05/03/2026
Medicinal Benefits of Violets
It doesn’t take a professional herbalist to tell you that violets spark joy. These beautiful blooms announce the arrival of spring and gladden the heart with their vibrant colors and delicate petals. Violet has traditionally been worked with to tend to the emotional and physical heart.
As far back as 1885, a study compared violet leaf vitamin C content to that of oranges and vitamin A content to that of spinach. From the basal leaves, if collected in spring, this early research reported that violets contain twice as much vitamin C as the same weight of orange and more than twice the amount of vitamin A, gram for gram, when compared with spinach! (Erichsen-Brown, 1979).
Early European recipes made syrup of the blossoms and traditionally it was used as a laxative for infants and children (Grieve, 1996). Sweet violet, also, has a long history of use as a cough remedy, especially bronchitis, and functions as an expectorant, as well as an anti-inflammatory (Hoffman, 2003).
Many of the older European-based herbalists, such as Grieve, who first published A Modern Herbal in 1931, and De Bairacli Levy (1973), note that violet has been used, historically, for the treatment of cancer. In North America, there are accounts of indigineous bands utilizing violet for cancer treatment (Erichsen-Brown, 1979). The American National Cancer Institute has been made aware of the folk uses of violets for cancer since at least the 1950s. (Erichson-Brown, 1979) Viola extract (i.e. tincture) inhibited the proliferation of activated lymphocytes (Hellinger, 2014) as well as negatively affecting other hyper-responsive immune functions. This indicates that violets may be useful in the therapy of disorders related to an overactive immune system (Hellinger, 2014).
Violets are more than just a pretty spring bloom—they’re a powerhouse of natural wellness. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and packed with vitamins A, C, calcium, and magnesium, making them a nourishing addition to your diet. Traditionally, violets have been used to support the respiratory system, soothing dry coughs, bronchitis, and throat irritation.
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Continued from post above: Traditionally, violets have been used to support the respiratory system, soothing dry coughs, bronchitis, and throat irritation. They are an excellent soother for baby’s with teething discomforts or irritability, upsetness.. constipation.
I use Violets for & Cold Season Tea for these reasons.
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Wildharvesting, Compounding Master Herbalist since 1995
Hellinger, R., Koehbach, J., Fedchuck, H., Sauer, B., Huber, R., Gruber, CW., and Grundemann, C., ( 2014) Immunosuppressive activity of an aqueous Viola tricolor herbal extract. J. Ethnopharmacol. Jan 10;151(1):299-306.
Hoffman, David. (2003) Medical Herbalism; The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press. Rochester, Vermont.
