Herbal Feature of the week is #Uwaga aka #Passionflower or #lilikoi. Uwaga is this plant's name in #Cherokeemedicine as believe it or not, this specific variety of passionflower is native to North America and creates little tiny passion fruits also known as #maypop or #mayapple, a relative to the passionfruit of the tropics. Uwaga is another herb that was super empowering for me to connect to as I realized it is one of my #ancestralherbs from one of my indigenous peoples. This plant even visited me in a dream once while I was pregnant, definitely one of my favorite #medicinalherbs and it's so beautiful, too !
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Interestingly enough, traditional Cherokee medicine indicates this plant to quell the nervousness of new motherhood, as well as during "pains of the heart" and as a general love medicine. Uwaga was also in ceremonies when loved ones passed on. Other indigenous uses of this herb include using the root to draw out inflammation, wean babies from mother's milk, and taken as a liver aid. The flower and root together were used traditionally as a #sedative for painful menstruation. .
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Passionflower's medicinal qualities are abundant, yet mainly steered towards #restandrelaxation. One of its flavonoids is #chrysin which is a sedative and gives the #anxiolytic sedating effect of the plant. passionflower is also a #hypotensive meaning it lowers #highbloodpressure due to stress and is also an #antispasmodic meaning it aids cramping. This is why it's another #womensherb and is indicated for #dysmenorrhea. Passionflower also is used to cut #insomnia especially due to "cyclical thinking" from anxiety. .
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One of my go-to's to #combatstress, there are a few considerations: this herb contains #harmaline which is a #MAOi meaning it may interact with antidepressants and some psych meds. It also cannot be drank during pregnancy as it may relax the uterine wall too much. Otherwise, I drink it these days because new motherhood can be a stress bundle or can be manageable especially with a cup of relaxing medicinal tea in hand. ☕️🌿