Passiflora, also known as passion flower, passion vines and maypop is a genus of about 500 species of flowering plants, in the Passifloraceae family. They are mostly vines with some being shrubs, and a fea species being herbaceous. Passiflora is native to the Northern, Central and Southern parts of America. It is usually observed growing in open fields, waysides, fences and in sandy dense growth of bushes. Passiflora is a beautiful vine known for its flowery blossoms.

Maypop leaves and roots has a long history of use among Native Americans in North America and were adapted by the European colonists. The fresh or dried leaves of maypop are used to make a tea that is used to treat insomnia, hysteria and epilepsy, and is valued for its analgesic properties. Once dried, the leaves can be smoked. Passiflora is reputed to have sedative effects and has been used in sedative products in Europe. It is reputed to be effective for adjustment sidorder with anxious mood, anxiety, and opiate withdrawal.

The passioflower tea is a common remedy for insomnia and helps in calming the central nervous system while increasing the levels of neurotransmitters, particularly gamma-aminobutyric acid. By doing so, it helps in decreasing the activity of nerve cells and brings about mental relaxation. Due to its soothing properties, it is useful in treating anxiety and insomnia. In addition to treating mental disorders, passioflower is also important as a sedative and in antispasmodic preparations. It can also help in controlling diarrhea and dysentery, while being useful in hemorrhoids and soothing painfu menstruation. Herbalists use passiflora in various ailments and disorders associated with the digestive system, and as medicinal preparations in promoting digestion. Passion flower tea can also help in controlling Parkinson's disease, hysteria and seizures. It is particularly effective in treating a viral infection of the nerves known as shingles and often used by herbalists as an alternative treatment for asthma. As an alternative form of treatment, passionflower is also used as a hypnotic, narcotic, vasodilator and astrigent. Passiflora infusion helps in depressing the motor nerves of the spinal cord and is thus extremely helpful in treating back pain, reducing high blood pressure and increasing the respiratory rate. Due to the alkaloids and flavonoids predecent in passionflower, it imparts non-addictive sedative results without causing drowsiness.

Medicinal Application:

Passiflora in a common remedy for insomnia, calms the central system and decreasing the activity of nerve cells, bringing about mental relaxation.

Maypop can be used for anti-depressant effects it provides in combination with St. John's Wort. It can thus improve depression.

Passionflower can be effectively used to treat some of the symptoms associated with menopause, such as anger, insomnia and headache.

Passionflower has been given many anti-anxiety properties, due to the alkaloids and flavonoids that help in the calming properties the plant holds.

The herb can be successfully used to lower elevated blood pressure. That property is attributed to the plant due to the anthocyanins antioxidant compounds present in the herb. As thus, it can significally reduce systolic blood pressure, the upper number of the blood pressure ratio, signifying pressure in the arteries during heart contraction.

Passionflower also increases levels of an antioxidant enzyme and decreases levels of oxidized lipids.

Passiflora can be used as an alternative asthma treatment, as the calming effects of the plant can help deal with the symptoms of an asthma attack.

It can help with back pain problems, as it helps in depressing the motor nerves of the spinal cord.

This is to inform you that we are not doctors. What is written above has a simple character and in no way replaces medical application. Always consult your doctor about your health issues.