PASSION FLOWER - 4 oz.
Passiflora incarnata PURE DRIED HERB (FLOWER). 16 oz , 1lb and in bulk. ALSO AVAILABLE UNDER BOTANICAL EXTRACT SECTION AS: PURE POWDER EXTRACT 4OZ, 16OZ, 1LB AND BULK Passion flower was introduced into medicine in 1840 by Dr. L. Phares of Mississippi. The remedy remained buried in obscurity until Prof. I. J. M. Goss of Atlanta, Georgia, reintroduced it into the practice of eclectic physicians in the late nineteenth century. For many years, the dried flowering and fruiting top of the perennial climbing vine Passiflora incarnata has enjoyed a reputation as a calmative agent and sedative. Passion flower exerts its beneficial effects on the nerves by toning the sympathetic nerve centre, and improving circulation and nutrition to the nerves. The name passion flower gives little indication of its action; passion flower was so called by Spanish explorers and missionaries who saw a resemblance in the flower to the crown of thorns of Christ"s passion. Constituents responsible for the pharmacological activity of passion flower have been the subject of ongoing research throughout most of this century. Passion flower does contain one or more so-called harmala alkaloids, but their number and identity are disputed. Besides, such alkaloids generally act as stimulants, not depressants. A Polish report that both an alkaloid fraction and a flavonoid pigment fraction produced sedative effects in mice was subsequently followed up by Japanese investigators. They were able to isolate small amounts of the pyrone derivative maltol from an alkaloid-containing extract of the plant. Maltol was found to induce depression in mice and to exhibit other sedative properties. The scientists concluded that the depressant effects of maltol, no doubt, counteracted the stimulant action of the harmala alkaloids but were not strong enough to explain the total sedative effects of the plant extract. Flavonoids including vitexin, isovitexin, isoorientin, schaftoside, and isoschaftoside have also been identified and may contribute to biological activity. Further studies are obviously necessary before the active principles of passion flower can definitely be identified. Passion flower preparations have been used in homeopathic medicines, especially in Europe, to treat insomnia, nervous exhaustion, and pain. Passion flower is a wonderfully relaxing remedy and one of the best tranquilizing herbs for chronic insomnia, having no addictive effects and allowing you to awake refreshed and alert in the morning. Passion flower has a sedative and antispasmodic action, relaxing spasm and tension in the muscles, and calming the nerves and lessening pain. Passion flower can be used for neuralgia, shingles, sciatica, Parkinson"s disease, muscle pain, twitching and spasm, anxiety, agitation, stress and any physical problem that is stress-related, such as colic and asthma, as well as high blood pressure. Wherever physical symptoms are related to or aggravated by anxiety or tension, pas