Sweet Violets
Romantic and showy, sweet violet grows on woodland edges, its flowers providing nectar for butterflies in early spring.
Health benefits: Sweet Violet is used for nervous strain, hysteria, physical and mental exhaustion, symptoms of menopause (hot flashes), depression, and irritability. It is also used for digestive tract complaints such as abdominal pain, swelling (inflammation) of the stomach and intestines and the tissues that line them, digestion problems caused by improper diet, gas, heartburn, gallbladder disorders, and loss of appetite. Some people use sweet violet for respiratory tract conditions, particularly dry or sore throat, stuffy nose, coughs, hoarseness, and bronchitis. Other uses include treating pain in minor joints, fever, skin diseases, headache, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and tuberculosis. Sweet Violet is sometimes applied directly to the skin for skin disorders and as a skin cleanser. In herbal combinations, sweet violet is used for breathing problems including sudden (acute) and ongoing (chronic) bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, “dust-damaged” lungs, swelling (inflammation) of the respiratory tract, cold and flu symptoms, hoarseness, cough, and chest congestion. These herbal combinations are also used for involuntary urination (incontinence) in older people, bed-wetting, irritable bladder, and prostate conditions. Other uses include treating the inability to sleep (insomnia) and improving deep sleep.
Other use: The Sweet Violet can be used in the bath as soap and often used for their decorative element in crafts such as candles, paper making and potpourri.
How to make a Sweet Violet Tea?
Put 1 tablespoon of Sweet Violet into 250 ml of hot water, cover and leave for 3 minutes. It tastes great both hot and cold, you can also enrich the drink with various natural additives, as well as add pomegranate flowers, e.g. to white or green tea.