Rowan Remedies

Latin:Viola odorata

Also Known As: English Violet, Sweet Violet, Blue Violet, Bairnwort, Blaver, Banwort, Apple Leaf, Bessy Banwood, Vilip, Cookoo’s Shoe, Sweetling, Garland Flower

Family:Violaceae

Habitat and Description: The Sweet Violet is a low growing perennial favouring roadsides, meadows and shady wooded edges. I’ve found it growing under huge walnut trees, amongst long grass and dotting the roadsides in my home county of Lincolnshire, in a whole spectrum of blue shades, ranging from the traditional dark violet through to pale lilac and white. The leaves are a rich, bright green and are heart shaped with lightly toothed edges. The whole plant does not generally grow more than about 5 or 6 inches high so you have to look quite carefully for it as it is easily missed. The flowers are fragrant but only if you are close enough to the plant to pick up the elusive scent.

Parts Used: The leaves and flowers.

Constituents: The plant contains quite a wide variety of constituents (no surprise there, all herbs do!) including, but not limited to: phenolic glycosides such as gaultherin and salicylic acid methyl ester (which may explain the anti inflammatory action); volatile oils including curcumene and zingiberene; saponins such as violin; flavonoids such as rutin and violarutin, and lots of mucilage. flavonoid

Planetary Influence: Venus

Associated Deities and Heroes: Unsurprisingly enough given some of its nicknames, the Violet is associated with the love Goddesses Aphrodite and Venus as well as with Io and Orpheus.

Festival: I’m inclined to think most likely Ostara, the Spring Equinox, and Beltaine.

Constitution: Cool and moist in the first degree.

Actions and Indications: The pretty, delicate sweet violet has quite a wide array of medicinal uses, including in treating problems of the lungs, digestive tract and nerves. As it is a cooling, moistening herb, it is predominantly used to cool, soothe and relax inflamed, over stretched tissues

It can be used to treat catarrh, coughs and coughs, especially where these are long lasting and deep seated, as well as bronchitis, pleurisy and tuberculosis, due to the saponin content of the herb which promotes expectoration, or the removal of phlegm from the lungs. It makes a fantastic syrup for soothing children’s coughs, and is useful for those suffering feverish colds, making it suitable for relieving the symptoms of influenza. It can be gargled to relieve sore throats and used as a mouthwash to treat inflamed, sore gums. It combines well with Vervain and Colt’s Foot in the relief of Whooping Cough.

It is also a useful digestive herb, and can ease liver related problems such as jaundice, soothe haemorrhoids, and ease mild constipation. I would think that this is particularly applicable in overheated, tense people who easily anger and who are very stressed, but this is a theory at present. As soon as I test it out, I’ll update this document with the results!

As a soothing diuretic it is useful in the relief of inflamed and painful urinary infections such as cystitis and urethritis.

Violet has quite a reputation as an anti cancer herb, with reports that an infusion of the leaf can ease cancerous pain. The root is emetic and should be used with caution.

It is said to improve the memory and moderate anger, and can be of use in the relief of headaches and migraines especially where there is a sensation of heat related to this. Sweet Violet is a blood cleanser, so can be of use in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema, both internally and externally. Topically it can be used to treat skin inflammation. It is also antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral, and can be used as a cardiac tonic. As a part of a long term prescription, it can be used to help relieve rheumatism and related inflamed joint conditions.

Spiritual and Energetic Uses: Unsurprisingly, Violet is a fantastic remedy for those who struggle with excessive amounts of shyness, who may long to join in but be too afraid to. They can appear distant and aloof, and may choose jobs that they can do without having to interact too much with the world and the rest of the human race. As a result, they become isolated and lonely. Violet encourages shy people to have a go, to join in, and to find the courage and sense of identity required to join in with life without so much fear.

Because Violet is so gentle and soothing, she is also a wonderful herb to ease and relieve anger, especially where this is a knee jerk over reaction caused by constriction and an overly hot temperament.

Magical Uses: Violets are generally used for spells involving loyalty and justice, as well as enjoying a long standing reputation as a wonderful addition to love potions. Carrying the flowers is said to bring good fortune, and wearing a chaplet of them cures a headache, as does smelling the flowers, according to folklore.

To expand on the association of the flower with love, it is particularly associated with constancy of love and fertility, and were often carried in sachets mixed with lavender to attract love. As it associated with Venus and Aphrodite, it can be added to any incense to invoke either of these Goddesses.

Violets are generally associated with twilight, and violet wine or tea can be used at twilight to ease passage into the Otherworld. A wine of the flowers can be used at the summer or winter solstice in the evening whilst watching the sun rise or set.

Folklore: There’s quite a wide body of folklore surrounding this flower, as its use and popularity dates back to the Greeks. The name ‘viola’ is derived from the Greek name for the plant, ‘ione’, named after Io, the daughter of Inachus, a river deity. Typically enough for him, Zeus took a shine to her and decided to try and seduce her. Zeus changed himself into a cloud in the hopes that Hera wouldn’t figure out what he was up to, and approached Io – unfortunately for him, and fortunately for Io (Zeus does not have a reputation for using gentle seduction methods, shall we say!) Hera was right behind him and turned Io into a white heifer. Zeus provided the heifer with a field of violets to eat. One has to wonder if perhaps Hera was as much annoyed at Zeus’ womanising ways as she was saddened by the way he used and disposed of his lovers, not all of whom were willing. Then again, this is the same bad tempered Goddess who became suspicious of the beautiful heifer in the field, and sent flies to attack her. The poor creature couldn’t escape the flies so she jumped into the Ionian sea to escape them. The creature was turned back into a woman after Zeus gave his solemn promise never to look at her again.

The association the violet has with Orpheus comes from the myth that the plant grew where Orpheus’ lute fell after the Maenads killed him. Zeus placed his lute in the heavens as a constellation, and the flower was dedicated to Orpheus. A different variation on this story states that the violets grew underneath the lute whenever Orpheus put it down. I have to admit I prefer this story – there’s so much death and destruction in the Greek myths, its pleasant to read a myth where someone hasn’t died!

The Romans and Greeks both believed the violet to be a symbol of love, and both races liked to drink violet wine – amusing considering that the belief that wearing a crown of violets would cure a headache also originates from them! I suppose it could be considered a metaphorical ‘hair of the dog that bit you’!

The medieval era was particularly fond of the violet, and used it to perfume linens, added to pot pourri and used to flavour meads and alcoholic drinks, as well as added to both sweet and savoury dishes. Monks grew violet lawns as somewhere fragrant to sit and meditate.

The violet was one of Queen Victoria’s favourite flowers, and was sold on the streets in London as well as being used extensively in the perfume industry at the time.

More recent folklore and history mentions that Napolean gave violets to his wife on each wedding anniversary, and they were used as his emblem and password when he was in exile.

Dose: 1tsp of the dried herb infused in a cup of hot water for up to 15 minutes, three times per day. Make sure you cover the cup so you don’t lose all those lovely volatile oils in the steam. Tincture dosage is roughly 2mls three times a day, of a 1:5 40% strength tincture.

Contraindications: None known at present. The root can be emetic so probably best not to use this part of the plant at home.

Brought to you by Alex English at http://www.eldrumherbs.co.uk