If you want to learn about the health benefits of sweet violet, herbal preparations with sweet violet, and natural remedies with sweet violet for all sorts of health issues, continue reading this article.
Sweet violet (Viola odorata) or wood violet is one of the most beautiful wild Spring flowers, but did you know that beyond its natural beauty, this simple flower holds tremendous health benefits? Once you learn how to harvest, prepare and use this beautiful Spring flower, you will enjoy the many health benefits of sweet violet. But before we get to the health benefits of sweet violet and how to use this beautiful flower in natural remedies, here is how to harvest sweet violet and store it at home.
In This Article You Will Find:
How to Harvest Sweet Violet
Sweet violets are easily distinguishable by far for their wonderful scent and their slightly frosted purple flowers that grow one on each stem. The flowers, leaves, and roots of sweet violet are used for therapeutic purposes. The flowers are harvested during flowering time, the leaves in March-April, and the roots are harvested in early spring or autumn.
The best way to preserve the plant is through natural drying. Naturally, the drying is done in the shade, by placing the plant in a thin layer, on sheets of paper or mats, in ventilated spaces, in attics covered preferably with tin, in sheds, verandas, or on the balcony. After drying, pack the plant in linen bags or paper bags. You can store it before processing, as the whole plant, and grind it only before use. The roots can also be dried artificially using a dehydrator.
Health Benefits of Sweet Violet
Sweet violets were an extremely popular medicine in the Middle Ages. Their fragrance, delicate color, as well healing virtues inspired perfume makers, healers, and alchemists alike. The truth is that all the parts of this plant are loaded with healing substances.
- sweet violet flowers contain a volatile oil that gives off a strong but delicate scent, mucilages, and an anthocyanin, which gives it the specific blue-purple color.
- the leaves contain rutoside and saponins.
- the roots are loaded with saponins, alkaloids violene, and odorantine (responsible for the emetic action).
Sweet violet has exerted anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, diuretic, antihypertensive, and antibacterial properties in modern phytotherapy. In large doses, the sweet violet root acts as a deep cleanser for the digestive tract, which is why they were used in indigestion, but also as emergency treatments in poisonings. Used in moderate doses, the whole plant has beneficial effects in colds accompanied by fever, in treating wounds, as well as as a general tonic. Now that you know the main health benefits of sweet violet, here are the natural ways to use sweet violet as medicine.
6 Natural Medicines with Sweet Violet
1. Sweet Violet Maceration
Preparation: For the maceration, use dried sweet violet flowers. Soak 2 teaspoons of dried flowers for 3 hours in 150 ml of water at room temperature, then strain. Sweeten to taste.
- Health benefits of sweet violet maceration: has expectorant properties, and is recommended in respiratory conditions.
2. Sweet Violet Infusion
Preparation: Infuse 2 tablespoons of dried and coarsely chopped leaves in 250 ml (1 cup) of hot water. Leave covered for 30 minutes, then strain and sweeten to taste with honey.
- Health benefits of sweet violet infusion: respiratory tract conditions and capillary conditions (capillary fragility, broken vessels in the lower limbs)
3. Sweet Violet Decoction
Preparation: Boil 2 tablespoons of dried and coarsely chopped root over low heat for 30 minutes in 250 ml (1 cup) of water in a stainless steel or enamel pot. Refill with water to make up for the evaporated water, so you have the initial quantity. Strain while hot through a piece of gauze moistened with a little water. Just like the infusion, you can sweeten to taste with honey.
- Health benefits of sweet violet decoction: The decoction is used externally in the treatment of various skin diseases, such as allergic eczema, internally as an emetic after intoxication, and for treating alcohol addiction.
4. Sweet Violet Tincture Recipe
Preparation: Soak 20 grams of sweet violet leaves or root in 100 ml of homemade food alcohol in a sealed jar for 10 days, stirring 3-4 times a day. Strain through a gauze, and leave the tincture to decant in the refrigerator for 6 days. Gently transfer the clear part of the tincture to an amber bottle with a dropper, but not residue that has settled on the bottom of the jar. The sweet violet tincture can be used for two years from the date of preparation. If deposits are observed during storage, shake the bottle before use.
- Health benefits of sweet violet tincture: The tincture is used externally in the treatment of various skin diseases and internally for capillary conditions (capillary fragility, broken vessels in the lower limbs). Its close cousin, Viola tricolor is also amazing for weight loss.
5. Sweet Violet Wine Recipe
Preparation: Soak 20 grams of dried flowers in a liter of white wine for 10 days, shaking 2-3 times a day. After 10 days, the wine is strained and stored in 200 or 250 ml amber bottles. The result is a pink-purple wine with a very pleasant smell and taste. If the wine used has an alcohol content of at least 11%, the shelf life of the sweet violet wine is one year.
- Health benefits of sweet violet wine: The wine is used in capillary conditions, capillary fragility, spider veins, etc.
6. Sweet Violet Syrup
Preparation: Boil 20 grams (4 tablespoons) of dried flowers for a few minutes in 500 ml (2 cups) of water. After cooling down, strain and mix with 500 g of honey. The result is a purple syrup with a pleasant taste.
- Health benefits of sweet violet syrup: Sweet violet syrup has been used in the past as a natural colorant in the food and medicine industry, especially in baby syrups. In the household, it can be used to add natural coloring to desserts.
5 Sweet Violet Natural Remedies
1. Respiratory Conditions
One of the main health benefits of sweet violet is in respiratory tract conditions. The sweet violet remedy for bronchitis and whooping cough with fever is powdered flowers and dried roots: 1 teaspoon, three to four times a day. The active principles of the plant lower body temperature and protect the cardiovascular system, and it also has expectorant properties, due to the saponins in the root.
Sweet violet is also a great natural cure for laryngitis, tracheitis, broncho-pneumonia, and asthma. For this, you can have 2 cups of sweet violet maceration a day, 3 cups of infusion, or 2 cups of decoction, sweeten with honey to taste.
2. Capillary Fragility
For capillary conditions, including capillary fragility, and broken vessels in the lower limbs, you can use sweet violet infusion, tincture, or medicinal wine. Thus, have 3 cups of infusion a day, or 30 drops of sweet violet tincture, 3 times a day, to a cup of periwinkle tea (Vinca minor). Or, 3 tablespoons of medicinal wine, 3 times a day, after meals.
3. Intoxication & Alcohol Addiction
Whether it’s food, alcohol, or drug poisoning, one of the key health benefits of sweet violet is in purging out toxicity from the digestive tract. For this, you can use the sweet violet decoction, prepared according to the method described above, but using a double amount of root, ie 4 tablespoons, in the same amount of water (one cup). Drink the decoction lukewarm and unsweetened in one sip.
This tea will induce a strong vomiting reaction, which will promptly evacuate all harmful substances from the stomach, and then you will experience an extraordinary feeling of relief. It is also a great remedy for migraines caused by biliary problems and indigestion.
To use this remedy to treat alcohol addiction, after drinking the decoction, consume a moderate amount of alcohol drink, a glass of wine, or a bottle of beer. Repeat the procedure every 3 days in a row. You will experience discomfort that manifests through nausea, redness of the face, and headaches, which in time create repulsion towards alcohol. You have to have enough determination to succeed.
Read Also: 10 Old Russian Home Remedies for Alcohol Addiction
4. Cancer
A natural remedy for cancer from Bavaria (Germany) uses sweet violet both internally and externally with great results. Internally, have 4 teaspoons of dry root powder a day. For patients suffering from constipation, fresh sweet violet leaf juice is given once every two days – a quarter of a glass, in a single dose, in the morning. Externally, apply compresses with freshly crushed sweet violet leaves on a wooden board to the affected area for at least one hour daily. The treatment is effective in skin cancers especially, being useful for externalized malignant tumors. This is one of the less-known health benefits of sweet violet.
5. Sweet Violet Cleansing Milk
In a three-quarters full cup of hot milk, add a handful of fresh sweet violet flowers. Stir gently and allow to infuse for half an hour. Use the sweet violet milk to cleanse the skin (as a natural makeup removal emulsion). You can also use it in face masks for cleansing and softening the skin. It has amazing rejuvenating effects on the skin. The close cousin of sweet violet, the wild pansy is also a great natural skincare flower.
The Sweet Violet, Last Century’s Elegance
The gorgeous sweet violet flowers had their glory between the two world wars. Back in the days, elegant ladies wore them in bouquets, or on their tailored lapels, as the sweet violet scent was the supreme gift that a woman could wish for. These days, sweet violets have grown increasingly rare, as well as their scent. This is why the delicate sweet violets perfume brings back the memories of times gone by.
Read About The Health Uses of Other Spring Flowers:
Corydalis
Cowslip
Daffodil
Daisy
Lily of the Valley
Snowdrop
Luckily, nature’s pharmacy still praises the healing virtues of the lovely sweet violets. If you’ve enjoyed reading about the health benefits of sweet violets, and how to harvest them and use them in natural remedies, please share this article so more people can learn about these healing Spring flowers. Stay healthy, naturally.
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