Passion flower, a climbing vine grown in tropical gardens because of its beautiful purple-pink flowers, has been used by Native Americans for over a century.
The plant contains beta-carbolines, a MAOI with sedative properties, which also helps in the treatment of insomnia and hysteria. Preliminary research shows passion flower to be effective in treating a variety of disorders of the nervous system. A double-blind study conducted in 2003 showed passion flower to be as effective as Serax® (a prescription drug) to treat anxiety.
The herb is very popular in Europe. In Germany, over 50 sedative products contain passion flower as one of the primary ingredients.
A very effective, non-invasive anti-bacterial, passion flower has a history of being used to treat eye infections, skin irritations, and burns.
Catnip
Best known for its ability to make cats "happy," catnip actually has human applications as well. People have no physical reaction to catnip, at least not the way their feline companions do. In humans, catnip can be taken as a tea to treat colds, flues, and fevers, as well as for its sedative properties. Catnip was used during the Middle Ages to treat a number of childhood diseases, including diarrhea and colic. Alternative modern medicine agrees that it can also prevent morning sickness in pregnant women.
In 2001, Iowa State University issued the results of a finding confirming that oil extracted from catnip is about 10 times more effective at repealing mosquitoes that commercial DEET. According to other studies, catnip is also very effective against cockroaches and other household pests.
Dandelion (Taraxacum)
Named from the Old French word, dent-de-lion ("lion's tooth"), dandelion is better known today in most of Europe as pissenlit ("urinate in bed"), a direct allusion to its diuretic properties.
Dandelion is grown at a small scale as a vegetable --The raw leaves can be made into soups and salads or used to prepare dandelion wine. Dandelion's root is sometimes roasted and used as a substitute for coffee.
Dandelion is a powerful diuretic, available only by prescription in Canada and some European countries. Other medicinal applications take advantage of the plant's condition to treat anemia and jaundice. Dandelion's milk can get rid of warts in just a few applications.