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What’s this
Passionflower is one climbing plant which belongs to the Passifloraceae family, cultivated for ornamental purposes for its bearing and above all for the beauty of its flowers. Exist numerous varieties of passionflower, all united by a very particular flowering. The organs of the passionflower flowers in fact constitute a complex symmetrical shape, formed by a set of appendages similar to purple petals distributed in a radial pattern to form a sort of crown and with styles that develop in the center and end with nail-shaped stigmas. The name of “passion flower”Attributed to the passionflower, symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus.
In addition to embellishing terraces and gardens, some varieties of passion flower are grown for edible fruits, while the incarnate variety is cultivated for its therapeutic properties. The aerial parts of Passiflora incarnata, in fact, are used in phytotherapy and herbal medicine for treat anxiety and agitation. Drug collection occurs little before and during the summer flowering; subsequently the stems and leaves are dried to be sold for the preparation of herbal teas or used to make extracts.
Properties and benefits
Passionflower is mainly used to treat mild insomnia, anxiety, agitation, nervousness and irritability. In addition to the sedative and calming action, passionflower also has spasmolytic properties, useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems.
Herbal teas and other extracts obtained from passion flower are therefore used to promote sleep when insomnia is caused by excessive physical and mental fatigue and to alleviate numerous manifestations related to anxiety and stress. In particular, passionflower is indicated for people who struggle to fall asleep because of the constant brooding or for mood problems, in which it is able to provoke a sedation capable of guaranteeing a restful sleep. Passionflower is also useful when sleep disturbances are a consequence of the agitation that occurs during menopause.
In addition, passionflower helps relieve numerous other ailments related toanxiety and agitation such as palpitations, tachycardia, muscle spasms of nervous origin in the stomach and intestines, asthma and nervous cough.
They are present in the stems and leaves of passionflower several compounds including flavonoids, of which passionflower is particularly rich. Passionflower also contains indole alkaloids, maltol, cyanogenic heterorides, phenols, phytosterols, coumarins and essential oil. All these substances, which make up the phytocomplex of the plant, contribute to conferring the properties and benefits of passionflower.
Uses
Passionflower can be purchased in herbal medicine in the form of herbal tea, dry extract, mother tincture or tablets obtained by pulverizing the dried drug. Passionflower is often included in the formulation of herbal teas or food supplements along with other sedative and calming drugs such as valerian root, hops, lemon balm and hawthorn. The recommended dosage is equal to 5-8 grams of the drug, regardless of the form in which it is administered. There passionflower tea it is prepared for example with about two grams of dried drug, to be left to infuse in boiling water for a quarter of an hour and drinking up to four cups a day.
As for the tincture, this is administered one to three times a day by diluting 30-40 drops in a glass of water. The sedative and hypno-inducing effect occurs within about thirty minutes of intake and subsides after a few hours therefore it can be given shortly before bedtime or as needed in case of anxiety, for example before a meeting or an important event such as an exam or a job interview, or when you feel agitated and distressed by worries and stress.
Contraindications and side effects
Passionflower is practically a remedy free from toxicity and side effects and for this reason it is often recommended also for children. The intake of passionflower is instead contraindicated in case of allergy to one or more components e during pregnancy and lactation.
Since, as we have seen, passionflower has a sedative action on the central nervous system, its administration is not recommended if you are taking drugs of the same activity, therapies with antidepressants or before surgery that involves the use of barbiturates to prevent the effects from adding up. For the same reason, it is best not to take passion flower preparations at the same time as alcoholic beverages. Drugs, natural substances and drinks with a stimulating action, on the other hand, could significantly reduce or cancel the benefits given by passionflower.
Finally, it is good seek the advice of your doctor if you follow therapy with anticoagulants, before starting to take passionflower.
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