Passion flower – Medicinal uses

Passion flower – Medicinal uses

Passion flower has been used to treat sleep disorders and historically in homeopathic medicine to treat pain, insomnia related to neurasthenia or hysteria, and nervous exhaustion. Passion flower is a known uterine stimulant. The flowers of Passiflora have 5 petals, sepals, and stamens, 3 stigmas, and a crown of filaments. 

The fruit is egg-shaped, has a pulpy consistency, and includes many small seeds.  The passion flower was discovered in 1569 by Spanish explorers in Peru, who saw the flowers as symbolic of the passion of Christ and, therefore, a sign of Christ's approval of their efforts. This is the origin of the scientific and common names. Passion flower has been used in homeopathic medicine to treat pain, insomnia related to neurasthenia or hysteria, and nervous exhaustion. 

Other indications have included bronchial disorders (particularly asthma), compresses for burns, inflammation, inflamed hemorrhoids, climacteric complaints, pediatric attention disorders, and pediatric nervousness and excitability.  

Passion flower include flavonoids,  maltol, cyanogenic glycosides, and harman indole alkaloids. Passion flower's ability to reduce anxiety makes it useful for asthma, palpitations, and other cardiac rhythm abnormalities, high blood pressure, insomnia, neurosis, nervousness, pain. Use of passion flower is contraindicated during pregnancy because of the uterine stimulant action of its alkaloids harman and harmaline, and the content of the cyanogenic glycoside gynocardin.