Passion Flower (passiflora incarnata) is an exotic looking flower, and it is used as a calming herb, despite it’s name. Passion Flower was named after the Passion of Christ because the flower seemed to have symbols of the crucifixion. It is a very useful herb, and can be taken as a pill, tincture, or infusion (tea).

Passion flower is most commonly used as an anti-anxiety herb. It has a soothing sedative effect. It can also be used for problems with insomnia. It has been used to help with seizures, lower blood pressure and to relieve muscle tension as well. It also works well as a cough suppressant, relaxing the muscles of the throat. Which makes it wonderful to take before bed if you have a cough and want to be able to take a break from coughing and get some sleep.

Passion flower has been used as a calming herb and sleep aid for over 200 years. One scientific study found passion flower as effective as oxazepam for treating general anxiety. It is approved by the German Commission E for use as a treatment for nervousness and insomnia. Passion flower is considered safe when used in moderation, however it may interact with prescription medications, specifically sedatives, blood thinners, and MAO inhibitors. It can increase the effects of these drugs.

Another common name for Passion Flower is Maypop. It can be found growing wild in certain areas in the Southeastern United States. Passion flower can be grown in a garden or as a houseplant. It grows on vines that can reach 15 feet in a season. There are many kinds of passion flower plants. If you decide to cultivate your own for medicinal uses, make sure you are growing the correct type. Passion flower would be a beautiful addition to any garden, but for those without green thumbs, it can also be bought in capsules, tinctures, and teas.

Stevia is an herb that is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It comes from South America and Central America. It has been used for hundreds of years as a sweetener. It is a common sugar substitute in Japan, where it has been widely used for 30 years. Since 2008 stevia has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to be sold as an alternative sweetener in the United States. Stevia has no calories or carbohydrates, which makes it a good choice for diabetics or dieters. It also has been used as a medicinal herb.

Stevia has the ability to lower blood sugar and lower blood pressure. This makes it useful for diabetes or hypertension. However, if medications are already being taken to lower blood sugar or blood pressure, stevia could enhance those effects, resulting in blood glucose or blood pressure readings that are too low. A doctor should be consulted before using it for this purpose. Therapeutic doses are higher than the amounts used for sweetening.

Stevia is also useful against infections. It has been shown in studies to be antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Liquid stevia added to water and used as a mouth wash has been shown to help prevent dental cavities. Stevia can also be used to treat acne and speed healing of skin problems and injuries.

Weight loss is another popular use for stevia. Because it has no calories or carbs, it is useful to dieters. It also has been shown to decrease hunger, and specifically to reduce cravings for sweet or fatty foods. Stevia has also been known to improve digestion and soothe an upset stomach.

Stevia can be bought in liquid or powder form. It is “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA. In a few lab studies, however, high doses of stevia were shown to cause reproductive problems in animals. For this reason it is recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid its use until further studies are done.

Ancient Egyptians used the olive leaf for healing. It is still used today for boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, supporting cardiovascular health, and it is a good source of antioxidants.

Olive leaf is useful against viruses, bacteria, and fungus. It dissolves the outer lining of bacteria to inactivate them. It helps heal colds, flu, and other common illnesses, as well as Candida overgrowth, urinary tract infections, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Olive leaf has also been used to lower fevers, heal sinus infections, and reduce allergies or allergic reactions.

In scientific studies olive leaf has been shown to lower high blood pressure. It does this by dilating blood vessels. It also contains an antioxidant that helps prevent the oxidation of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL can damage blood vessel walls. Olive leaf also increases blood flow to the heart, and corrects heart arrhythmias. It has also been shown to make blood less “sticky”, leading to fewer blood clots in the blood vessels, and improving blood flow.

Olive leaf contains powerful antioxidants that prevent damage to the cells of the body caused by free radicals. Free radicals can speed up aging and degenerative diseases, as well as damage the cardiovascular system. There are 12 proven antioxidants in olive leaves. It has been shown to be more effective than Vitamin C, green tea, and grape seed extract at keeping free radicals in check.

Olive leaf is also known to boost energy levels. It works in a gentle way, improving energy and a sense of well-being, without making a person hyper or unable to sleep. People have used it to improve energy levels for competitive sports, but it also helps people recover from chronic fatigue syndrome and Epstein-Barr Virus.

Other possible uses of olive leaf are lowering high blood sugar in diabetics, and easing joint pain in arthritis patients.

Olive leaf is safe to take daily, and has no known side effects beyond detoxification symptoms that may occur in the first few weeks in some people. It may be wise to consult a health practitioner before use, to be sure olive leaf is right for you and won’t interact with any medications you are taking.