Newsletter- February-2019

Passionflower

Also known as
Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora caerulea, Apricot Vine,

Blue and Purple Passionflower, and Maypop.

Constituents

Chrysin, harmane, harmaline.

Parts Used

Dried leaves and stems. Passionflower powder must be stored at temperatures below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), and should be used within six months of purchase.

Typical Preparations

Teas, tinctures and encapsulations. Sometimes found in relaxing bath blends and sleep pillow mixes.

Summary

Herbalists in Mexico, Central America, and Texas have used passionflower as a calmative and sleeping aid for over 200 years. Currently there is a German E monograph for passionflower citing its use as having sedative qualities.

Precautions: Pregnant women should avoid passionflower, since it can stimulate uterine contractions. Safe dosages for children under 6 have not been established. Caution should be used buy those on other sedatives as passionflower may intensify the effects.

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Greetings,

Happy February! We have been making a lot of changes in the store during January. We strive to keep our store interesting, and up to date.

We have added a new feature in the store. We've purchased a nice laser printer to print this newsletter on to bring you great quality in our letter of the month

We have changed the store up during January, making the front of the store complete herbs and teas except for the showcases.

The back room is now your empowerment room where you can find all the books, health and beauty and magikal candles.

We are adding in a organic tea section just for the organic tea bags. 4/$100, giving you 8 cups for $1.00. Keep looking for that to show up this month

Please keep checking. and Follow our Website, for savings, find the Coupon of the Month, Mention it before checking out.

Keep love in your life and joy in your heart,
The Editor

Anxiety/Depression
If depression is related to the menopause then Passion Flower could be the most effective herb. As well as alleviating symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats (which are in themselves depressing enough), the alkaloids "chrysin" and "benzoflavone" present in this herb have been found to increase GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid) in the brain. GABA is one of the inhibitory neurotransmitters, used by the brain to prevent over-excitement and attain balance. It also helps to decrease the activity of depression inducing brain cells.
Insomnia
Passion Flower is a gentle anti-anxiety and mildly sedative herb that can even be used to induce a good night's sleep in children. One particular study asked volunteers with trouble sleeping to drink a cup of Passion Flower tea at bedtime for a period of time, all reported significant sleep improvement.
The increased GABA in the brain that Passion Flower can induce will also reduce the anxiety so often associated with insomnia. In addition, Passion Flower is known to be a muscle relaxant, easing away tension that can make it more difficult to drift off to sleep.
Antioxidant/Anti-inflammatory
Passion Flower is powerfully antioxidant due to the presence of the antioxidant compounds; vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, apigenin and luteolin glycosides. It also contains indole alkaloids, fatty acids, gum, maltol, phytosterols, sugars and traces of volatile oils. One compound in particular * quercetin * has been extensively studied, it has been found to be exceptionally effective in ridding the body of damaging free radical molecules and it inhibits various enzymes that cause inflammation.
These compounds also relax the nervous system, helping to relieve nerve related pain such as back pain.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies show that using extract of Passion Flower can help to reduce high blood pressure (hypertension). It was found that one cup of Passion Flower tea daily can help to regulate blood pressure levels in people with mild hypertension. However, it is important to note that those on blood pressure medication should not consume this herb as it can lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.

We carry this in Cut and Sifted in our store.

Facial Scrub

The simplest way to experience the aroma and pleasure of passion flower is in a scrub.

Scrubs are super easy and affordable to make, plus they have a long lengthy shelf life compared to other natural recipes.

Personally, I prefer salt over sugar, but

you can use the base exfoliate of your skin's desire.

Build your scrub in a glass bowl by adding six ounces of your exfoliate of choice.
Add a half tablespoon of dried, organic passion flower and stir in two and a half ounces of your preferred oil.
For this circulation boosting scrub, I used calendula oil and a half teaspoon of Indian sandalwood oil.
Gently stir everything together, adding a up to a teaspoon of distilled water for consistency, and transfer to a seal-able container.

Passion Flower Body Wash

Start this recipe by bringing two or three cups of water to a boil.
Place a tablespoon each of passion flower and organic rose petals or buds in a disposable tea bag and then transfer to a heatproof glass or mug.
Once your water has come to a boil, allow it to cool for About four Minutes .
Add a heaping tablespoon of raw honey into the cup with tea and pour six ounces of the recently boiled water into the cup.
Stir in the honey until it's completely liquefied and let cool. Once the body wash has cooled, transfer to a seal-able container, ideally one with a convenient pump top.
Add two or three drops of geranium essential oil into the container and seal tightly. In my bathroom, this body wash will last at least seven days, but it keeps for at least two weeks when refrigerated.

Passion Flower Hair Serum

Hair serums are great for restoring damaged hair and promoting growth on any problems areas - for me, that usually means my hairline. After all, it's seen its fair share of stresses during de-tangling and my hat fetish phase.

For this serum, I mixed equal parts prickly pear seed oil and passion fruit oil and put in a tinted seal-able container.

Then, I added a few drops of lavender for scent and calming my scalp. So far, my hair is loving the feel of passion.

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Non-attachment for those who do not know is not the same thing as "detachment." Non-attachment is being mindful and present in our own lives to the point where we rely on our awareness instead of being of the world we must be in the world.

Zen Habits explains the following regarding letting go of attachments and reducing suffering within our lives:

The way to deal with attachments isn't simple, and it takes practice.

Meditate daily, focusing on the breath for a couple of minutes every morning. See your suffering and your story and attachments, as you meditate. See this after meditation as well.

After a few weeks, add compassion meditation. Wish for your suffering to end, then expand it to others in your life, then to all living beings.

Learn to see your inter-connectedness with others, and practice acceptance of the present moment exactly as it is, in little doses. Small steps. Practice expanding your mind to include these things and all other things in the present moment.

Then, when a difficult attachment arises in your daily life, see the suffering, see the attachment, and expand your mind beyond it, giving yourself compassion while seeing that you are bigger than this attachment.

Let it be there like a little cloud, floating around in the wide expanse of your mind, and then lightly let it float away, rather than sinking yourself into it.

With practice, this method can result in contentment with the present, awesome relationships, and less procrastination and distraction.

If you want to stop being trapped in your life and in your own mind, you have to be willing to let go of your desires on some levels and move forward in a new light. Regardless of your religious views, this Buddhist concept can work wonders in your life.

Being more in the moment and letting go of the ego ride that others are so stuck in will make you a lot happier in the long-run.

No matter what kind of rut you;'e stuck in, you can make your way out of it. Help others and help yourself, life is too short to spend it miserable.

This article was originally published by Awareness Act.