Violet Leaf & Flower

Above: Violet soraria, photo by Auntie Dogmas Garden Spot

This blog post is part of my 2021 Herbal Oil Blog Series and addresses Violet leaf and flower, including how to make a Violet-infused oil.

Internal Use

Violet’s bright flowers and heart-shaped leaves serve as a wonderful bitter tonic that moisturizes dryness inside and out that may be left over from winter, and they stimulate sluggish digestion many are prone to in the spring.

Additionally, violet is an alterative, enhancing the function of some eliminatory systems (bowel, liver, and lymph). This makes it the perfect herb for a spring re-boot. Because violet is an alterative that has a specific affinity for the Lymphatic System, it is also considered to be a lymph tonic, aka “lymphagogue”, relieving stagnation in the lymph and lymph nodes.

Violet tea or tincture can be taken internally as part of a formula for acute breast or lymph node infections and lymphatic stagnation. Violet also has anti-tumor properties, and the entire above-ground herb is used internally in breast, lymphatic, skin, mouth, colon, and lung cancer formulas.

Violet is incredibly cooling and moistening. The flowers can be made into a soothing cough syrup for someone who has hot and irritated lungs and a dry and lingering cough—the kind that usually occurs after recovery from a respiratory infection.

Because of violet’s incredibly moistening nature, it is best used internally if any of the situations above are accompanied by constipation or sluggish bowels. Otherwise, use violet as a small part of a larger formula, as it can have quite a laxative effect. For spring re-boot purposes, it goes well with herbs like dandelion leaf, as well as the bitter roots of dandelion and burdock.

To drink as a tea, steep 1-2 tsp of dried and crushed violet leaves and flowers in hot water for 40 minutes. I suggest using it in combination with other herbs, as on its own violet can be quite bitter and have a laxative effect.

External Use

A combination of violet leaves and flowers infused into a base oil makes a lovely massage oil. Cooling and moistening, with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, violet soothes tender, inflamed, or infected lymph nodes, nourishes the breast tissue, and stimulates general lymphatic circulation and drainage. It is wonderful for self-breast massage and lymphatic drainage massage.

Because of its affinity for lymphatic tissue, violet oil is particularly helpful for breast health. Those who have breast pain due to size, stagnation, infection, or hormonal fluctuations in their cycle will appreciate the relief a gentle self-breast massage with violet oil will bring. Violet oil massage is beneficial for both cyclic and non-cyclic breast pain, fibrocystic breasts, breast cysts, mastitis and other breast and axillary lymph node infections, breast and axillary lymphatic stagnation, and lymphedema. You can combine violet-infused oil with dandelion flower, calendula, or red clover blossom oils for these purposes.

Free Violet Info Card Download