Passionflower

(Passiflora incarnata)

The benefits of Passion flower are

• Traditionally, passion flower has been used for its sedative effect. Due to this effect it has been used as a herbal sleep aid and is considered a good herb to relieve anxiety.
• Historically, it was also used to treat gastrointestinal spasms.
• Passion flower has a hypotensive effect (lowers blood pressure) and also relieves tachycardia (fast heart rate.)
• The anti-spasmodic effect makes this herb useful in treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease(PD), seizures, and hysteria.
• This herb has also been used to treat nerve pain and shingles.
• Asthma, especially with a high level of spasmodic activity, responds well to passion flower use.
• It can be combined with valerian, hops, and Jamaican dogwood for an effective herbal insomnia treatment.
• Passion flower may also have a mild aphrodisiac effect.
• Research is being done on the effect of passion flower as a treatment in opiate withdrawal.
• Passion flower has been used to treat some of the symptoms accociated with ADHD/ADD.