lowers men’s sexual drive. By reducing anxiety, sexual drive will increase. Passionflower is also beneficial in preventing testosterone from being transformed into estrogen. High estrogen levels in men can lead to gynecomastia or the enlargement of breasts in males.
Methods of Ingesting Passionflower
In medicinal uses, the vines, leaves and young flowering buds can be used. Be sure to harvest the flower buds in their early bloom to get the highest amount of medicinal benefits. The parts of the passionflower that are used can be either fresh or dried depending upon the function. Passionflower is mainly ingesting through tinctures or teas. A tincture can be made out of either fresh or dried passionflower.
Warnings about the Use of Passionflower
The Passifloraceae family has over four hundred species. With such a wide variety, only the official passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) should be used medicinally. Some of the various other species are not medicinally interchangeable with that of Passiflora incarnate; especially since the Passifloraceae family has a tendency to “hybridize naturally in the wild…” (Cech, 196) One such example of this is the passionflower species, Passiflora caerulea, which contains cyanide.
Those that are taking an MAO inhibitor should not take passionflower. Also, passionflower increases the effects of psychoactive drugs and alcohol when taken in combination. Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should not ingest passionflower because it can stimulate the uterine muscles, probably causing an early delivery or miscarriage. It is recommended that adults over the age of 65 or children between the ages of two and 12 should only take very low dosages. Young children under the age of two should not be given any type of passionflower.
Sources:
Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Herbal Healing New York, New York: Penguin Putnam Inc, 2002.
Cech, Richo. Making Plant Medicine Williams, Oregon: Horizon Herbs, 2000.
Elisheva Weyers - My articles are written out of my genuine interest and not purely for monetary gain.
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