Wild Violets
Image by Jan Haerer from Pixabay
We have an abundance of the wild blue/purple violets on our property. I knew they had some medicinal properties, but this video gives more details. I'm all for using natural remedies, especially local plants. More below video . . .
Violets have a long history of use in traditional remedies, with various parts of the plant used for ailments like coughs, sore throats, and lymphatic issues, often prepared as teas, syrups, poultices, or infused oils. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Here's a more detailed look at some common violet remedies:
Traditional Uses and Preparations: [1, 4, 5]
• Coughs and Sore Throats: [1, 4, 5]
• Syrup: Violet syrup, made from the flowers and leaves, is a traditional remedy for soothing coughs, especially in children, and can help with a dry, irritated throat. [1, 4, 5]
• Tea: A tea made from dried violet flowers or leaves can be used to address colds, catarrh, and sore throats. [1, 3]
• Infused Honey: Violets can be infused into honey for a soothing, natural remedy for coughs and sore throats. [1]
• Lymphatic System: [1, 6]
• Poultices and Infused Oils: Violets are used to address lymphatic congestion and swollen glands, with poultices and infused oils applied externally to move stuck lymph. [1, 6]
• Internal Use: Violets are also taken internally as teas or syrups to support lymphatic flow. [1, 6]
• Skin Issues: [7]
• Poultices and Salves: Violet poultices and salves can be used for dry or chafed skin, abrasions, insect bites, eczema, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids due to their cooling, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. [7]
• Other Uses: [8]
• Headaches: Binding violet leaves on the head can be used to relieve headaches. [8]
• Boils: A poultice of crushed violet roots can be applied to boils. [8]
• Catarrh: Spraying violet tea up the nose can help with catarrh. [8]
• Insects: Soaking corn in violet root tea before planting can help keep off insects. [8]
• Edible Flowers and Leaves: Violets can be enjoyed raw in salads or cooked as a thickening agent in soups. [8, 9]
• Violet syrup: A delicately flavored, sweet elixir made from wild violet flowers that has been historically used in a variety of preparations for its medicinal and culinary properties. [5]
• Violet vinegar: A simple violet infused vinegar can help relieve symptoms from cold and flu viruses, congestion and sore throats. [10]
• Violet honey: A simple violet infused honey can help relieve symptoms from cold and flu viruses, congestion and sore throats. [10]
Important Considerations: [11]
• Sweet Violet (Viola odorata): While many violet species have medicinal properties, the sweet violet is the most commonly used and has a rich history in Western herbalism. [11]
• Gentian Violet: Gentian violet is a topical antifungal medication used to treat some types of fungus infections inside the mouth (thrush) and of the skin. [12]
• Consult with a Healthcare Professional: Before using any herbal remedies, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications. [13]
[1] https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/wildcrafting-edible-violets.html[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b902OhQT7jY[3] https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/violets/[4] https://www.ecoparent.ca/eco-wellness/holistic-properties-and-uses-sweet-violet[5] https://fareisle.com/wild-violet-syrup/[6] https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/creating-a-local-materia-medica-with-violet/[7] https://chestnutherbs.com/violets-edible-and-medicinal-uses/[8] https://www.adkinsarboretum.org/programs_events/ipp/violet.html[9] https://awkwardbotany.com/2020/04/15/tea-time-violet-leaf-tea/[10] https://www.wyldstudio.com/ode-to-wild-violets-sweetest-sign-of-spring/[11] https://www.integrativeasheville.org/plant-profile-violet/[12] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/gentian-violet-topical-route/description/drg-20064064[13] https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/health-benefits-of-violets/[-] https://fareisle.com/wild-violet-syrup/[-] https://localwitchdoctor.com/what-are-some-herbal-remedies-for-colds
Here's a more detailed look at some common violet remedies:
Traditional Uses and Preparations: [1, 4, 5]
• Coughs and Sore Throats: [1, 4, 5]
• Syrup: Violet syrup, made from the flowers and leaves, is a traditional remedy for soothing coughs, especially in children, and can help with a dry, irritated throat. [1, 4, 5]
• Tea: A tea made from dried violet flowers or leaves can be used to address colds, catarrh, and sore throats. [1, 3]
• Infused Honey: Violets can be infused into honey for a soothing, natural remedy for coughs and sore throats. [1]
• Lymphatic System: [1, 6]
• Poultices and Infused Oils: Violets are used to address lymphatic congestion and swollen glands, with poultices and infused oils applied externally to move stuck lymph. [1, 6]
• Internal Use: Violets are also taken internally as teas or syrups to support lymphatic flow. [1, 6]
• Skin Issues: [7]
• Poultices and Salves: Violet poultices and salves can be used for dry or chafed skin, abrasions, insect bites, eczema, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids due to their cooling, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties. [7]
• Other Uses: [8]
• Headaches: Binding violet leaves on the head can be used to relieve headaches. [8]
• Boils: A poultice of crushed violet roots can be applied to boils. [8]
• Catarrh: Spraying violet tea up the nose can help with catarrh. [8]
• Insects: Soaking corn in violet root tea before planting can help keep off insects. [8]
• Edible Flowers and Leaves: Violets can be enjoyed raw in salads or cooked as a thickening agent in soups. [8, 9]
• Violet syrup: A delicately flavored, sweet elixir made from wild violet flowers that has been historically used in a variety of preparations for its medicinal and culinary properties. [5]
• Violet vinegar: A simple violet infused vinegar can help relieve symptoms from cold and flu viruses, congestion and sore throats. [10]
• Violet honey: A simple violet infused honey can help relieve symptoms from cold and flu viruses, congestion and sore throats. [10]
Important Considerations: [11]
• Sweet Violet (Viola odorata): While many violet species have medicinal properties, the sweet violet is the most commonly used and has a rich history in Western herbalism. [11]
• Gentian Violet: Gentian violet is a topical antifungal medication used to treat some types of fungus infections inside the mouth (thrush) and of the skin. [12]
• Consult with a Healthcare Professional: Before using any herbal remedies, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications. [13]
[1] https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/wildcrafting-edible-violets.html[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b902OhQT7jY[3] https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/violets/[4] https://www.ecoparent.ca/eco-wellness/holistic-properties-and-uses-sweet-violet[5] https://fareisle.com/wild-violet-syrup/[6] https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/creating-a-local-materia-medica-with-violet/[7] https://chestnutherbs.com/violets-edible-and-medicinal-uses/[8] https://www.adkinsarboretum.org/programs_events/ipp/violet.html[9] https://awkwardbotany.com/2020/04/15/tea-time-violet-leaf-tea/[10] https://www.wyldstudio.com/ode-to-wild-violets-sweetest-sign-of-spring/[11] https://www.integrativeasheville.org/plant-profile-violet/[12] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/gentian-violet-topical-route/description/drg-20064064[13] https://theherbalacademy.com/blog/health-benefits-of-violets/[-] https://fareisle.com/wild-violet-syrup/[-] https://localwitchdoctor.com/what-are-some-herbal-remedies-for-colds