Written by Katarina Subotich
Common name: Passion flower, Parcha.
Botanical name: Passiflora incrnata.
Family: Passifloraceae.
Passion flower, or locally known as parcha, is a vine that bears famous passion fruit. There are many spices of this plant, most famous being Passiflora incarnata.
This is is a perennial vine that grows in Central America and throughout the southern United States. The vine produces large, fragrant flowers of purple, yellow, and white, and then produces an edible green fruit. As a home herbal remedy, passiflora incarnata is used throughout the world to control anxiety and insomnia, lower blood pressure, and ease neuralgia. Recent scientific studies have also isolated several chemicals in the herb which may help fight cancer, Parkinson’s disease, leukemia, HIV, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
The leaves and stems of the plant have been used for centuries as a natural calming medicine. Certain alkaloids and flavonoids in passiflora incarnata can provide relief from anxiety, panic attacks, sleeplessness, restlessness, hysteria, and hyperactivity. This non-addictive herbal remedy also slightly lowers arterial pressure and increases respiration, which can reduce tension and nervousness. Native people have used this herb’s calming effects to help people overcome the stress and physical discomfort of overcoming addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Passiflora incarnata can calm over-stimulated nerves, especially the spinal cord motor nerves, making the herb an excellent remedy for back pain and the nerve pain caused by shingles and herpes. It also acts as an antispasmodic, reducing smooth muscle spasms.
Product containing Passion flower: Calming Herbs