Here in the UK spring is springing, new life abounds and people are visibly more relaxed and open as the sun gently warms their faces. We have been out on the Downs, sampling the spring greens and enjoying all the sights and sounds of nature.
What a lovely time of year this is, not least because of the swathes of violets that carpet areas of the woods and verges. Violet is surely one of our most treasured spring plants and is synonymous with the return of brighter days as the wheel of the year cycles round. I have written a few posts on violet before but this year I wanted to write a little more about why it is such a lovely spring tonic herb and how well its virtues are rooted in the season.
Firstly violet is a wonderful herb for awakening the lymphatic system which functions, in simplistic terms, as a kind of waste disposal and treatment facility for the body tissues. It carries the lymph fluid that originates from blood plasma through a series of ducts and nodes which are also primary sites for immune activity. Lymph nodes become swollen when overloaded which we notice as hard or raised glands. Conditions such as sinusitis, ear problems and breast tenderness are all connected to under functioning lymphatics. The lymph tends to become quite sluggish over the winter months due to the fact that we move less, eat more and the cold contracts our vessels and thickens fluids. Spring is the most wonderful time to give your lymphatic system some love by moving your body, breathing deeply and enjoying spring greens like violets and cleavers. The lymphatic system has no pump of its own so is reliant on the movement of the muscles, the blood circulation and the breath to assist it around the body. It is in this relationship of fluids and movement that I see violet’s qualities coming to the fore.
Violet is considered a cooling, moist herb. When I consume the flowers fresh or as a tea my first impression is of the demulcent quality it is famed for, but always there is a slightly astringent after effect, a subtle yet noticeable toning. The combination of soothing moisture and gentle tonification reflects the relationship between tension and relaxation that the lymphatic system needs to move freely and do its work effectively. The leaves alone are more straight forwardly demulcent, helping to keep our body’s fluids flowing.
Secondly it is rich in minerals and vitamins and helps to restore lost nutrients after the months of winter stodge (what another roast potato? I don’t mind if I do!). It has that light, fresh greenness that our bodies crave when the warmer weather arrives and it contains plentiful vitamin A and C along with other antioxidants.
Next it can be helpful for sore throats and dry coughs or those where the mucus is sticky and not easily expelled, afflictions which can often strike at the change of season as warmer temperatures encourage bugs to multiply.
Fourthly it is beautiful aromatic, a quality which uplifts and opens us physically, mentally and emotionally after we have been more closed in over winter. The fragrance on the wind helps us to breath more deeply, which in itself improves lymphatic flow and expulsion of toxins through the lungs.
Finally, and somewhat metaphorically, it is a great herb for childhood which has long been associated with the springtime of life. It has a number of useful applications; as a syrup or honey in the over ones for coughs and sore throats or to ease mild constipation and also as an infused oil made into a salve or cream for easing dry skin conditions. My little one has been sampling his first violets this spring and has been enjoying the tea diluted in his beaker for the last few days.
Violet tea made with the fresh leaf and flower turns the most beautiful colour – vivid green if you include mainly leaf and rich turquoise with the addition of more flowers.
Violet is the perfect example of medicine that is more than the sum of its constituents.
Whist it is not perhaps the strongest acting of herbs when it is tinctured and bottled, though of course it still has valuable uses, when it is admired in the wild, eaten and drunk as part of a seasonal diet and appreciated for it’s beauty, violet is perhaps one of the best spring medicines we have. We tend to think about constituents and medicinal actions as something apart from how we experience the plant in our bodies – our senses being subjective and treacherous when compared to cold, hard science – but, much like spring itself, violets help you to feel well through their simple act of being.
You can read more about violets as medicine in this post here or see here for information about using them in a breast massage oil. Also here is a recent and informative post written by American herbalist Jim McDonald.
What beautiful photos! Living in Northern Canada no real signs of spring yet, but so looking forward to the bog violets peeking out in the woods.
I love all the information you’ve provided here, and am looking froward to reading more of your lovely blog.
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Thank you! I hope spring arrives soon and finds you well. x
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Lucinda,
Your words and photos grace the world of emails just as the violets do the countryside. Here across the ocean, in what is typically a milder climate for Virginia, we have a new blanket of snow and the violets still sleep beneath it. They have been on my mind so much lately because I know it won’t be long before I enjoy their virtues! For now, I am enjoying the beauty of my Witch Hazel in full bloom decorated with snow.
Thank you for sharing the photo of your adorable son!
Konstantina
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Thank you Konstantina, you are too kind! Our witch hazel is over now, I bet yours looks stunning with a dusting of snow. Enjoy the violets when they awake. x
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Beautiful work! Not a beginner illustration at all…showing the back of the leaf so artfully, and all stages of the bloom…excellent work!
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Thank you so much. I hope to get chance to practice and improve my skills soon. 🙂
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Your botanical illustration is beautiful…keep going..and thank you for the wonderful information regarding violets for everyone. angela
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Thanks Angela. x
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Lovely post Lucinda. I too have a great fondness for viola…such a soft and humble plant. The home where I grew up had an ambling ground cover of them all up one side of the garden, and I distinctly remember as a kid being equally delighted and confounded by how one of the most ordinary looking plants in the garden could have the sweetest smelling flowers…trumping all the more showy blooms. Beautiful drawing and bub also!
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Yes they are one of the plants that show how small can be beautiful aren’t they. I see the pansies and cultivated violas in the garden centre and for me they are nowhere near as lovely as the small sweet violets and heartsease. x
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Very intersting IiI have a ghastly throat at the moment so Inwill try your violet tea. Hope you are enjoying this time with baby Rowan.
Ann McLaughlin
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Thanks Ann, I hope you are feeling better now and the violets helped soothe your throat. xx
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Hi Lucinda, thanks again for a wonderful article, I love your work and writing and have added your link to the HSF page ‘sites and blogs that we like’ http://www.hsf-network.com/en/category/sites-and-blogs-that-we-like/
love Cathy Skipper
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Thanks Cathy, that’s great. I will add you to my links too. I always enjoy your articles on Herb Geek. 🙂
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What a gorgeous post, and that is an absolutely stunning drawing of violets at the end – you are very, very talented! So, when are you bringing out your first illustrated herbal?? 😀
In other news – very few violets around here that I have noticed, sadly. A few in the garden (the previous tenants must have loved this place as the garden is packed with wildflowers and cottage garden plants!) but not many violets growing wild. I think I may have to take myself off in search of them today, time permitting!
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Thanks Ali! The illustrated herbal is in my plans… though the rate I am going it won’t be progressing much till the cub starts school!!
Did you find any violets? Is your new place still in Lincolnshire?
xx
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Hello Lucinda, Thanks for this beautiful article and perfect pictures. My violets are a little sparse as the slugs have been active early but I have a little pot of infusing flowers on my windowsill, thanks to your earlier article. Your painting and your child are works of art and love ~ Happy Spring!
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Happy spring Morvah! I hope you get to enjoy the violets that the slugs have been kind enough to spare you. 🙂 x
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What a lovely treat to get a new Whispering Earth post in my inbox! As always, your writing and photos evoke a wonderful feeling that shall stay with me through the day. And you and Roo look like violets yourselves 🙂 So glad you found a little time for yourself to write. XO
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Yes I realised when I looked at the photos we had dressed in spring green and purple! It must have been subconscious. 😀 xx
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So wonderful to have a post from you! Ah the challenges of finding time to write with a young one. And beautiful drawing. I thought at first it was an Audubon print, and was thinking ‘that’s one I’d hang on my wall’. I’ve never tried tea from violets. I used to have a thick carpet of them under a contorted filbert tree, but we are in the process of moving. I shall make sure I plant more, wherever we end up.
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One of the good things about violets is how readily they spread so perhaps you could take a few with you.
It is a challenge getting time for much writing at the moment, or much of anything! I remind myself that this special time together will pass all to quickly though.
I hope your move goes smoothly. x
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From you I learnt to appreciate rosemary, now I have new reasons to love violet, the botanical illustration is beautiful like the person who painted it. Thank you for sharing my dear Lucinda 🙂
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Thanks for your lovely words Deb. ❤
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Always look forward to your posts. Don’t know about violets in Canada but it sounds like a wonderful tonic. Love the art work, so good.
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Thanks Helena!
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What a lovely post! So glad I came across your blog.
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Thank you. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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We are still with a few feet of snow here in Minnesota, USA. Though having lived in England with those memories of walking in the woods, and reading about violets in your spring email, I definitely felt a huge in and out breath. I didn’t realise this about the lymphatic system – so interesting – thank you.
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Thanks Sue. It’s nice that you have the violets still to come, ours are ending now, they are in bloom all too briefly! x
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This post cheers my heart! I’ve been thinking of violets lately – likely because I’m navigating my way though a dry cough. Some violet tea would be lovely right about now!
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I hope you found some violets and they helped to sooth your chest. Take care. x
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What a beautiful post. That dear sweet child of yours left me with a smile….such a darling. He will learn your ways and this warms my heart.
I walked Nella yesterday and found sweet violets growing beneath the old Hawthorn hedgerow. It lifted my spirits just to see them.
Your illustration is so beautiful…..you are one talented lady my dear.
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So lovely to hear from you Cheryl. Hawthorn and violets are two of my very favourite plants, it must surely have been a fairy spot you found. 🙂
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How lovely to receive your Violet post Lucinda. You both look so Bonny! The illustration is beautiful and would love a copy to hang on my wall. Dear Violet has traveled with me in a pot from my home county of Kent these past 5 years. She appeared on my doorstep and we fell in love! She helped to cool my hot eczema. Where did you go foraging for Violets on the Downs? There is so little here in Barcombe.
I will see you soon at WoWo for a foraging and medicinal walk x x
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So glad you and violets are travelling together. I think she is a powerful ally!
I will look forward to seeing you at wowo’s. 🙂 xx
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beautiful post-I love fresh violets too-and when I see them here I know spring has finally arrived to stay
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Thanks Kathy and happy spring!
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So lovely to receive your post. Loving the violets and the lovely pic of you and your boy! Your illustration is absolutely beautiful! x
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Thanks Fiona! I hope you get to enjoy some violets this spring. x
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Simply Lovely! I have been picking violets the past few years and candying them with my son to decorate his birthday cake. Sugar, I know, but still it is fun to share some herbalism with him. It has become a special tradition with beautiful tea to drink, too!
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How lovely, candying violets is one thing I have never done. When my little one is a bit older it will be a lovely thing to do together. His birthday is also in March so it could become a tradition for his cake too! 🙂
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Lovely to hear from you again in your spring as we enter our autumn here in Australia. I adore your photos and information and WOW what a wonderful botanical illustration.
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Thank you Joanne! I hope you have a wonderful autumn in your part of the world. x
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What an insightful and beautiful post! I adore violets for so many reasons..I love to toss them into salads and yes, also in tea and syrups. Such a very delicate and yet distinctive aroma and taste. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and artistic photography.
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Thank you Karen, they really are one of the treasures of spring aren’t they!
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Pretty amazing for a first attempt at botanical illustration! Lovely photos as usual too.
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Thank you. When I see the amazing detail achieved by the pros I know what a very long way I have to go, but I enjoy it which is the main thing. 🙂
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I’d like to make some violet oil for massage use. I see that you use leaves and flowers for violet tea. What about for oil? Should I use a combination of both or only use flowers?
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You can use both or either. With the flowers you get a delicate fragrance but it will still be effective even if you just use the leaf alone.
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I knew about sweet violet oil when I studied Shia Islam doctrine, in there I found numerous quotes from The Imams (a.s) encouraging and stating the importance of dealing with violet oil, The Imam used the word dealing with violet to instruct us in the way to use it, orally or by skin application or by sniffing it.
In Kuwait where I live the weather occaisionally brings sand and dust storms, applying the oil on the inside of my nostrils helps relieve and spares me from an allergy which the population suffers during sandy days.
Also theres a common problem of dry to chappy skin in the area behind the ears that I used to suffer from but once I started applying the oil it was healed within minutes.
After weeks of maintanance application I collected enough comfort to try the oil orally,1st time I ingested the oil after a couple of hours I started to feel something smoothly travelling up my chest through my throat to my mouth to be expelled, it was very heavy mucus with a white ball the size of a cherry seed.
There are more benefits but I’ll leave it here.
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Fascinating, thank you for sharing your experience.
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