Alevare Blogging

Passion flower is not actually one plant, but a whole family, known as the Passifloraceae with around 500 members. It is in general terms the flower that provides passion fruit, although it is the leaves, flower and roots that we are concerned with here rather than the fruit. The plant in general offers a gentle sedative effect that promotes sleep and allows you to relax when under stress.

Passion flower is recognized as being one of the best sedatives that nature has to offer, if not the most powerful, and has been used in traditional medicine for treating headaches due to stress and tension, irritability, PMT and menopausal conditions of a similar nature. Because of a lack of research into how passion flower works, the mechanism for these effects are unknown and open only to conjecture of which there is a lot.

It contains alkaloids that could act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, but this has yet to be established. It is believed to inhibit the activity of nerve cells, and in so doing exert a sedative effect on the nervous system.  Its name is derived from the physical structure of the plant being associated with the last days of Christ. Incidentally, the well-known ‘passion fruit’ comes from the species Passiflora edulis.

Passion flower extracts are available at your local or internet health food store in capsule form.  Always look for name brands like Solaray to ensure you purchase a good quality herbal extract.

*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Passion flower is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.