Passion Flower

Passion flower is one of my all time favorite plant friends. I have many fond memories of encountering this beautiful, vibrant flower on a warm summer night returning from a hike in forests of Tennessee. Passion flower loves perimeters where it can grow up on things and get more sunlight, so I haven’t seen it in the deep canopy as much as I do on the perimeters of sunny patches. It grows as a vine with leaves that can be tricky for the untrained eye to spot. Look for three points that almost look like a paw print and flowers about every 1-2 feet. The flowers look otherworldly and almost psychedelic. I love the show of color that finds its way live in the feral bits on backroads in Nashville. It reminds us of the magnificence of the beauty of nature, even in the city.

Passion flower is a friend that is always there for me after drinking obscene amounts of coffee on a creative bender. (I do not recommend.) Passiflora Spp. is categorized as a Nervine herb or a herb that has some effect on the nervous system. Passion Flower is an incredible ally in helping to quiet the mind or quell circular thinking in the hours leading up to bed. It is also classified as an anxiolytic, or a herb that is known to ease symptoms of anxiety. This has been observed in studies that appear to boost the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in your brain, a compound that relaxes brain activity which might lead to a more restful sleep. (I can personally attest to this.)

As with any herbal extract, be mindful when consuming due to it’s relaxing effects.

The beautiful and mysterious passionflower.