Viola tricolor, Heart's Ease

Heartsease, Herba Trinitatis

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Hand-Atlas Medicinisch-Pharmaceutischer, 1884

Kohler's Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

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Botanical name:
Viola tricolor

Parts used:
Whole Herb

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Slightly Pungent and Sweet

Uses:
1. Clears Wind and Heat, Settles Spasms:
-various acute conditions coming from Wind and Heat
-itchy skin conditions from wind;
-infantile Convulsions, Epilepsy
-rheumatic pains and Gout, especially of an acute nature, with moving pain.

2. Clears Heat and Toxin, Resolves Swelling:
-‘Good against Heat, chiefly in children’ (Salmon); mostly used for childhood fevers.
-Eczema, Psoriasis and Herpes.
-‘They are held to be good in Venereal complaints’ (Culpeper)
-Salmon said the essence taken ‘for 15 or 20 days together, is found to be very effectual against the French Pox’.
-Swellings, including Scrofula, Lymphatic swellings and Swollen Glands.
-childhood allergies including Eczema, Dermatitis and Milk Allergies.

3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-‘Ulcers, inflammation and obstructions of the Lungs’ (Salmon)
-heat and dryness of the Lungs with cough and fever as in Whooping Cough, Pleurisy, chronic Asthma and Bronchitis etc.

4. Clears Heat, Benefits the Kidneys:
-incontinence, bed-wetting and frequent urination
-scanty, difficult or painful urination and Cystitis.
    
5. Benefits the Heart
-Traditionally considered Cordial, and Good for the Heart. (Flowers are best for this function)

6. Emetic:
-Roots and seeds are emetic and purgative in larger doses. (similar to Violet roots)

7. Externally:
-topically for Ulcers, Sores and Wounds.
-Skin Inflammations, Eczema, Acne, Cradle Cap in infants, Pruritus, Warts, Impetigo etc.
-wash for Pruritus vulvae, sores and irritations of the Genitals

Dose:
Long infusion or Decoction: 3–9 grams
As a Wash: 20 grams in 500mls; in a Bath: 50–150 grams

Substitute:
Violet.

Main Combinations:
1. Acne:
i. from Heat and Toxin or Liver heat, Heart's Ease with Dandelion and Fennel seed
ii. with dark color from Blood stagnation, Heart's Ease with Shepherds Purse, Elder flower
iii. from heat and damp, Heart's Ease with Dandelion, Nettle, Couch Grass
2. Skin diseases
i. Heart's Ease, Fumitory, Borage
ii. Heart's Ease (90 parts), Walnut leaf (10 parts) as an infusion (Czerwinsky)
3. Eczema, Psoriasis:
i. Heart's Ease with Yellow Dock, Red Clover, Cleavers and Nettle
ii. Heart's Ease with Scabious, Burdock root, Walnut leaf (Theißmann)
4. Lung Heat Cough, Heart's Ease with Coltsfoot and Licorice
5. Scrofula, Heart's Ease with Senna and Licorice (Klemperer-Rost)

Cautions:
1. Not used in markedly cold and weak digestion.
2. Long term usage or overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. A break in treatment is recommended, or the dose may be reduced.

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water