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Passion flower – This is a genus of plants belonging to the passion-flower family, of which there are more than 500 species in nature. Passionflower is synonymous with names such as passionflower and cavalier star. Passionflower prefers a subtropical and tropical climate, grows in America, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Asia, and is found in the Transcaucasus.
The plant can be represented by both annual and perennial grass, as well as climbing shrubs. Leaves are lobed or entire. Passionflower flowers are large, most often very fragrant, have a bright color and five petals. The leaves and petioles of most plants of this species have glands that produce a liquid to attract ants in order to repel caterpillars, which are the main pests of the passion flower. Moreover, the glands in different types of flowers are arranged in their own way. The plant evolves, which is proved by the fact that some flowers have learned to form outgrowths similar to butterfly eggs to scare them away. Seeing an already occupied flower, the butterfly does not land on it.
For the first time, the passion flower was quite fully described in 1553 by P. S. de Leon, who called the flowers granadillas, which literally means small pomegranates. Interestingly, there is an opinion that the passion flower is the embodiment of the suffering of Christ. So, its three stigmas are compared with the nails with which the limbs of Jesus were nailed to the cross, the crown symbolizes the crown of thorns, and the stamens are five wounds. And this is not all the religious symbols that people have found in this plant.
Useful properties of passion flower
The beneficial properties of passionflower are very diverse. Firstly, the fruits of some plant species are used by people as food, for example, passion fruit.
Secondly, the plant is widely used for ornamental purposes, such as Blue Passion Flower, Flesh Red Passion Flower.
Thirdly, the plant has medicinal properties that are widely used in traditional medicine:
The plant is able to suppress the transmission of nerve impulses of the brain and spinal cord. It has the ability to have a calming effect on the central nervous system, increase the frequency of breathing. The relaxing and calming effect that the passion flower has on the nervous system was known even to the Aztecs and the Mayans.
The plant has an antispasmodic effect.
Use passionflower to get rid of headaches, insomnia, Parkinson’s disease. The calming effect of passion flower is similar to that of valerian. Sometimes, in combination with other plants, passionflower is recommended for tics and convulsions.
Passionflower has a pronounced sedative effect. With the help of a plant extract in liquid form, chronic alcoholism is treated. It helps to reduce cravings for alcohol, evens out behavior.
Plant extract is used to reduce the symptoms of menopause. It helps with increased nervousness, with a deterioration in performance, with hot flashes and transient arterial hypertension. It is recommended to take 35 drops 3 times a day. The course of treatment can last up to six months.
Passionflower can be used for myositis, arthritis, arthrosis.
Passionflower helps with epilepsy, with cardiac neurosis, unstable blood pressure, and circulatory disorders. Plant extract is used to treat thrombosis, hypertensive crisis. Patients are recommended a thirty-day course of taking the drug, 30 drops, three times a day.
Passion flower extract is used to treat children with neurasthenic disorders. At the same time, the effect is expressed in improving the quality of sleep, in reducing irritability, reducing motor anxiety, and improving concentration. The plant helps with post-influenza asthenia. It is recommended to give the child 10 drops of the extract 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-2 months.
For therapeutic purposes, all parts of the plant are used, except for the root. It is necessary to collect medicinal raw materials during the flowering of the passion flower. After harvesting, grass, stems, leaves, flowers must be thoroughly dried.
The medicinal effects of the passion flower are based on its chemical composition, although this may vary somewhat depending on the specific plant species. However, each of them contains flavonoids, sugars, polysaccharides, amino acids, coumarins, and some essential oil. The edible fruits of the passion flower contain a significant amount of ascorbic acid. The seeds contain alkaloids, glycosides, fatty oils, trace elements. At the same time, there are much less alkaloids in dry raw materials than in a growing passion flower.
Currently, drugs based on passionflower are actively used for the treatment of neurovegetative dystonia and neuroses. As a therapeutic agent for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, passionflower is used in conjunction with hawthorn. (Read also: Properties, recipes and tincture of hawthorn)
Contraindications to the use of passion flower
Contraindications to the use of passion flower are diseases such as:
Myocardial infarction;
Atherosclerosis of the heart and cerebral vessels;
Chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer requires prior consultation with a specialist;
Hypotension;
Angina;
The presence of uric acid salts in the urine.
In case of an overdose, headaches, visual impairment may occur. Pregnancy is not a contraindication to the use of passion flower, but it is better to consult a doctor first so as not to harm your own body and fetus.
Ways to Use Passion Flower
Passionflower is used as a tincture. This will require a liter of alcohol 60% and 200 g of dry grass. It is necessary to insist the drug for 14 days, periodically shake the container. Apply the resulting tincture depending on the therapeutic goal. The average dose is 30-40 drops, you need to take the remedy 3 times a day.
Passionflower can be used in a variety of collections. For example, with lemon balm, mint, anise fruits, valerian root. Passionflower is taken in a volume of 20 g, anise in a volume of 15 g, valerian in a volume of 25 g, and the rest of the herbs in a volume of 10 g. Herbs are brewed with 400 ml of boiling water and infused. As a sedative, you can use the infusion 3 times a day, 50 ml.
Passionflower herb can be brewed as a tea. It is taken as a sedative. To prepare a drink, you need to take a teaspoon of dry raw materials, pour 100 ml of boiling water and insist for 10 minutes. Then strain the resulting composition and use as a regular tea leaves, drinking a cup of tea before going to bed. This will normalize the night’s rest, relieve indigestion, if it is caused by neuroses.
Growing passionflower at home
Lighting. Passionflower feels great under the scorching rays of the sun. At the same time, air humidity and soil moisture should be high. If the plant fails to provide such conditions, then it is best to remove it from direct sunlight. You can place the passion flower on windows that are illuminated by the sun in the morning and evening. The plant is in dire need of an influx of fresh air, otherwise it will not bloom profusely. To compensate for the lack of sunlight, artificial lighting can be used.
During the flowering and growth of the passion flower, the optimum air temperature is the range from +20 to +26 °C. During the dormant period, these boundaries are reduced to +16 – +18. To a greater extent, it depends on what kind of passion flower was chosen for cultivation.
Humidity. In order for the plant to feel comfortable in an apartment, it must be sprayed regularly. Water must first be boiled or settled. You can use rain water. Next to the pot, you can put a vessel with water. But you should not put the pot directly into the water.
Watering. Passionflower should be watered frequently and plentifully. The soil should not become dry, as this will lead to the death of the plant.
Soil and transplant rules. Due to the fact that the plant has a powerful root system, it will grow depending on the size of the pot chosen for this purpose. The larger it is, the thicker the passion flower will be. Therefore, from year to year, you need to choose a landing site slightly larger than the previous one. Otherwise, the plant will not fit even in the largest basins. The plant needs to be transplanted in April-May. During relocation to a new place, it should be shortened a little by cutting off the central branches if they are extended by more than 20 cm. The soil should be chosen neutral, with an acidity of no higher than 6. You can purchase ready-made soil for senolia or begonia. Water the plant after transplantation should be moderate, increase the volume of water only when new shoots appear.
As for the direct planting of the plant, the seeds are applied to the soil in early March. The soil for passion flower seeds does not differ in composition from the soil suitable for adult plants. After placing the seeds in the ground, the pot must be covered with polyethylene or glass. You can plant flowers after they have a pair of full-fledged leaves. The initial diameter of the pot should not exceed 7 cm.
Passionflower can be propagated by cuttings. For this, stems that were cut during transplantation are perfect. Those branches that have at least a couple of leaves should be selected. They are planted directly in the soil, which is half humus and half sand. To accelerate growth, you can build a mini greenhouse with bottom heating. The tray with sprouts is also covered with polyethylene and glass, but one should not forget about regular airing of the plant and moistening the earth.
By following these recommendations, you can grow a beautiful and healthier plant that will delight not only with decorative qualities, but also treat its owner as the need arises.