Discovering Herbs: Viola tricolor
Many of us grow violets or wild pansies in our gardens but, whilst we appreciate their beauty, few of us grasp the importance of such special plants. Violets or violas are regarded as tonic herbs and if you spend some time watching the plant growing you will notice it doing some amazing things. At nightime or in wet weather it droops its pretty flower head, which means that the back of the flower receives the moisture, leaving its delicate face protected from the elements. Herbalists who worked with this plant hundreds of years ago would have noticed this kind of behaviour and probably regarded it as a plant that could protect the skin.
It is so much part of our culture that the hardy, yet delicate Viola inspired William Shakespeare to write of romance! The Viola is also known as heart’s-ease. It was believed that an infusion of the plant could help mend a broken heart, induce love and bring peace of mind.
Less romantically but rather more practically, Viola tricolor is used today in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis and acne. There is more scientific evidence today behind our use of the Violet than there was in the past. However this new understanding proves that early herbalists knew what they were doing all along. Viola tricolor works for skin conditions because it is a gentle, cooling and soothing cleanser. It contains chemicals called salicylates and rutin, which are thought to exert an anti-inflammatory action on the skin. The rutin content also helps prevent bruising and heals broken capillaries. Herbalists tend to use the tender Violet where there is a lot of heat in a skin condition, exactly because it cools and soothes. It also helps cleanse the body because it encourages an increase in bowel movements.
Viola tricolor is a very mild and gentle herb and is suited to children’s delicate and easily irritated skin. In fact most modern skin complaints would benefit from the old fashioned Violet.