Organic Passionflower (Passoflora incarnata)

Herbs are Sold By the Ounce, Price is Per Ounce

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Family: Passifloraceae

Common Names: Maypop, Purple Passionflower, Passion Vine, Apricot Vine

Botanical Description: Passionflower is a perennial climbing vine that attaches to supports with curling tendrils. It has dark green, usually three-lobed leaves and distinctive white-and-purple flowers with a crown of fine filaments. The vine produces egg-shaped fruits called maypops, which contain edible pulp when ripe.

Habitat and Cultivation: Native to the central and eastern United States and Bermuda, passionflower grows in sunny fields, woodland edges, and disturbed areas. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It spreads through underground shoots and can require containment. It is generally grown in USDA zones 5–9.

Parts Used: Aerial parts, including leaves, stems, and flowers.

Historical and Folklore Uses:

Passionflower has a history of Indigenous medicinal use in North America, including preparations used to soothe nerves. It later became established in European herbal medicine as a calming herb. Historical use documents how people used the plant but does not establish its effectiveness.

The name “passionflower” comes from Christian interpretations of the flower’s structure as symbols of the Passion of Christ. Its ring of filaments was associated with the crown of thorns, while other floral parts were linked with the wounds and nails of the Crucifixion.

Energetics and Taste:

• Energetics: Often described in Western herbal practice as cooling and calming. These traditional classifications vary among practitioners.
• Taste: Mildly bitter and grassy.

Medicinal Actions:

• Nervine: Traditionally used to ease nervous tension and support relaxation.
• Mild Sedative: Traditionally used to aid sleep; limited human research suggests possible benefits.
• Anxiolytic Potential: Small clinical trials suggest possible anxiety relief, but stronger evidence is needed.

System Affinities:

• Nervous System: Traditionally associated with easing nervousness, restlessness, and mild mental stress.
• Sleep: Used to support rest when difficulty settling down interferes with sleep. Research suggests possible improvement in total sleep time, while findings for other sleep measures are mixed.

Active Compounds:

• Flavonoids: Includes isovitexin, isoorientin, schaftoside, and related compounds.
• Apigenin- and Luteolin-Based Glycosides: These form an important part of passionflower’s flavonoid profile.
• Chemical Variation: Constituent amounts vary with the plant material and preparation. No single compound has been established as responsible for its effects in humans.

Uses:

1. Relaxation: Traditionally prepared as tea or an extract to ease mild nervous tension.
2. Sleep Support: Used in evening herbal preparations to support rest. Evidence remains limited, particularly for long-term use.
3. Herbal Preparations: Available as dried herb, tinctures, and extracts. Preparations differ in strength and are not interchangeable.
4. Spiritual Practice: Can be used symbolically in sachets or rituals focused on peace, rest, and emotional quiet. These are spiritual applications rather than demonstrated medicinal effects.

Cautions:

• Pregnancy: Avoid during pregnancy because passionflower may stimulate uterine contractions.
• Breastfeeding: Safety has not been established.
• Drowsiness: May cause sleepiness, dizziness, or confusion. Avoid driving if affected.
• Drug Interactions: Consult a pharmacist or healthcare provider before combining it with medicines, especially those that cause sedation.
• Surgery: Tell your surgical team if you use passionflower within two weeks of a procedure. It may interact with anesthesia and other medicines used around surgery.
• Long-Term Use: Most safety information concerns short-term use.
• Plant Identification: Choose preparations labeled Passiflora incarnata. Other species and ornamental hybrids should not be assumed to have the same safety or medicinal uses.