Herb of the month. Always something special.

February is a month for love and passion. So what better herb to focus on than one of my favorites: Passion Flower. I have been using it for almost two years. When I moved here my sister, Rosemary, put me on it due to my heart palpitations brought on by anxiety. I rarely have them anymore!! So I am a great believer in this herb. I also use it before bed to help me sleep! Enjoy life - be healthy, Kathy

Passion flower is very soothing on the nervous system for conditions such as insomnia, hysteria, anxiety, and hyper-activity. It is also useful for eye conditions such as inflammation, dimming of vision, and eye irritations.  Native Americans used Passion Flower as a tonic and a poultice for bruises and injuries. The Aztecs used it as a sedative and for pain. The juice of the flower was used for sore eyes and the crushed plant tops and leaves for treating hemorrhoids and skin eruptions. In Italy, Passion Flower is used to treat hyper-active children.

Passion flower depress the central nervous system to help with insomnia, anxiety, and nervousness and may be useful in lowering high blood pressure. Passion flower is thought to be safe for children as well as the elderly. One of the active ingredients of the plant is thought to be 'passiflorine,' which has similar activity to morphine. Passion Flower is rich in flavonoids. It is effective in combinations to overcome alcohol abuse without the accompanying narcotic hangover. It contains anti- inflammatory properties useful for those suffering from arthritis. Another possible benefit of Passion Flower is its ability to kill a wide variety of organisms, such as yeasts, molds, and bacteria. As an anti-spasmodic, Passion Flower works on the digestive system's smooth muscles as well as on uterine muscles, making it effective as a digestive aid and for easing menstrual cramps. Passion Flower contains calcium and magnesium, both essential for the nervous system.