Perhaps this isn’t the season for violets in your part of the world if you’re still experiencing cold weather, but I decided to reserve this post about violets this month as my sister sent me some photos of violets from Cyprus a few days ago. It happens to be warm enough in Cyprus right now for the appearance of violets.
I remember walking towards the lawn in our house in Michigan for the first time back in May 2014, awestruck at the sight of violets that had taken over the land. I loved violets in Cyprus, and it was a delight to see them so widely spread in our new home in Michigan. When I picked one and brought it closer to smell its pleasing sweet aroma, I was surprised that there was nearly no fragrance. Later, I found out that the North American violet (Common Blue Violet) does not have the distinct aroma of the European Sweet Violet. I was not aware of the distinction. Nevertheless, this Common Blue Violet was still a medicinal and food herb.
Violet, just like Stinging Nettle, is an alterative herb which means it is a blood cleanser. Alterative herbs are especially useful in treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema. They also optimize liver function and cellular metabolism and so are helpful during fasts/detox. Traditionally it is used to treat dry hacking cough, and recommended for bronchitis and whooping cough. For this treatment, it’s best combined with marshmallow root. Violet also has cooling and soothing properties, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. This can deem it helpful in treating insect bites, hemorrhoids, cuts and varicose veins. There’s also traditional use of it in treating swollen lymph nodes. In order to benefit from this beautiful herb, the flowers and the leaves are made into tea, used in the form of infused oil, poultice, salve, and are consumed raw in salads, pesto, wraps or cooked in soups, sautés, or steamed . The flowers are usually more preferable as a food if used raw because the leaves may not always taste pleasant especially if they’ve become too fibrous. Finally the leaves contain mucilage (soluble fiber) which is helpful in lowering cholesterol levels, and in restoring beneficial gut flora as the flora feed off of it. Harvest violet only if you are 100% sure of it and when the flowers are present as violet has some poisonous look-alikes.
Disclaimer: This content is not intended as substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to apply this information.
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