Already at the beginning of the year, nature has provided for us. Edible wild plants are healthy and fragrant.
But is the violet also edible? The March Violets /Scented Violets (Viola odorata) are among the first harbingers of spring in the meadows and forest paths. The delicate purple flowers smell wonderful, have considerable healing properties, are edible and provide important nutrients. Among other things, they contain flavonoids (antioxidants), vitamin C, coumarins (have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and blood-thinning effects), saponins (fungicidal effect) and triterpenes (antibacterial and cortisone-like). Especially the first spring months of March and April are the best time to pick violets and eat them fresh. They taste good as a topping to salad, fruit salad or muesli and can serve as edible decoration to desserts.
From history
In ancient times, the violet was a sacred flower for many peoples. People wreathed their heads with it during the Saturnalia - Festivals in honor of God Saturn. The violet was dedicated to the great Pan, the almighty god of nature and life, guardian of forests and meadows, a deity as an allegorical link between man and nature. The healing power of violet was universally known in ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, recommended it against headaches and visual disturbances, as well as against melancholy, increased gall and mastitis. The first perfumes were made from scented violets. In Greek-Roman mythology, this perfume was used by the fire god Vulcanus/ Hephaestus to impress Venus/ Aphrodite.
The violet as a medicinal plant
Also in the modern naturopathy has proven itself violet with:
- Inflammation of the respiratory tract
- Cough and whooping cough
- Rheumatism of the wrists and ankles
- Bronchitis and bronchial catarrh
- Barleycorn
Violet species
There are in the wild more than 500 Violet species, which can be roughly divided into two categories. The first group includes the fragrant violets such as the March violet (Viola odorata), the dog violet (Viola canina), the wood violet (Viola reichenbachiana), the grove violet (Viola riviniana) and the rough violet (Viola hirta). The flowers of this group of violets have two petals above and three below. The second group includes the so-called Pansy: the alpine pansy (Viola lutea), the field pansy (Viola arvensis) and the wild tricolor pansy (Viola tricolor). These violets have four petals above and a wide below.
All the above listed species of violets are in the Folk medicine valued and find application against external and internal inflammations, against eye diseases and gastrointestinal irritations. The mild substance of the flowers and leaves, the so-called plant mucilage, has a cough-soothing, calming, expectorant and tonic effect.
Attention: Decorative usambara violet available in flower stores botanically does not belong to the family of violets and is poisonous!
Preparation and application
Tea infusion: add half a handful of plants in a liter of water and infuse for 5 min covered. For the treatment of Rheumatism and Bronchitis best suited are the flowers, both fresh and dried, four cups daily; for the treatment of the Respiratory and digestive tract - whole dried plants and two to three cups of tea a day.
The tea infusion combined with warm compresses of flowers and leaves on the lung and bronchial area is the best remedy for Whooping cough.
March violet cough syrup
Lightly crush three handfuls of fresh flowers, pour over a liter of water, add half a lemon, sliced, and infuse for half a day (about 12 hours) in a warm place. The infusion takes on a beautiful purple color. Strain the flowers and lemon slices, add a kilo of sugar and simmer in a water bath for about two hours until a syrup is formed. Pour the finished syrup into sterilized sealable bottles and store in a cool place. It can be kept for one year and after opening it should be used within the next three months.
The treatment with the violet syrup has proved to be especially effective for children in case of Cough, Bronchitis, Hoarseness and Voice loss, Sore throat, Common cold, Whooping cough and Asthma. The cough syrup can be taken three times a day one tablespoon pure or mixed with tea and diluted with water as a gargle.
Decoction for hand and foot baths for rheumatism
Pour a handful of fresh or dried flowers with a liter of water and leave to infuse for 5 min, covered. The flowers from the decoction can additionally be used as a compress and are also effective against cradle cap in young children.
Violet root
The roots of violet, or a decoction of it, in high doses is a strong Blood purifier and emetic and should only be used under the supervision of a physician or alternative practitioner.
Dried violet root helps children with Teething pain and has a soothing effect on the gums.
Violets in the kitchen
Candied violets as a sweet treat are known in Europe since modern times and are still offered in Toulouse / France. They were the favorite treat of Empress Elisabeth of Austria "Sissi", who, concerned about her figure, almost only this one sweet as such did not refuse.
This is how it`s done: Dip fresh, washed, drained violet blossoms in beaten egg whites of 2, spread on a tray lined with parchment paper, sprinkle with powdered sugar and leave to dry in a lukewarm oven at 50 degrees for about two hours.
Layer on fine paper and store in tightly sealed tins or jars until needed.
Fresh flowers serve as an appetizing decoration on spring or fruit salads. Dried violet flowers can be used all year round for salad toppings, alone or as part of a mixture of herbs. With flower ice cubes you can decorate drinks and cocktails, and with candied flowers - cakes and ice cream.
Tincture of violet
In homeopathy, tincture of violet is used for melancholy, sadness, melancholy, hypochondria and hysteria, poor memory, dizziness, heaviness and spasm of the eyelids, myopia, ringing and ringing in the ears, chest congestion with palpitations and chest pain.
Collection tips
The flowers of fragrant violet are collected in March and April, preferably on a dry day around noon, when the sun is at its highest. For this purpose, choose meadows that are far from cities and roads. The leaves are collected when the flowering phase is over, because only then do the leaves enter their proper vegetative phase. March violets can also be planted in gardens, they quickly multiply easily on the lawn in partial shade or under the fruit trees.
Sources:
The Messegue Herbal Encyclopedia, pp. 294-296.
Maurice Messegue, Nature is Always Right, pp. 158-159.
Koochek MH, Pipelzade MH, Mardani H, The effectiveness of Viola odorata in the prevention and treatment of formalin-induced lung damage in the rat. J Herbs, Spices Med Plants, 2003; 10: 95-103.
https://www.greeninfo.ru/grassy/viola_odorata.html/Article/_/aID/4690
Omas Lexikon der Kräuter- und Heilpflanzen, Augsburg 1998, pp.472-473.
Image sources:
Photographs of the author
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