Passionflower
Page 2
Passionflower Folklore and History
Harvesting Passionflower
Helpful Books and Web Sites
Links to Clinical Studies
Page 1 Passionflower Herb Uses
~Safety Information ~ Passionflower Description/Habitat ~ How to Grow Passionflower
Passionflower Folklore and History
Passionflower is the official wildflower of Tennessee.
Passion Flowers have been associated with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as well as the Passion of Christ. The latter association led the missionaries to name the flowers “Passion Flowers.” The ten petals and sepals, to the Spanish, represented ten disciples present at the crucifixion. The three stigma represented three nails on the cross, the five anthers the five wounds of Christ. The many fringes represented the crown of thorns in the passion story. Bosio counted 72 fringes or filaments, which according to tradition, writes Vanderplank, is the number of thorns in the crown of thorns. Interpretations vary in literature. A poet of the time explains that this flower was used to persuade Indians of the power of the cross. The passion flower, he writes, was a witness at the crucifixion.
Read more Passionflower lore at "The Passionflower and the Kabbalah" (external site) and target="_blank">Passion Flower Religious Symbolism from Passionflowershop.com
Passionflower is ruled by Venus and used mystically to bring peace to problems and troubles in the home as well as carried to attract friends and popularity. Information from Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Cunningham's Encyclopedia Series)
Passionflower was not widely used until the 1890s. The dried flowering and fruiting tops were listed in National Formulary from 1916 to 1936 as a sedative and sleep aid, but in 1978, the Food and Drug Administration banned it from sleep aids after no evidence for its effectiveness was presented during hearings. Herbs for Health: Passionflower for Food, Health and Beauty My advice is try it for yourself and see what you think!
Gather Passionflower above ground after some of the fruit have matured, hang in bundles (under 1 inch wide at base, avoid crowding) to dry for later use. Avoid drying herbs in damp areas, stagnant air or direct light for best results. Use all of the aerial parts including stems; don't discard them like you do with most herbs as they contain the herbal properties. It seems to me that tea made with the stems is more potent than just the leaves and flowers. Gather edible fresh, juicy, fruit when soft and light yellow-green and store in refrigerator for up to a week.
Helpful Books and Web Sites about Passionflower
Books
Passiflora: Passionflowers of the World
ADHD Alternatives: A Natural Approach to Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Overcoming Sleep Disorders Naturally
Flowers and Herbs of Early America
Web Sites
Garden Guides - History of Passionflower
Passionflower Uses and Ratings - GHC.org
Plants for a Future - Passionflower
Aphrodisiac activity of methanol extract of leaves of Passiflora incarnata Linn in mice.
Passionflower - Medline Plus Supplement Information
Anxiolytic activity of aerial and underground parts of Passiflora incarnata.
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata L.)--a reliable herbal sedative
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