Common names: Violet, English Violet, Common Violet, Garden Violet
Taxonomic name: Viola odorata,
Family: Violaceae
Related herbs: Johnny Jump Up (aka Heartsease, V. tricolor)
Area of origin: Eurasia
Parts used: Leaf, flower
Can be used medicinally for: catarrh, bronchitis, inflamed skin conditions (eczema), urinary tract infections, rheumatism
Healing Actions: expectorant, alterative, anti-inflammatory, diuretic
Taste: sweet, bland
Energetics: cooling, softening
Tissue states: hot/dry
Organ/System affinities:
Healing constituents: Phenolic glycosides (inc. gaultherin, salicylic acid methyl ester), saponins (myrosin, violin), flavonoids (rutin, violarutin), odoratine, mucilage
Contraindications and warnings: None reported
Drug/herb interactions:
Description
Medicinal use
Preparing and using
Other herb pages on Ligaya Garden
We cover a lot of ground on many herb related topics here on our website. There are whole pages devoted to different topics as well as frequent posts. Some of the links are –
Violets (Viola odorata) are handy little plants to have around. They are herbs that excel at soothing our membranes. Violet leaves and flowers have a sweet, slightly salty taste.
Traditionally, Violets have been used in cough remedies for dry coughs where the membranes are dry and inflamed. The same cooling, soothing, principles make Violet handy for use in cases of dryness and redness where the crushed plant parts can be directly applied to the affected area.
Another aspect of Violet is that it has an affinity for the lymphatics. It can move the lymphatic fluids around, relieving congestion. Combining this aspect with the facility to soothe inflammation links Violets nicely to cases of sore throat with enlarged glands where it can be doubly useful.
Violet is traditionally taken as a syrup, which makes it particularly suited to children’s ailments, especially sore throats as mentioned above.
