Heartsease for eczema, asthma and rheumatism
Heartsease or Wild Pansy, Viola tricolor, is also sometimes called Garden Violet (which is a name also sometimes used for the Sweet Violet), Johnny Jumper and Stepmother Herb. It’s closely related to the Sweet Violet.
The characteristic shape of the heartsease is familiar in extensive hybridized forms sold as bedding plants in all the colors of the rainbow. They are popular with children, who like the fact that the flowers look like faces. Although usually grown as an annual, wild pansies are hardy perennials. As they only reach a height and spread of around 6 inches (15cm) they are ideal candidates for the front of borders and beds.
Heartsease does not like alkaline soil, and will not grow in full shade, but is otherwise happy in most places, so long as the soil is moist.
All parts above the soil are edible and can be used in salads, added to soup (where they will serve as a thickener) and the leaves used to make tea.
A popular herbal remedy which goes back a long way, many of the uses to which it has been put are what we now know as auto-immune disorders: eczema and other skin complaints, asthma and rheumatism. It is an anti-inflammatory, a good general tonic, an expectorant, diuretic and laxative. It can also be used to treat bronchitis and other chest complaints, cystitis and bedwetting.
For all these purposes, use a standard infusion made from 30g (1 oz) of dried or 3 handfuls of fresh leaves to 570ml (2.5 US cups, 1 UK pint) boiling water, and allowed to steep for at least 15 minutes (up to 4 hours), then strained. Take a tablespoonful 2-3 times a day. The standard infusion can also be used as a lotion for skin conditions.
As with all plants used in herbal remedies, heartsease should be grown organically to ensure that the active constituents are not masked or entirely eliminated by the presence of foreign chemicals. To find out more about growing organic heartsease visit the Gardenzone.
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March 4th, 2010 at 02:51
solid post , really good view on the subject and very well written, this certainly has put a spin on my day, many thanks from the USA and observe up the good work