Passionflower Herbal Infused Tea

Having problems with falling asleep? Passionflower is traditionally given to aid those with insomnia as well as those that suffer from nervousness or anxiety. Thus, if you think your insomnia might have an emotional basis, passionflower tea is the ideal medicine for you. You can also combine it with another important relaxing herb, valerian.

Herbal Infused Tea for Insomnia:
*Infuse 2-3 tsp. of dried passionflower leaves (or 2-3 tbsp. fresh) in boiling water. Let it simmer for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup an hour before bedtime.

*For anxiety, take the same dose twice more during the day. It may take several weeks to achieve the optimal effect.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Headache Herbal Teas

Headaches are a huge problem for me. I have almost daily headaches and they often alter my lifestyle and my daily living in a negative way. I went to a doctor about my constant headaches. Some X-rays, MRI's, blood tests, etc., later, they discovered no serious reasons why I get headaches and simply put me on some pills. These pills had terrible side-effects such as mood swings, irritability, fatigue, etc. I am trying to get myself off of the pills and instead, I am going to try most of these Headache Herbal Teas to find the right recipe to help me have a Life again. These herbal teas don't have side effects and they are way healthier for me than mystery pills filled with who-knows-what.

Ramblings aside, here are a few Headache Herbal Tea recipes:


Headache Tea #1
*3 parts chamomile
*3 parts lemon balm
*1 part passion flower
*1 part skullcap

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/2 cup every hour until the symptoms subside. 1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


Headache Tea #2
*2 parts lemon balm
*2 parts skullcap
*1 part chamomile
*1 part feverfew

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


Headache Tea #3
*2 parts lemon balm
*1 part feverfew
*1 part lavender

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water. This one is particularly good if you also have a hot bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil added to it.


Migraine/Headache Tea #4
*1 part feverfew
*1 part lavender

This tea is good for those really bad headaches AKA migraines.  Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Insomnia Tea Ideas

Use any of the following for insomnia (or combine some), simply make a tea and sip slowly 30 minutes before bed:

*Valerian root (reduces tension and anxiety)
*Chamomile (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Catnip (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Passion flower (promotes calm and relaxation)

Infuse an herbal tea: boil water and pour over the selected herb(s). Let it steep for 20-25 minutes. Sweeten with honey or stevia to taste. One cup of water per 1-3 tbsp. of fresh herb(s) or 1-3 tsp. dried herb(s).

You can make a large batch of the tea and drink a cup of tea each night. The tea will stay good stored in the refrigerator for approx. 4 days.

Passionflower

Name:
*Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)


Description:
*best in zones 6-9
*there are about 400 species: some are ornamental, some are climbers, others produce fruit, etc.
*a beautiful, exotic-looking perennial

Parts Used:
*leaves and flowers, fresh or dried
*if the fruit-bearing ones, you can eat the fruit

Position:
*prefers light, acidic soil
*needs warm, sunny position

Propagation:
*propagation by seed is very difficult: the best solution is to stratify the seeds in moist peat moss in the refrigerator for one week, then sow seeds indoors in a very warm greenhouse. Germination is low, only around 30 percent
*another technique mentioned is to soak the seeds in warm water for anywhere between 1 hour to 1 week, then plant
*another technique that I have read about is to scarify the seeds, THEN soak them in warm water
*you can also propagate (more easily) by tip cuttings taken in the summer. Use a liquid rooting hormone and keep the cuttings warm and moist until the rootings appear in approx. 2 weeks

Maintenance:
*provide trellis support for the vines
*mulch the plants well
*shape and prune the vine as necessary in the spring

Harvesting:
*harvest the aerial parts in mid to late summer and air-dry for medicinal purposes
*for culinary purposes, pick the fruits at the "dropping" stage of its growth

Medicinal:
*this plant makes people feel calm and relaxed
*it is excellent for anxiety, depression, and insomnia
*it is often used as a pain reliever

Cooking:
*the seeds and the pulp of ripe fruits have a tangy flavor and can be eaten raw or used in fruit salads, desserts, jams, and fruit drinks
*Hurricane: a cocktail made with passionfruit syrup, rum, and lime juice

For more information, see: references and warnings