Native Herbal Spotlight: Violets

Alexis Black
1 day ago
7 min read

Viola betonicifolia by Casliber — *Viola betonicifolia* by Casliber

Latin binomial: Viola spp.

V. betonicifolia, V. hederacea are natives I have experience with (there are 9+ native species in Victoria alone)

V. odorata, V. tricolor are traditional.

Common names: Violet, heart's ease, wild pansy, johnny jump up

Family: Violaceae

Parts used: leaves, flowers

Native to: A global species, typically found in temperate areas

Taste: sweet, salty, some species bitter

Affinities: mucous membranes, respiratory, lymphatic, heart, skin, urinary

Energetics: cooling, moistening

Tissue States: atrophy, excitation, stagnation

Astrology: Venus

Primary Actions: Demulcent, relaxing expectorant, vulnerary, lymphatic, alterative, mild diuretic, mild bitter, nutritive tonic, mild immune modulator, cordial, nervine ally

Other actions: inflammation modulator, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, hypoglycaemic, anticancer/cytotoxic

Constituents: salicylic acid derivatives such as methyl salicylate and its precursor gaultherin; a broad range of phenol carboxylic acids including transcaffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, gentisic acid, sinapic acid, and ferulic acid; mucilages (complex polysaccharides); tannins; a diverse profile of flavonoids (rutin, violaquercitrin, violanthin, scoparin, saponaretin, orientin, vicenin, vitexin, isovitexin, luteolin and apigenin glycosides, anthocyanidin glycosides, and violarutin); carotenoids; coumarins including umbelliferone; triterpenoid saponins (violapeptide I, myrosin, violin, arveninosides) based on sapogenins like dimorphic acid; alkaloids (odoratine); essential oils containing constituents like ionone and eugenol; the characteristic cyclic peptides known as cyclotides (e.g., cycloviolacins, kalata B1); vitamins including ascorbic acid (C), tocopherol (E), and A; and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.

Main Clinical Patterns:

Dry or Inflamed Digestion
Skin Conditions
Atrophy/Stagnation of Lymphatics
Dry Respiratory system
Nutritive tonic

Moist, soothing, and delicate. Violet is often overlooked for the stronger lymphatics. Look for her when there is atrophy, stagnation and a need to be held.

Violets are one of those herbs I feel often is over looked (sensing a pattern yet?). Found abundantly both as native species in the wild, and as an exotic species in gardens, or naturalised elsewhere.

One of the classic 'spring tonics', a group of herbs that appear in spring (or winter here) with bitter, lymphatic, alterative, and nutritive qualities. Violets join the often over looked and sometimes denigrated 'weeds': dandelion, chickweed, nettle, and cleavers to name a few. Violet stands apart for it's mucilage and cordial qualities. Here we have a incredibly moistening herb, probably only comparable to Malvaceae herbs (ie marshmallow, okra) and licorice, mixed with calming nervine and lymphatic. Quite a unique combination of actions possibly only comparable to borage, another moist calming nervine, which I would argue focuses more on the adrenals. In the digestive system we see violet as a soothing balm, protecting and healing the mucosa, modulating inflammation in the gut via multiple mechanisms, acting as a gentle antimicrobial. We also see violets effects as a lymphatic helping the gut if there is hyperpermeability by flushing out any immune triggers. Mucilage being a soluble fibre also makes mucilaginous preparations prebiotic and beneficial to the gut microbiota. Here violet blends well with herbals I'd term 'digestive vulneraries' such as ribwort (Plantago spp.), calendula (Calendula officinalis), St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) especially if the nerves are involved, and stronger antimicrobials if indicated.

All benefits for the integumentary system are basically identical to those of the mucous membranes of the digestive system. Don't forget how herbs specifically for one are often just as effective for the other! While speaking more specifically of it's benefits as a mucilage, it's important to note that the tincture/fluid extract of the herb will often contain very little depending on the processing and substrate used. Heat tends to break down mucilage and is sometimes used in making fluid extracts, just compare a hot tea to an overnight cold infusion, the difference is astonishing. Ethanol content can also effect the extraction of mucilage, low ethanol aqueous solutions extract and preserve the mucilage, however high ethanol tends to extract very little. In between these two extremes I find the mucilage is extracted, but difficult to strain from the marc (remaining herbal material) as it is either extremely viscous, or the ethanol tends to coagulate the mucilage causing it to fall out of solution. For this reason, when the mucilage is the component required, I recommend cold infusions primarily (or using as food).

Now onto the lymphatic system, which I like to think as the Venusian counterpart to the Martian cardiovascular system; violet's primary action here is as a lymphatic alterative. Violet has an affinity for a dry / atrophic lymphatic system, especially where there are swollen but more specifically hard lymph nodes (also check for a dry tongue). Violet softens the nodes and encourages flow of the lymph, flushing out debris and endotoxins from infection, and allowing the immune system to reach tissues along with needed nutrition. This is useful during infections, afterwards when you've got that post infection malaise, or to help with more immune driven conditions such as allergies. In the respiratory system we see a lot of the same effects as the digestive system as they are both mucous membranes, here we don't have the topical effects however. Other than those mentioned above, violets are a relaxing expectorant softening and loosening mucous to aid in expectoration. As a nervine violet is interesting. I'd categorise it as both a cordial (specifically the flowers) and as a 'nervine ally'. I consider nervine allies as herbs that support or nourish the nervous system, but in a way that typically differs from our classical nervines. Primarily they tend to have a moistening or oily quality to them and I think it is here that they tend to differ from the majority of the classical nervines. This is pure speculation, but where as the classical nervines tend to act on the nerves via neurotransmitter modulation (or sometimes endocrine based cascades), the nervine allies nourish the nerves in primarily a more physical and practical sense. Oddly enough the nervine allies also often have spasmolytic effects without being sedating, usually via sodium channel effects or simply warming the area via increased blood flow. The oily apiaceous nervines nourish the myelin sheath via a like-treats-like affinity. So I theorise that the moistening nervines have a similar affinity for the nervous tissue, or possibly the connective tissue / extracellular matrix with cascading effects to the rest of the body (compare gotu kola - Centella spp. as a nervine).

As a cordial violet is effective in lifting the spirits and acting on the emotional heart, as such there is an old usage of violets for "comforting and strengthening the heart", as well as for moderating anger. Here I'm sure the flower essence is just as effective for the emotional indications which also include: shyness, fear of groups/crowds, sense of aloofness. When it comes to the anger indication I believe this may have more to do with Violet's effects on the liver. Kiva Rosethorn mentions violet as a hepatic relaxant, reducing tension and stagnation of the liver, and thus of emotions the liver tends to hold sway over.

Seeing as there is such a vast range of Viola species native to Australia, and in general, I've compiled some basic taste based differentiations so you can get an idea of the actions in a specific species yourself. Also a great way to differentiate the efficacy of individual herbs or different batches of products.

An Organoleptic Differentiation of Species:

Subtle sweetness and slippery mouthfeel
- Here we are sensing the presence of mucilage, lending this plant to moistening and cooling dry or hot conditions, specific to the mucous membranes.
Bitter
- This could be from a few different compounds: saponins, alkaloids, or bitter principles. Bitter will always affect the vagus nerve and thus the liver and digestive system. Saponin content can help with expectorant actions, some of these also have antimicrobial activity. Bitters tend to have a cooling effect on the body. May also relate to the alterative and lymphatic effects.
Dry / Astringent
- Indicates the presence of tannins, having a toning effect on the mucosa and inflammation modulating action.
Cooling aromatic sensation
- This indicates the presence of salicylate derivatives such as methyl salicylate which has a wintergreen like scent. This lends a cooling, inflammation modulating, and analgesic action.
Green / floral notes
- Indicates the presence of flavonoids, carotenoids, and volatile compounds such as ionone. These have cooling, antioxidant, inflammation modulating actions.
Salty
- Higher mineral content. Nutritive tonic. Personally find more grounding.
Fragrant flowers
- Cordial, gladdening for the heart and spirit.

In my own practice I personally tend to use violet in the following ways:

Formula balancing - Honestly one of the main ways I use violet is to add moisture to a formula, usually as a toss up between violet, liquorice, or marshmallow. (Borage also lends well here but is only allowed use as a food in Aus).
Emotional/Intuition - one of the main reasons I often add violet to a formula is because it just feels right. Usually I can also tie it into the symptomatic or emotional picture, but it often comes to mind before I've picked it for any particular reason. There is just a particular softness to violet that makes it perfect for some people.
Leaky Gut - if the digestion seems inflamed, or atrophic/dry, and there is immune/skin condition involvement, violet leaves as a cold infusion often gets added to my recommendations over other mucilage such as marshmallow or slippery elm. I find violet more effective at cooling inflammation and has the additional lymphatic effects. Pairs well with liquorice and the digestive vulneraries here.
Chronic Lymphatic stagnation - there are a few herbs that would work well here, violet compares most to the more gentle food-like lymphatics. Because of this it is fantastic for long term use and generally cheaper (or free if foraged) in comparison to the often default lympathic: echinacea.
Spring/Nutritive tonic - this is usually more in a seasonal tea blend picked from the garden, or used in food (pesto usually).