Passiflora incarnata 1:1 extract: passionflower in liquid form
Passiflora incarnata is a climbing vine from the southeastern and south central United States, where it uses tendrils to pull itself up through shrubs and fencerows to a height of around three metres. In colder parts of its range the plant dies back to the ground every winter and simply pops up again in spring, which is where the name maypop comes from. The leaves are palmate, usually cut into three lobes, and the flower is unmistakable: a crown of thread like purple and white segments circles the centre and all but hides the petals behind it. The genus name Passiflora refers to the passion of Christ; missionaries in Latin America used the structure of the bloom centuries ago as a teaching image. Flowering is followed by an egg shaped, yellowish green fruit about the size of a hen's egg.
This extract is made from the aerial parts of that plant. The 1:1 marking describes the concentration: roughly one gram of plant material has gone into each millilitre. A stronger extract such as 2.5:1 packs more than twice as much plant material into that same volume, so this ratio stays close to the herb itself. The bottle holds 10 ml and comes with a dropper, which lets you measure exactly how much you use. In North America passionflower was traditionally prepared as a tea; an extract gives you the same starting material in a form that is easier to dose and keeps longer.
Dosing and use
Shake the bottle briefly and measure a few drops into a glass of water or a cup of tea, or take them under the tongue. Start with a small amount and see how you get on before taking more.
Storage and precautions
Keep the bottle cool, dry and dark, tightly closed and out of reach of young children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, talk to your doctor first. The same category at Avalon Magic Plants holds dozens of other 1:1 extracts, among them Valeriana officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Hypericum perforatum, Urtica dioica and Calendula officinalis.
