American Passion Flower seed
LATIN NAME: PASSIFLORA INCARNATA
COMMON NAME: American Passion Flower
The American passion flower crowns the twining, climbing vines with the deeply lobed, green leaves and the striking, complex flowers with the purple, fringed corona, the five sepals, the five petals, and the central column, opening through the summer, the large, oval, yellow-green fruits following. The flowers carry the layered, exotic form, and the vine climbs the supports with the quick growth. It likes the sun, and the moist, well-drained soil.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
In the passionflower family, the incarnata species holds a recognised place in the studies of the medicinal climbers, and it appears in the research on the layered flower structure and the warm-region growth. The pharmacologists value the calming preparations, while the botanists note the fringed corona and the central column. The seed biology fills out the picture, and the growers of the hardy passionflower vines keep the species in their catalogues.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
In the sunny garden, the American passion flower crowns the trellis with the fringed blooms. The complex flowers draw the bees and the butterflies, the oval fruits serve the fresh eating and the juices, and the leaves have served the traditional preparations for the ages. It climbs fast in the moist, well-drained, sunny ground. Exotic, layered and generous.
To grow the American Passion Flower from seed,
Press the seeds into the moist, leafy mix of the warm flat, then cover them lightly, keep the flat in the warm, bright spot and water gently
Keep the flat warm and steadily moist, and give the young vine a support to climb. The fringed flowers come within the season.
. The seedlings thread up within a few weeks, and they grow on fast. Settle the young vines in the sunny, moist ground, and the fringed flowers will crown the trellis over the summer.
Passiflora incarnata
Passion Flower is a nervine, aphrodisiac, hypnotic, anti-spasmodic, anodyne, diuretic, and hypotensive. It has a depressant effect on CNS activity and is hypotensive. They are used for their sedative and soothing properties, to lower blood pressure, prevent tachycardia and for insomnia. It has been used for nerve pain such as neuralgia, for dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, and for the viral infection of nerves called shingles. It has also been used to treat urinary infections.
Passionflower is one of nature’s best tranquilizers, recommended for times of extreme emotional upset.
Most commonly used for nervous conditions such as insomnia, restlessness, hysteria, mild depression, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, epilepsy, neuralgia, shingles, slightly reduces blood pressure, increases respiratory rate, good for muscle cramps, decreases motor activity, and nervous headache. Normally it is used as part of a prolonged treatment and in the form of professionally prepared medications. The fruit is rich in flavonoids and is diuretic and a nutritive tonic; fruits are edible and delicious.
Traditionally, the fresh or dried whole plant has been used as a herbal medicine to treat nervous anxiety and insomnia. In the form of a tea it may improve the subjective quality of sleep. The dried, ground herb is frequently used in Europe by drinking a teaspoon of it in tea.
Passionflower is used for sleep problems (insomnia), gastrointestinal (GI) upset related to anxiety or nervousness, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and relieving symptoms related to narcotic drug withdrawal.
Passionflower is also used for seizures, hysteria, asthma, symptoms of menopause, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), nervousness and excitability, palpitations, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, and pain relief.
Some people apply passionflower to the skin for hemorrhoids, burns, and pain and swelling (inflammation).
Passionflower was formerly approved as an over-the-counter sedative and sleep aid in the U.S., but it was taken off the market in 1978 because safety and effectiveness had not been proven.
Native Americans poulticed the root for boils, cuts, earaches, and inflammation.
Medicinal Properties: Anodyne, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, hypnotic, nervine, sedative
Tincture: take 15 to 60 drops in water, as needed. For restlessness in children, give 3 to 10 drops in water every 30 minutes until results are obtained.
For insomnia: Tincture of Skullcap, 1 oz. and Tincture of Passion flower, 1 oz. Dose: 20-60 drops in water as required.
