Passion Flower Extract 4:1

4:1 Passion Flower Extract – Passiflora incarnata 4:1 Extract

Passion Flower Extract 4:1 is a four-to-one extract made from Passiflora incarnata, known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, is a genus of approximately 700 species exist in the Passifloraceae family, and up to 60 of these species have been used for food and medicine. The plant is native to North and South America and can be found growing in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and along roadsides. They are mostly vines, with some being shrubs, and a few species being herbaceous. The family Passifloraceae has a pantropical distribution. Passiflora itself is absent from Africa, where many other members of the family Passifloraceae occur (e.g. the more plesiomorphicAdenia).

Traditional and Historical uses:

The parts of the passion flower plant that are traditionally used for medicinal purposes include the leaves, flowers, and stems. The plant contains several active compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides, which contribute to its medicinal properties.

Passionflower has long aided indigenous groups throughout the Americas for hundreds of years before the land was colonized. Native to the Southeastern United States, Central America and South America, it is used to promote relaxation and calmness. In traditional medicine, passion flower is used to promote a sense of well being. In some traditional formulations, passion flower is combined with other plants, such as valerian and hops, to enhance the state of calm and relaxation.

In pre-colonial times, Native tribes used passion flower both medicinally and as food. The Cherokee people traditionally boiled and fried the young greens to eat as well as use topically. Spanish missionaries and other European settlers promoted passion flower as a medicinal herb throughout their migration colonizing America. Passion flower has also been used for religious and spiritual purposes in various cultures throughout history. In some Native American cultures, passion flower is used in rituals to promote relaxation and meditation.

Safety: should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as individuals with liver or kidney disease. Some individuals may also experience allergic reactions when using passion flower, particularly if they are sensitive to other plants in the Passifloraceae family.  It may increase the effects of blood-thinning medications, sedatives, tricyclic antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs.