Violets--Looking for ideas on what to make with them

Melissa Swartz

Violets have invaded my yard, so I'm going with it. I know they are edible, and I've made violet syrup and violet oil. What else can I do with them?

Torey

@Melissa Swartz You lucky lady!!! Mine are weeks away and not so prolific. Violets are multi-use plants.

One large leaf contains the RDA of Vitamin C so add them to your salads along with the flowers; also high in Vitamin A. The flowers are lovely, dried and added to tea blends. The flowers can be candied for floral cake or cookie decorations. You could make a shrub (beverage) with the flowers. An infused vinegar for salad dressings.

Violets are well known for assisting with movement of lymph. They have also been used for dissolving cysts and fibrotic tissues in the breast. Fresh poultices using the leaves and flowers have been used to treat abscesses, minor skin irritations, acne and swollen glands. Violets are supportive for the heart; strengthening capillaries and preventing platelet aggregation. One of its other names is Hearts-ease. The syrup is soothing and anti-inflammatory to sore throats and can help to relieve congestion.

Melissa Swartz

@Torey Do you know if violets can be used to dissolve lipomas?

Torey

@Melissa Swartz There are some studies that have been done with certain extracts from Viola species indicating possible cytotoxic effects against some cancer cell lines and lymphomas but they are all invitro with nothing really conclusive that I know of. No clinical studies.

That being said violets have a long history of being used to treat swellings and inflammations, especially of the lymph nodes. If you were going to use it for lymphomas, then I would think that an external poultice would be the preferred treatment method. But violet tea is a very nice relaxing and uplifting beverage so it could be taken internally at the same time and would to help move the lymph.