'Passionflower' Limited Edition Print

Passiflora caerulea, passion flower

A3. 297 x 420 mm / 11.7 x 16.5 inches

The roots, stems and leaves and flowers of the passion flower all have potent medicinal effects, and can be a welcomed health benefit. On an important note, there are also levels of cyanide in the plant. So unless you really understand what you are doing it is probably best to intake using a professionally manufactured product! However it can lower blood pressure and can be used as an antispasmodic. It is also most commonly known as a hypnotic and therefore can be helpful as a sleep aid, whilst also giving relief to anxiety and depression. Used medicinally it has many effects of calming people that easily become over stimulated, or agitated and even as a transitional medicine for those working through addiction.

A modern complaint from many suffering with stress related disorders,the passion flower can overcome neuralgic pain, exhaustion from cerebral fullness, convulsive movements, oppressed breathing and cardiac palpitation. Also it in women it can benefit PMS and postnatal depression.

In children when used in specific measured doses it can help with relief of colic, toothache, trouble sleeping, asthma and general pain relief.

The Passiflora caerulea I have illustrated is not alone in the many varieties in its absolute stunning exotic attractiveness. Whilst a beautiful plant to grow and with its medical remedies and fruit bearing charm, it is also very much visited by a whole host of pollinators. The makeup of their complex flowers are easily accessible by birds as well as insects. I chose to illustrate the Selasphorus rufus, rufous hummingbird. With extraordinary flying skills and a long, straight slender bill, enabling it to flit around one passion flower to the next with a swift elegance and ease.