Shortly after the birth of my son, while only just beginning my ancestral reawakening, my garden began speaking to me. One of the first plants I began to honor messages from was the Passionflower. At the time we had this luscious vine that produced the most intoxicatingly beautiful flowers, and I was gently asked to learn from her, and to use her medicine to offer to my community.

This was the first herb I worked with when beginning the lifelong journey that is this lifestyle and is Earth & Craft. While I was reformatting this website, I knew I wanted to incorporate a blog section — I was reminded of the first little blog I started in order to learn about the herbs I was discovering. The following article was my first post on Passionflower, back in September of 2019. I feel as though it has been ages since I first began this journey of self-discovery through spirituality centered herbalism and herbal products making. It’s humbling to go back and edit this Passionflower post, to see how I’ve grown and how our perspectives change as the seasons ebb and flow.

The Passiflora species have been used for centuries in traditional folk medicine. This plant, thought to have originated in Brazil or Peru, is now naturalized in many tropical climates. I am a big proponent of using what you have and what is native to your area — I will mainly be focusing on the Passiflora edulis (flavicarpa) AKA the Yellow Passion Fruit variety. Though much research has been done on the P. incarnata (Purple passion flower) species as well, demonstrating many of the same medicinal effects.

This tropical climbing vine grows abundantly here in Puerto Rico, and can even be considered a weed in some gardens. The fruit of which is a well known and loved flavor worldwide. In Brazil it is called "maracuja," in Hawaii it is called "Lilikoi," and here in Puerto Rico it is known as "Parcha."

The pulp is tart, yet slightly sweet, and boasts high a concentration of nutritional value, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, and Magnesium. The consumption of the fruit has also been shown to decrease insulin resistance (anti-diabetic) and improve metabolic health in overweight men.

The plant itself is a sun-loving tropical climbing vine that grows with support by way of axillary curling tendrils that reach out and grab whatever they can. The above ground parts, (flowers, vines, tendrils, and leaves) are what have been used for years to treat neurogenic diseases. Passiflora has been shown to have anxiolytic, anti-depressive, sedative, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This makes it a powerful medicinal ally to those who are prone to anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. This constituents of this plant has been shown to increase circulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. Basically, it decreases the excitability of your brain, decreasing anxiety, and allowing for meaningful, reposeful rest.

The above ground parts can be dried and an infusion, or tea, can me made. An alcoholic tincture can also be prepared with fresh plant parts to extract the beneficial flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides found in this magical plant.

Spiritually, the passion flower has been a staple in many ritual practices throughout the Americas. It is said that the name Passion Flower came from Catholic Spanish conquistadors who believed there to be a spiritual connection between the flower and the crucifixion of Christ. The filaments resembling the crown of thorns, the tendrils representing the whips, and the three stamens representing the nails in the cross. Among non-christian cultures the passion flower was used to bring peace, love, and harmony into the home. It is said to be ruled by the positive influences of Chiron, which help us to turn inward and see where the natural healing resides. Some new age clairvoyants have said that this plant is a conductor, and easily attunes the mind to higher frequencies by preparing the nervous system to receive subtle information.

"The energies associated with clairvoyance, heightened spiritual states, greater awareness, channeling and even peak experiences of a religious nature take place much more easily with passion flower" (1)

The literature clearly demonstrates many beneficial properties to Passiflora. The next time you are feeling anxious, or having trouble turning off the racing thoughts while trying to sleep, try reaching for passion flower and allow the healing energies to reconnect your body, mind, and spirit.

Some of the offerings we have that include Passionflower are our Relaja-Té (Relaxing night time herbal tea blend), and our Sweet Dreams, Anxiety Ally, & Smoking Mirror tinctures. Check out these items to learn more.

*The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or health care provider. The information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a health care provider, and should not be construed as individual medical advice.

References

Anxiolytic and sedative activities of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.12.043

The Calming Effects of Passionflower

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/calming-effects-of-passionflower#calming

The Effect of Piceatannol from Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis) Seeds on Metabolic Health in Humans. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29057795

Morphology and Pharmacology of Passiflora edulis: A review https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sita_Patel2/publication/228485208_Morphology_and_pharmacology_of_Passiflora_edulis_a_review/links/55ca118708aea2d9bdcbf5a4.pdf