Passion Flower Health Benefits
Passion flower is also known as passion vine or apricot vine. Its botanical name is Passiflora incarnata. The fruits of this flower are very tasty. This beautiful flower is loved by people and they grow it in their gardens because of its pleasant color. Passion flower is native to south and central America and West Indies. It has edible and medicinal qualities. Due to its violet color flowers, missionaries of Spain gave this plant the name of passionflower as violet color flowers contained elements representational of the passion of Christ.
Its coronal threads are mark of the crown of needles that Jesus wore and the whirling tendrils signify the whip. 5 petals and 5 sepals of this flower symbolize the 10 true disciples. 3 stigmas signify the nails on the cross and its ovary fruit is the symbol of hammer.
Passion flower has many health benefits. It is helpful in treating anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, restlessness, fatigue, memory failure, depression, lapse in concentration, headache, backache, irregular heart beat and many more ailments.
Passion flower can be used fresh or you can dry it for long term use. It can also be consumed in tea form. Capsules of this flower are also available in the market. For better result, herbalists suggest to consume passion flower in combination with valerian and lemon balm. All parts of Passion flower have medicinal properties. Its stems, leaves, flowers, fruits all can be used to prepare its extract.
Its fruits are good in taste. You can eat its fruits by just washing them or can make jelly, jam or drinks from them. Its extract is used by food manufacturing companies as a flavoring agent. Its fruit are very juicy with yellow pulp with black seeds. According to a recent study, passion flower is a good source of Lycopene. Lycopene is a health promoting red carotenoid pigment that is also found in tomatos, water melon and papaya.
Herbalists also use passion flower to treat patients suffering from mental tension. This fruit is also helpful in preventing tumor by reducing the damage of body cells. Due to its aromatic properties, tea of passion flower is helpful in treating severe headache. If you are the patient of heart problem like high blood pressure, irregular heart beat etc., passion flower can do magic for you. Its regular intake can give you permanent relief from the above mentioned ailments. It is very good for enhancing memory and for improving motor skills.
It has no side effects. The intake of 1-2 grams of its extract in a day is good for those who are suffering from the problem of memory lapse and irritability. Making tea from its powder or extracts is a very simple job. Otherwise, dip 1-2 grams of this dried herb in boiled water for 15 minutes. Then you can add sugar or honey according to your taste. 2-3 cups in a day are helpful in improving memory.