Pharmacological properties and use in medicine of passionflowers
The medicinal raw material is the aerial part - the grass passiflora ( Herba Passiflorae).It is established that the plant contains alkaloids( harman, garmil and harmonium), phenolic compounds, flavonoids, kumarines, quinones, protein and pectin substances, cyanogenic glycoside, phytosterols, mineral salts, ascorbic acid. Among the biologically active substances of this drug liana, passiflorin is especially distinguished.
Seeds show the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, trace elements, fatty oils. The presence of glycosides of the flavone group was noted in the rhizomes. The above-ground part has medicinal properties.
Although the chemical composition of medicinal raw materials has not yet been fully studied, the medicinal properties of the plant have been noticed and appreciated in ancient times. The Incas, for example, made a soothing tea from it. Ready-made passiflora preparations have long been widely recognized in Latin America, the United States and in Western Europe. The main thing for which this plant is valued is its pronounced sedative( calming) effect. Passion flavors are included in many pharmacopoeias of the world and in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia as a natural tranquilizer. Forms of use: in the form of infusions, decoctions, tea, alcohol extracts, dietary supplements, soothing chewing gums. Often passionflower is a part of complex formulas( tinctures and dues) together with valerian, hawthorn and other medicinal plants - friends of our nervous system.
For the first time Passionflower as a pharmacological agent introduced his colleagues Dr. LS Fares in 1839 after he tested a new herbal preparation on his epileptic patients. Passion flavors are also used in modern psychiatric practice in the treatment of manic-depressive psychosis and epilepsy( as additional agents in the general treatment regimen).
American physician ED Stapleton in 1904 in the "Medical Journal", published in Detroit, noted the good results he obtained with the use of passionflowers for the treatment of insomnia. It improves the quality of sleep, regulates its duration and, moreover, does not bring unpleasant and heavy sensations on waking.
The list of medicinal properties of the plant is not limited by the soothing effect: it also has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant action. In addition, passionflow enhances overall performance, improves memory, helps the body resist excessive stress and chronic fatigue, cope with physical and emotional overload. Protects cells of the central nervous system from the damaging effects of free radicals.
And, very importantly, the use of passiflora preparations does not give side effects and does not cause addiction, psychological and physical dependence for long-term use - both by children and adults. This is its huge advantage over synthetic psychotropic drugs.
What diseases and disorders do the passiflora help with
? Modern medics use it most often in cases of neurasthenic conditions, in case of cardiac disturbance under the influence of emotional overload, with mild attacks of seizures arising from a disorder of the central nervous system, and also as an auxiliarywith spasms of the intestine and coronary vessels. Effectively operates with frequent attacks of asthma, arising in connection with nervous tension.
Effective use of passiflora drugs in vegetative disorders against a background of various diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular system. They are prescribed for patients with hypertension, during the recovery period after cerebral vascular crises, injuries and inflammatory diseases of the brain( encephalitis and arachnoiditis), with asthenic conditions after infectious diseases, etc. In these cases, the action of the plant weakens and eliminates such unpleasant symptoms, as increased fatigue, deterioration of intellectual functions, irritability, weakness, nervousness, weakening of inhibitory reactions, sleep disorders, palpitations, sweating.
Pain and spasmolytic properties of passionflower help with headaches, migraine attacks, with spasms of smooth muscles. It weakens and eliminates pains of a neuralgic nature and even toothache.
Thanks to its calming effect, passionflower has perfectly proven itself as one of the means of help in the pathological course of menopause. Indeed, during the period of hormonal changes, our nervous system is especially vulnerable and needs soft but reliable support. The intake of the products of passionflower helps to cope with the phenomena that cause women a lot of trouble: arterial hypertension, "hot flashes", increased nervousness, sharp mood swings, decreased efficiency, sleep disorders. In the pre-climacteric period, with the help of passionflow, regularity can be returned to the broken menstrual cycle - in fact these disorders are related, in particular, to the state of the nervous system. The healing liana and the patients of the not old age are helping very well. Many girls and women are familiar with painful symptoms that occur shortly before the arrival of regular menstruation. Physicians call this condition "premenstrual syndrome."Passionflower will help to prevent the onset of headaches and other pains, a sharp decrease in the emotional background or, on the contrary, unusual irritation in the usual time, rapid fatigue, etc.
Sedative properties of the plant have proved themselves in the treatment of dependence on psychoactive substances. Experiments in animals have shown that passionflower compensates the stimulating effect of amphetamine( a substance contained in psychoactive substances - alcohol and drugs).Therefore, it is used in the treatment of drug addiction and chronic alcoholism. It has a calming effect on patients during the period of abstinence( hangover), eliminates neurotic disorders, improves mood, sleep, increases work capacity.
Passion flower extract gives positive results in the treatment of Ménière's disease. This disease was described by the French physician P. Men'er-er in 1861.It is manifested by attacks of dizziness with nausea, vomiting, noise in the ear, a gradual decrease in hearing on the affected ear, caused by changes in the inner ear( labyrinth).The use of passiflora drugs helps patients to reduce the frequency and duration of dizziness or completely get rid of them, as well as from noise in the ears. To this end, assign a passionopharya extract in combination with intravenous injections of novocaine( 6 injections every other day).
Soft action of biologically active substances passiflora allows you to use its drugs and in the treatment of neuroses in children. In small patients, it is possible in this way to reduce the increased excitability, reduce motor anxiety, stabilize the emotional background, and increase the ability to concentrate. And also - to eliminate the neurotic symptoms( uncaused fears, nausea, headaches, spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.).Children under 12 years are usually prescribed 10 drops 3 times a day for 3-8 weeks( the dosage is specified with the attending physician).There is evidence of the successful use of passiflora medications in the treatment of small chorea in children( chorea, or Witt's dance - rapid involuntary unconsolidated movements, mainly twitching of the limbs, a kind of hyperkinesis, may be a sign of organic brain damage in rheumatism - then they say rheumatic,more often, but this disorder can be a manifestation of an independent hereditary disease).
In general, the range of use of passionflower is very wide, it is used in its practice by doctors of many specialties, and not only neuropathologists or gynecologists. A dermatologist can prescribe her drugs to patients with various dermatoses, i.e.skin diseases accompanied by severe itching, including with neurodermatitis. Allergists include passionflower in the complex scheme of
treatment of bronchial asthma - it helps reduce the frequency of seizures and facilitate their course, reduces the hypersensitivity of the organism to various allergens. Use sedative effect of the plant and endocrine disorders - for example, thyroid disorders - hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, etc. Gerontologist - a specialist working with elderly people, recommends passionflower to patients with sleep disorders, increased irritability.
The International Olympic Committee allows the use of passiflora preparations in the psychophysiological preparation of athletes for competitions - they reduce the level of anxiety, have a general strengthening effect on the nervous system, help maintain psychological balance, and this is an excellent alternative to chemical sedatives.