Passiflora incarnata

The homeopathic remedy passiflora is obtained from the herb called passiflora incarnata, which is also known as purple passion flower, maypop, true passion flower, wild passion vine and wild apricot. Passiflora incarnata is a perennial vine having climbing or sprawling stems and grows quite rapidly. Belonging to the genus Passiflora, Passiflora incarnata or the maypop bears big and elaborate flowers having outstanding styles and stamens. Passiflora incarnata is considered to be among the more resilient species of passion flower and is a very common wildflower in the southern regions of the United States. The Cherokee, Native Americans who historically settled in the southeastern regions of the United States, of Tennessee region called this herb Ocoee and is the State Wildflower of Tennessee. The long and trailing stems of passion flower are found in two forms - smooth or covered with fine hairs (pubescent), and have several tendrils. The plant produces leaves which grow alternately on the stem and are in the form of a palm (palmately) having three lobes and each measuring anything between 6 cm and 15 cm. The leaves possess two distinct glands at the bottom of the blade on the petiole. The plant bears bluish-white flowers that have five petals each. The flowers display a white and purple corona - an arrangement of excellent appendages flanked by the petals and corolla. The big flower is usually structured in a ring on top of the petals and sepals. Flowers of passion flower, which generally blossom in the month of July, are sterile by self and pollinated by insects like the bumblebees. Passion flower produces fleshy fruits, which are also known as maypop, that are oval-shaped berries of the size of a hen's egg having a yellowish color. When the fruits are unripe, they are green in color, but the hue changes to orange when they mature. Like in the instance of other passifloras, the berries of passion flower also form the food for the larvae of many several species of butterflies. Conventionally, the whole passion flower plant, freshly obtained or dried out, has been used as an herbal remedy to heal conditions such as nervousness and sleeplessness or insomnia. In Europe, people use the dried out and pounded herb to prepare an herbal tea. In addition, some manufacturers have used the herb to produce a sedative chewing gum. The fruits of Passiflora incarnata are also consumed in the form of jam and jellies or used as a substitute for its South African relative Passiflora edulis, which is cultivated commercially. In fact, the berries of Passiflora incarnata and the fruits of Passiflora edulis are similar in size as well as their yield of juice. In fact, the berries or the ripened fruits of passion flower can be consumed directly and when they are eaten, these fruits form a very tasty snack - but extremely seedy. Since ages, the fruits of this plant have been a favourite of the European settlers and the indigenous people in America. It may be mentioned that in the 19th century, physician Edwin M. Hale extracted Passiflora incarnata from the passion flower leaves. The homeopathic remedy passiflora, which is prepared from the leaves of the passion flower, is extremely useful for people suffering from insomnia, especially infants, the elderly and those who are enduring nervous anxiety and people under stress. In fact, this homeopathic medicine is an effective remedy for people enduring insomnia owing to mental fatigue. Symptoms of the patients who need the homeopathic remedy passiflora deteriorate when they are mentally troubled; endure mental stimulation during the night as well as after taking any meal. This homeopathic medicine is also beneficial for people suffering from insomnia and habitually taking morphine as well as individuals enduring nervous anxiety. Such people are usually wakeful and restive even when they are sleeping. Precisely speaking, the homeopathic medicine passiflora soothes the nervous system enabling the users to have sound sleep. Conventionally, homeopathic physicians have used freshly obtained or the dried up whole passion flower to cure insomnia as well as nervous anxiety. The chemicals enclosed by the passion flower help to induce sleep, calm the system as well as provide relief from muscle spasms. Several researches have demonstrated that the homeopathic remedy passiflora has the potential to lessen the symptoms of nervousness, occasionally working as effectively as some of the prescription drugs. The secondary or lesser important use of the homeopathic remedy passiflora includes gastrointestinal disorders related to anxiety or nervousness. In addition, passiflora is also recommended to provide relief from the symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders, asthma, hysteria, narcotic drug withdrawal, menopausal symptoms, palpitations, hypertension, irregular heartbeat, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and fibromyalgia (a rheumatoid chaos distinguished by muscle pain and headaches). Homeopaths also recommend passiflora for providing relief from different types of pains. The homeopathic remedy passiflora is applied topically on the skin for treating hemorrhoids, pains, burns, swellings or inflammation and may also be massaged into the skin to encourage respite. Passiflora is known to be the adoring homeopathic medicine since it helps to encourage leisure as well as relaxation. Insomnia is the typical symptom that is associated with the homeopathic remedy passiflora. People who respond best to this homeopathic medicine have a tendency to lie in a wakeful condition at night which causes exhaustion. Such people are susceptible to strange feelings, for instance, they may occasionally have a feeling that their eyeballs are sticking out like they have been pushed out of their heads or the cover of their heads are raising. When they lie down, they may have a feeling that their heels are lifting up in the air. While passiflora is effective for treating such conditions, this homeopathic remedy is especially useful for crying children and alcoholics. A very common patient of passiflora has a tendency to have a clean tongue (neither white nor fuzzy), keep worrying all the time, undertake too much of work and demonstrate hysterical or frantic inclinations. The symptoms of Passiflora patients worsen when there is noise and they improve when the environment is peaceful and tranquil. Most people who require the homeopathic remedy passiflora are addicted to different substances and they may use this herb to effectively diminish their yearning for alcohol, drugs, nicotine and other intoxicating substances. Since time immemorial, the natives of Central and North America have been using passion flower or maypop since this plant possesses valuable sedative and anesthetising properties. As aforementioned, Edwin M. Hale, M.D. was the first person who extracted passiflora incarnata from the leaves of passion flower plant in the 19th century. Homeopathic doctors have been recommending the use of passiflora to people who have been enduring neurological problems as well as disorders related to sleep.

Uses

It may be noted that passion flower or Passiflora incarnata has its origin in herbal medicine and this plant has been extensively used as a potent tranquilizer as well as nervine (a medicine that soothes the nerves). In fact, even in homeopathy, Passiflora incarnata is used to provide relief from similar symptoms - it is especially used for disorders that impede the normal sleeping habits. The homeopathic remedy Passiflora incarnata is basically well known for its capability to deter problems related to sleep as well as control the sleep cycles - it is particularly beneficial for patients who have been enduring insomnia. In addition, homeopaths recommend passiflora for treating enduring nervous anxiety, restiveness, physical tiredness as well as mental exhaustion that frequently go together with or add to insomnia. Passiflora may perhaps help in curing whooping cough too, especially the condition that deteriorates during night time as well as insomnia accompanied by pain in the coccyx (a small triangular bone forming the lower fringe of the spinal column in humans), hemorrhoid (unusually enlarged vein largely due to a constant increase in venous pressure, occurring within the anal sphincter of the rectum and underneath the mucous membrane) or causing discomfort through or just prior to menstruation. Apart from the above mentioned uses of passiflora, this homeopathic remedy also helps to neutralize the stimulating effect of alcohol, which makes it a very effective medicine for numbing the senses of inebriated people. Passiflora also has the ability to clear congested air passages, ease soaring throat as well as help in treating whooping cough or asthma, the conditions that deteriorate during the night. In addition, this homeopathic remedy is also effective in curing habitual night-time coughs. As aforementioned, the homeopathic remedy passiflora helps to control the sleeping patterns, particularly in people who have difficulty in getting sound sleep and usually lie in the bed in a wakeful condition. In fact, such individuals may be tired forever and undergo hysterics. Other people who respond very well to passiflora are those who endure strange headaches in the region of the eyes, convulsions as well as light-headedness. The passion flower or maypop plant also helps to soothe the central nervous system of the body and, thereby, promotes healthy activity of the brain. This herb also helps to fight strain and stress that may result in hallucination, periodic seizures or convulsions and spastic conditions, such as trismus (contraction of the jaw muscles making it difficult to open the mouth) and chorea (a problem of the central nervous system distinguished by unmanageable irregular short jerky movements). In addition, the homeopathic remedy passiflora also influences the respiratory system positively, effectively alleviating ailments related to the bronchioles, such as asthma and whooping cough. People, who have been living with persistent indigestion, also benefit much from the use of the extract of passiflora. This homeopathic medicine also controls the digestive issues and may aid in preventing flatulence and diarrhea. People who usually require this homeopathic medicine generally feel worse soon after having a meal. In fact, just after they take any meal, such people endure acute stupor, common fatigue as well as heaviness all over their body. However, before you decide to take Passiflora incarnata, it is advisable to talk to a professional homeopathic doctor as it would help you to get the optimum results. Generally, before prescribing any medicine, homeopathic physicians depend on comprehensive medical history of the patient and also intimate information of a medicine's physical as well as emotional indications with a view to decide on the accurate solution. In fact, homeopathic physicians evaluate issues, such as chronic medical issues, the patient's mental condition, elimination pattern, diet as well as location. Although selecting the wrong homeopathic medicine usually does not do much harm to the patient, it actually fails to alleviate the symptoms successfully. Moreover, till the time the precise medication is determined, the patients continue to suffer and his/ her condition may also deteriorate during the intervening period.