Among the many fascinating legends concerning herbs and herbal medicine is the story of the discovery in the Peruvian Andes mountains of the "Passionflower" by the 16th Century Spanish physician, Nicholas Monardes.

Dr. Monardes was actually on a mission of atonement when he found a large, beautiful, flower-laden vine with striking blossoms growing high in the Andes. The year was 1565, twenty years past the era when Spanish Conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, had destroyed the last resistance in the Inca Indians and forcibly converted the population to Christianity.

Dr. Monardes, seeking to find a sign of God's forgiveness for Spanish oppression of the Incas found it in a flower of the Andes, a flower seemingly designed with symbols of the Passion of Christ clearly shown in its parts: he called it Passiflora incarnata.

HYPNOTIC HERB WELL KNOWN TO THE INCAS

Dr. Monardes soon learned that the Inca Indians brewed a tonic herbal tea from the "Passionflower". The herb's mild pleasant taste and Christian symbolism made it an immediate hit in Europe.

Passionflower's action on the body was tranquilizing and sedative. Herbalists classify this sort of herb as a "hypnotic" but indeed the Passionflower is truly only sedative and has nothing to do with hypnotic trances!

In the American Gulf Slates, Passionflower attained a popular status as an ornamental vine as well as a folk remedy. Passionflower's non-narcotic sedative and digestive functions were widely employed to alleviate insomnia, restlessness, menstrual discomfort, nervous tremor and upset stomachs.

The American pharmacology manual, the "[url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ij65VrKmWlQC&lpg=PA67&ots=UNoPVXOmPL&dq=National%20Formulary%20passionflower&pg=PA67#v=onepage&q=National%20Formulary%20passionflower]National Formulary[/url]", listed Passionflower as a recognized tranquilizer and sedative from 1916 - 1936. This recognition lasted until 1978 when Passionflower was removed from apothecary listing by the American Food and Drug Administration in favor of synthetic alternatives.

A NATURAL "SLEEPER" WITH A GOOD SAFETY RECORD

Herbalist David Hoffmann writes encouragingly about the safety factor in choosing Passionflower as a herbal sleeping remedy. Hoffman notes that Passionflower is one of the most effective herbs for treating "intransigent insomnia" because it facilitates transition into restful sleep without any narcotic after effects.

There is also a marked antispasmodic or muscle-relaxing activity in Passionflower that makes it useful in conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, seizures and hysteria, Hoffman records. Equally effective is the use of Passionflower for nerve pain such as neuralgia or shingles.

Passionflower has other promising indication for wound-healing and cardiac conditions. Michael Casdeman notes that during cardiac studies using animal subjects, the chemical components in Passionflower were shown to open or dilate coronary arteries.

Two other studies found Passionflower extracts could kill many disease-causing moulds, fungi and bacteria - an effect found earlier by its Indian and folk remedy users who used Passionflower in wound treatment.

FRIENDLY ALKALOIDS?

Considered a "mild" sedative herb, Passionflower's major chemical constituents include some "friendly" alkaloids that are specific to the species Passiflora incarnate. One such friendly alkaloid is called "passiflorine".

If using Passionflower products for insomnia treatment, it is very important to verify the correct plant species being used is Passiflora incarnata and not one of the other species passiflora; for example, the ornamental blue Passionflower, passiflora caerulea, must never be employed medicinally as it contains a toxic substance. Commercial herbal products containing passiflora incarnata must clearly identify their raw materials on the label.

Prudence should dictate that pregnant women should not consider using any herb which acts on the nervous system in the complex way that Passionflower does, however safely the herb may have been used traditionally.

Likewise anyone with a heat condition who wishes to trial Passionflower should do so with the guidance of his/her health practitioner. For the general public seeking to employ herbal sleep aids, Passionflower may offer help - without narcotic after effects.

Passionflower herbal tea is mild and pleasant to drink and can be blended with another commonly used sedative herb, Chamomile. Passionflower is also available in over-the-counter herbal liquid tinctures and as tablets or capsules.

Thanks! Very informative