Violet

 Violet

 

The International Herb Association has chosen Violet, Viola spp. as the herb of the year for 2022. Violet is also known as Pansy, Heartsease, Johnny Jump-Up and other common names. I think this is one of the funnest flowers in all the flower gardens I see because it is so colorful and unique. What makes it even better is that it has such wonderful medicinal properties. 

 

Violets are early blooming flowers and often follow the melting snow. You can see the leaves popping up from the soil in early spring. The heart shaped leaves and the flowers are used as a pulmonary aid and are used for rheumatism and skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. There is evidence that this herb has been used to treat cancer. Its medicinal properties include mucilage, laxative, emetic (root), alterative, and antiseptic.

 

We love it for its beauty, but if you want to harvest the plant for medicinal use, cut the stems about a third of the way up just before the blooms open or just after. Dry all the parts to use for making tea, or it can be made into a tincture, extract, oil or ointment. The roots are not used since they could cause vomiting but the plant parts above ground are very safe. 

 

Violet has been used as an herbal aid for centuries. To treat insomnia Askham’s Herbal recommends making a tea of the herb and soaking the feet in it. Then bind the herb to the temples when going to bed.

 

When Napoleon went to Elba His last message to his adherents was that he should return with Violets. Hence he was alluded to and toasted by them in secret as Caporal Violette, and the Violet was adopted as the emblem of the imperial Napoleonic party. (A Modern Herbal, Volume 2, pg 835)

 

The older writers had great faith in Syrup of Violets: ague, epilepsy, inflammation of the eyes, sleeplessness, pleurisy, jaundice and quinsy are only a few of the ailments for which it was held potent. Gerard says: ‘It has power to ease inflammation, roughness of the throat and comforteth the heart, asuageth the pains of the head and causeth sleep.’ (Ibid)

 

‘Sirrup of Violets

(As it appears in A Modern Herbal Volume 2, pg 835)

‘Take a quantity of Blew Violets, clip off the whites and pound them well in a stone morter; then take as much fair running water as will sufficiently moisten them and mix with the Violets; strain them all; and  to every halfe pint of the liquor put one pound of the best loafe sugar; set it on the fire, putting the sugar in as it melts, still stirring it; let it boyle but once or twice att the most; then take it from the fire, and keep it to your use. This is a dainty sirrup of Violets.’