Harvest & Consume Passion Flower

The stems, flowers and leaves of the passion flower are used widely in Europe as an herbal treatment for asthma, insomnia, high blood pressure and pain relief. Passion flower is consumed by drying and crushing the petals to make a tea you can drink. Passion flower tea is easy to make at home, and provides a plethora of medicinal uses.

Harvesting Passion Flower
Cut stems, leaves and flowers from passion flower plants with scissors when they are mature and blooming. Tie these cuttings into small bundles using string.

Hang in a sunny window and leave to dry for two weeks, or until the cuttings are dry and brittle to the touch.

Untie the bundles and crush the leaves, stems and dried flowers with your fingers. Place them in a glass jar with a tight lid.

Consuming Passion Flower
Measure a teaspoon of crushed passion flower into a tea ball.

Place the tea ball in a mug of boiling water and allow to steep for ten minutes.

Drink the tea a half hour before bedtime for a calming, sedative-like effect. Drink passion flower tea in combination with Valerian or lemon balm to increase its calming effects. Valerian and lemon balm can be easily found in capsule form at your local drugstore.