Passion flower tea is an herbal remedy for insomnia, anxiety, and other ailments. It is made from extracts of the passion flower vine and is often combined with other herbs such as valerian and lemon balm. While it was approved for sale in the US until 1978, it is still widely sold in the UK and Europe. It is not recommended to be taken in large amounts or in combination with alcohol, and pregnant or lactating women should refrain from its use entirely.
Passion flower tea is an herbal remedy for various ailments that is based on extracts from the passion flower vine, Passiflora incarnata, which is native to tropical regions of Central America. It has been used since the era of the region’s Aztec and Mayan civilizations in the 14th to 16th centuries, and was named for the Spanish conquistadors who conquered the region in the early 16th century. The leaves and flowers of the passion flower tend to have a sedative effect on people, which is why it has been an ingredient in home remedies and home treatments for insomnia and anxiety, as well as to flavor various types of food. and drinks.
While passion flower tea and related mixtures of the plant were officially approved for sale in the US as a sedative and sleep aid until 1978, after which their effects were questioned and removed, it is still widely sold in the UK and other European nations. In Germany, the herbal remedy is considered a tranquilizer, and in addition to its use to treat anxiety, it is also taken to relieve gastrointestinal problems, menstrual cramps, and some heart conditions such as tachycardia. Some doctors also recommend it to relieve symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The leaves and flowers of the plant can be prepared fresh or dried and still retain their potency. While passion flower tea may be named after the plant, it often contains other related herbal ingredients as well. Valerian, or Valeriana officinalis, is another sedative-inducing plant that has been used since ancient times, growing in Europe and Asia, where it is often used to enhance the benefits of passion flower tea. The German Commission E, a collection of official herbal medicine documents, standardizes passion flower tea with 40% valerian root, 30% lemon balm, and 30% passion flower. However, if the remedy is being prepared for children, the valerian root is replaced with a milder 30% lavender and 10% natural calming agent St. John’s wort.
Although the use of the plant has not shown significant side effects in those who have taken it in moderation since 2002, it is not recommended that it be taken in large amounts or in combination with alcohol. In part, this is due to the fact that medical science has yet to definitively identify which compounds in passion flower tea actually cause sedative effects. Other precautions include not taking it with prescription medications and that pregnant or lactating women refrain from its use entirely. European authorities recommend dry dosage levels for the plant to be 0.5 to 2 grams per day (0.02 ounces to 0.07 ounces) or 2.5 grams (0.09 ounces) of the plant, which is equivalent to approximately one teaspoon of the plant infused in passion flower tea.
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