10/03/2019
Violets - more than a wildflower or w**d
There are many species of Violet that have been used for medicine throughout the world*. Viola odorata is the species most often mentioned in the literature, but in my experience any of the blue/purple flowering Violets can be used (many if not all of the yellow flowering Violets are acrid and irritate the mouth or throat and I do not use them). I most often use Viola soraria, the common Blue or Dog Violet. Both the leaves and the flowers of Violets have medicinal uses, although they are quite different.
Violet leaf is a lymphagogue, antibacterial and mild alterative used to treat lymphadenitis, cystic breast disease, cyclic mastalgia, sore throats with swollen glands and chronic infections with enlarged lymph nodes (EBV, CMV, or mononucleosis). As an alterative, it enhances bowel, lymphatic and liver function and has a very long history of use for treating cancer, especially cancers of the breast, colon, lung and lymph. Interestingly, in Chinese medicine the related species Viola yeodensis/Zi Hua Di Ding is used to resolve hardnesses and clear heat (similar to the western uses mentioned above). It is also one of the most commonly used herbs in TCM used for treating cancer. In laboratory studies, several chemicals known as cyclotides have been isolated from various species of Violet and have been shown to have significant anti-tumor activity. In an animal study, a hydro-alcoholic extract of Viola odorata was found to inhibit breast cancer metastasis. This, of course, is only preliminary evidence, but the fact that it is used in multiple herbal traditions and there is some in vitro and in vivo research suggesting it may have benefits for this dreaded disease is certainly intriguing.
Violet flowers are most often used to make a soothing cough syrup to help expel dry, sticky mucous. In traditional Iranian medicine Violet oil (made with Violet flowers and Sesame oil) has been used intra-nasally to treat insomnia and dry eye syndrome, and topically rubbed around the umbilicus to lower children’s fevers. These are interesting and certainly unusual uses but in each case there are human clinical trials suggesting that these traditional uses are indeed valid. There is much more to be said about this humble wildflower/w**d but I would be remiss in not mentioning that Violet leaves (and flowers) are edible and very nutritious (a few leaves in a salad is fine - if you eat too many leaves you’ll be be spending most of the day on the toilet, as it has a pronounced laxative effect) and my home decorating tip for today is take Violet flowers, put them in an ice cube tray, cover with water and freeze them and you have amazing looking ice cubes with beautiful purple Violets inside. I’m sure your guests will appreciate it!
*We are discussing the wild Viola species, not to be confused with the house plant African Violet which is unrelated and not used medicinally.
