Which parts of the passion flower do you use for tea? How much? How do you use it besides in tea?
There's this lavender I saw.... but I can't remember the name or species. It was very dense and very round with either blue-green or silvery green foliage. I know this is pretty vague but I was hoping some one might know which kind it might be?
Thanks!
Passionflower Q? Lavender Q too.
Capt... The Hidcote tends to be a more moundy lavender than the munstead.. could this have been what you saw?
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/39567/
If that's not it, than it's really close!
Now that you've asked, I can't remember! I believe you use the leaves, but now I'm thinking of something more along the lines of the roots. I need to go look it up. You can also use the fruit as, well, a fruit, or juice. They're quite tasty. I have gulf fritillary butterfly caterpillars constantly munching on mine, so you can feed baby flutterbies with the plant as well. I guess my advice would be to inspect leaves carefully before harvesting if you see little brown worms with little black spikes on their backs... that's a gulf fritillary caterpillar and I think you should let him eat.
One of its most common uses is for insomnia. Passionflower, with chammomile and a smidge of valerian will put anyone straight to sleep. Catnip can also go in the "sleepy tea" mix. Generally, you harvest the leaves, dry them and crush them. Once dried, about a teaspoon steeped in 6 oz. of hot water for 5 minutes will make a lovely tea. Add honey, lemon balm, lemon verbena, bee balm or any of the mints for flavor. (Catnip is minty.)
I'll doublecheck on which plant parts to use and post again here.
Those little guys are the reason why I started growing the passifloras in the first place. Anything for the butterflies!
I've tried chammomile, valerian and catnip but just not together. I've taken passionflower pills for calmness. It actually seemed to work! So I can't wait to try them all together.
Thanks, I appreciate your help and will be looking for followup!
Sure. A mild warning: please be careful with valerian. It is fairly strong (depending on whether you're using pills or fresh herb) and with extended daily use can cause kidney and liver problems. If you're using valerian regularly, give your body a break about every 2-3 weeks. Stay off for a week or so and you can use it again after that.
I offer that caution with many herbs. The others I mentioned above are so mild, I don't think they can hurt you in large quantities.
Okay. Passionflowers. According to this site: http://altnature.com/gallery/passionflower.htm, "Passionflower is edible and medicinal. The delicious fruit and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked in jellies, jams, young leaves are used as a cooked vegetable or eaten in salads. "
Also, "The leaves and stems are medicinal used as antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic, hypnotic, narcotic, sedative, vasodilator and are also used in the treatment of women's complaints. Passionflower is used as an alternative medicine in the treatment of insomnia, nervous tension, irritability, neuralgia, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual tension and vaginal discharges. An infusion of the plant depresses the motor nerves of the spinal cord, making it very valuable in the treatment of back pain. The infusion is also sedative, slightly reduces blood pressure and increases respiratory rate. The herb contains alkaloids and flavonoids that are an effective non-addictive sedative that does not cause drowsiness. It is of great service in epilepsy. The plant is not recommended for use during pregnancy. "
AND, it attracts flutterbies and occasionally, hummers. Great plant.
I agree on being careful with herbs, some can be dangerous, some that are great.. a paticular person can be allergic too. I make soap, bath bombs and lotions. One popular scent for soap has been clary sage, (salvia), then I read that it promotes tumor growth. (not cause a tumor, but promote an existing tumor to grow). I keep on top of what is good and what is bad in adding anything to my diet or sundries. I'm not a completely organic person, but I try to do as much as I can. So, I would be real careful what you brew up and drink, maybe trying a little bit at first to see if you have any allergic reactions to it. Just my thoughts....
I've heard that about valerian too. I don't use it too often mostly b/c the smell and taste make me gag! Sooo gross.
I used to be really afraid to use herbs but I use them more often now, of course with precautions and care.