Anxiety: try Passionflower as a Natural Remedy
Herbal remedies are a natural alternative to prescirption medicines, and there are many herbs that are useful in the treatment of anxiety and stress. Passionflower is a little known herb that is very effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety.
The passionfruit vine is well-known and often grown in backyard gardens because of its delicious fruit. Passionflower is the flower of this popular vine, and it is quite distinctive with its purple and white petals and stamens. The flowers, as well as the leaves and stems, are popular in herbal medicine because of its calming properties.
There has been little scientific research into the effectiveness of Passionflower, but it has been used in the past in sedatives sold over the counter. It is popular with herbalists because of its reliability and few side effects.
Passionflower is a gentle but effective preparation that soothes and calms the nerves, which lessens the feeling of anxiety. There are few incidences of side effects, it does not cause over-sedation and is not addictive. Passionflower extract has been used successfully to treat people recovering from heroin addiction.
One important aspect of passionflower is that it has the ability to build up in the system, and after a few weeks of regular use, it provides an on-going benefit. Anxiety sufferers should be aware that it isn’t a quick-fix, but the on-going long term benefits are appreciated by those who use it.
Passionflower can be taken in different forms, according to your taste. There are tablets or capsules available from health food stores, as well as a powdered form. If you have access to a passionfruit vine, you can use parts of the vine, that grow above the ground, to make a tea. To make passionflower tea, steep 1 teaspoon of dried or fresh leaves, stems and /or flowers in a cup of boiling water, for 5 minutes. You may drink the tea up to 3 times daily, and it is safe to give children some weak tea, but check the correct dosage with your herbalist.
You may also be able to buy a passionflower extract or tincture from a health food store or herbalist, and it is also possible to make them yourself. Use both these preparations 3 times daily, using the quantities recommended on the bottle. You put a few drops into a little water and drink it.
Passionflower is a safe and extremely effective treatment for anxiety and stress; ideal for those who want to avoid prescription medication. Monitor your use when you first take it, as you should with any new treatment, but side effects are rare. There are some contra-indications with some anti-depressant medicines (MAO inhibitors) so check first with your health professional.
Related posts:
- Anxiety – Try Meditation as a Natural Treatment Meditation is a safe, effective option for the treatment of...
- Catnip Is Not Just for Cats – It can Help to Relieve Anxiety Catnip is the happy plant for cats; they roll in...
- Anxiety and Herbal Medicine Anxiety affects your lifestyle, job effectiveness and relationships and can...
- How Effective Are Herbal Treatments for Anxiety? Anxiety can have a profound effect on one’s life. It...
- Do you have a Problem with Anxiety? Try Massage Therapy for Lasting Relief The art of massage has been a popular therapy for...
