Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata, is a vine from the West Indies. Its name comes from the cross found at the center of the blossom. The Jesuits called it "flower of the five passions" and believed it was the flower that grew on the cross in St Francis of Assisi's vision of Calvary, signifying the "passion" of Christ. The five sepals and five petals represented the ten true apostles (excluding Judas and Peter who denied Christ), the flower's fringed crown was the crown of thorns, and the five stamens were the five wounds of Christ at his death.
Passion flower improves circulation to your nerves. It is a mild sedative to relieve pain, antispasmodic, and relaxant. Its analgesic properties may be helpful for headaches, menstrual pain, and toothache. Passion flower may be used for all nervous disorders, including: nervous tension, hyperactivity irritability, twitching, anxiety, agitation, panic, stress-induced disorders, tension headaches, nervous coughs, exhaustion, and insomnia. Studies have shown that, unlike narcotics, passion flower promotes sleep with light natural breathing, with little neural depression, and upon waking no signs of confusion or melancholy.
Use passion flower as a routine tea and your nerves will be gradually steadier, you will respond better to stress, and your sleep will be more natural.
Passion flower is NOT recommended during pregnancy, because it may relax the uterus.
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