Passiflora incarnata

Common name: Passionflower

Family: Passifloraceae

Part used: Leaves and stems harvested during flowering and fruiting, but excluding the flowers and fruits.

Habitat: Passionflower is a perennial climbing vine with showy flowers and familiar fruit; native to North america in warmer areas and cultivated in other countries around the world. Prefers sunny sheltered positions. It is drought and frost tender and in cooler areas will die back in winter to protect itself. 

Constituents: Flavonoids including luteolin and apigenin, alkaloids including norharman, harman, harmol and harmalol.

Actions: Sedative, anodyne, antispasmodic, hypnotic (makes you sleepy rather than simply sligtly sedated)

Traditional and current uses:

• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Emotional stress
• Nerve pain
• Epilepsy
• Withdrawal from opiates
• Nervous racing heart
• Spasmodic asthma, exacerbation of asthma due to anxiety

Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided for educational use only, and is not intended as a replacement for the services of a qualified medical herbalist, doctor or licensed health practitioner. The information contained herein is not diagnostic, always consult a medical health professional before embarking on a treatment programme. Max Drake Medical Herbalist disclaims any liability, loss, injury or damage incurred as a consequence of the use and application of the advice given herein.