HERB FOCUS: Violets
Violets like moist soil with some shade but can adapt to sunny spaces as well.
Flowers and young leaves are edible raw. Older leaves taste better cooked with other greens or in soups. leaves are mucilaginous and are good for thickening stews. Note that the roots are not eaten and may cause nausea and/or vomiting.
Medicinal Uses: Violets are a cooling, moistening herb, They are an excellent overall detoxifier, strengthening the immune and lymphatic system. I use the flowers and leaves internally as a tea or tincture and externally for skin conditions.
Here are my 5 most common uses for Violets:
•Dry Coughs and Soothing Respiratory Conditions: bronchial remedy for many respiratory conditions (dry hacking coughs &sore throats.), reduce inflammation & mucilaginous properties help soothe bronchial passages. drink Violet Tea for dry coughs (pick in late spring/early summer and dry for later use).
•Mild Laxative: known to be safe for elders and children. Aids in preventing straining for conditions such as constipation and hemorrhoids.
•Anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, &Joint Pain: used both externally & internally. Try pounding the leaves & flowers into a paste using a little water, & then apply the paste to the skin on the painful area, cover the poultice with cloth to hold it in place.
•For the Skin: Abrasions, Eczema, Rashes, Varicose Veins, & Hemorrhoids: Violets are a cooling & soothing herb. use violets as a tea wash or salve on the skin for issues such as eczema & rashes, insect bites & abrasions. Rutin contained in violet leaves helps reduce the inflammation that causes hemorrhoids & varicose veins. Apply infused oil or salve & also use internally.
•Blood Thinner and Lowering Cholesterol: The mucilage & fiber in violet leaves is helpful in lowering cholesterol levels. The fiber also helps balance intestinal flora. leaves are high in vitamins A, C, & rutin. Rutin is an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory & also has blood-thinning properties. For lowering cholesterol & use as a blood thinner, try eating the leaves or using a tea or tincture.
Safety
Some people get a skin rash on contact with the wild violet leaf there is no known internal toxicity, but allergies are always possible. Large doses of the roots or seeds can cause severe stomach upset, vomiting, high blood pressure and breathing problems. Be careful where you gather. Roadsides and parks are often sprayed with pesticides. Look for flowers in pristine areas away from industrial areas, waste areas, and roadsides. Be sure about your identification (if it is in bloom identification is much easier), as there are poisonous lookalikes. Violets are known to be safe for elders and children.
Medicinal Uses: Violets are a cooling, moistening herb, They are an excellent overall detoxifier, strengthening the immune and lymphatic system. I use the flowers and leaves internally as a tea or tincture and externally for skin conditions.
Here are my 5 most common uses for Violets:
•Dry Coughs and Soothing Respiratory Conditions: bronchial remedy for many respiratory conditions (dry hacking coughs &sore throats.), reduce inflammation & mucilaginous properties help soothe bronchial passages. drink Violet Tea for dry coughs (pick in late spring/early summer and dry for later use).
•Mild Laxative: known to be safe for elders and children. Aids in preventing straining for conditions such as constipation and hemorrhoids.
•Anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, &Joint Pain: used both externally & internally. Try pounding the leaves & flowers into a paste using a little water, & then apply the paste to the skin on the painful area, cover the poultice with cloth to hold it in place.
•For the Skin: Abrasions, Eczema, Rashes, Varicose Veins, & Hemorrhoids: Violets are a cooling & soothing herb. use violets as a tea wash or salve on the skin for issues such as eczema & rashes, insect bites & abrasions. Rutin contained in violet leaves helps reduce the inflammation that causes hemorrhoids & varicose veins. Apply infused oil or salve & also use internally.
•Blood Thinner and Lowering Cholesterol: The mucilage & fiber in violet leaves is helpful in lowering cholesterol levels. The fiber also helps balance intestinal flora. leaves are high in vitamins A, C, & rutin. Rutin is an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory & also has blood-thinning properties. For lowering cholesterol & use as a blood thinner, try eating the leaves or using a tea or tincture.
Safety
Some people get a skin rash on contact with the wild violet leaf there is no known internal toxicity, but allergies are always possible. Large doses of the roots or seeds can cause severe stomach upset, vomiting, high blood pressure and breathing problems. Be careful where you gather. Roadsides and parks are often sprayed with pesticides. Look for flowers in pristine areas away from industrial areas, waste areas, and roadsides. Be sure about your identification (if it is in bloom identification is much easier), as there are poisonous lookalikes. Violets are known to be safe for elders and children.
