Friday, May 11, 2012

Herb of the day


Common Names: Passionflower, Passionvine
Latin Name: Passiflora incarnata
Parts Used: Flowers and fruit
Cultivation: Passionflower is a tender perennial, hardy only to zone 7. It grows in fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade.
Magickal Uses: Grow passionflower in your home to promote peace and calm troubles. The passionflower is associated with the Crucufixion, by virtue of the shape of the flowers and the number of its parts, although it was assuredly not known in Biblical times.
Medicinal Uses: Passionflower extract has a slightly narcotic effect and is frequently used as a non-addictive sedative. It is specific for anxiety, tension, and insomnia.

Having been quite popular in Victorian Times, Passion Flower Passiflora Incarnata is now cultivated widely in gardens for cosmetic purpose throughout the world. In India, it is known as the Rakhi Flower, named such after the festival of Rakhi, in which it is used, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Passion flower has also seen many years of use among the varied Native American tribes, but is particularly noted among the Aztecs. They used it as a tea for treating insomnia and hysteria, as well as epilepsy, valuing the flower`s ability to function as a sedative. They also valued the flower for its pain killing properties. In some lore Passion flower is also said to aid in seeking emotional balance, peace, and friendship. Some uses also prescribed it as an aid in achieving prosperity and heightening libido, functioning as an aphrodisiac and perhaps providing the flower with its name. Herbalists have found that Passion Flower can be used in calming muscle tension and twitching without effecting respiration or mental function. Because of this it can be used in treating anxiety and high blood pressure. It can also be put to use in treating pain that results from muscle tension as well as, in some cases, emotional turmoil. In Europe it is added to medications that are used to treat nerve disorders, heart palpitations, anxiety and high blood pressure. Unlike most mild sedatives, Passion Flower has also been show to be non-addictive. This is a 1 oz packet of cut Passion Flower.

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