Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a traditional North American calming herb, valued for its long history in preparations associated with relaxation, nervous tension, and restful sleep.

Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata or maypop – By the nineteenth century, Passiflora incarnata had become an important herb in American Eclectic medicine. King’s American Dispensatory (1898) records its introduction into American medicine around 1839–1840 and describes its traditional use for restlessness and wakefulness associated with worry, overwork and exhaustion.

Today, the dried above-ground herb is most often used in evening teas, tinctures and relaxing herbal blends. The European Medicines Agency recognizes passionflower preparations on the basis of long-standing traditional use for mild mental stress and to aid sleep. Modern research is promising but still limited.

Among the Cherokee, maypop was more than an ornamental vine. Historical accounts describe the ripe fruit being eaten or made into refreshing drinks, sometimes thickened with cornmeal. Young leaves and shoots were also cooked as greens, while separate traditional preparations used the roots. These food ways remain a part of the plant’s Southern Appalachian heritage.

Brew it alone as an earthy evening tea, or soften the flavor with lemon balm, chamomile, linden, rose or lavender. The dried aerial herb is used for traditional tinctures, glycerites, infused honey or elixirs.

How to use: Steep dried passionflower herb for a relaxing evening infusion, combine it with lemon balm and chamomile, or use it in traditional homemade tincture preparations. It is especially well suited to herbal tea blends made for quiet evenings and winding down at the end of the day.                 4 oz. – $15.00

USDA — Purple Passionflower Plant Guide University of Tennessee McClung Museum — Maypops and Cherokee Foodways USDA Forest Service — A Guide to Medicinal Plants of Appalachia King’s American Dispensatory — Passiflora United States Dispensatory — Passion Flower European Medicines Agency — Passiflorae Herba NIH NCCIH — Passionflower: Usefulness and Safety Plant Humanities Lab — Passionflower History and Symbolism