Common Name: |
Johnny-Jump-Up |
Other Names: |
Heartsease, Heart's Ease, Look-Up-and-Kiss-Me, Pansy, Pansy Viscum, Wild Pansy |
Botanical Name: |
Viola tricolor |
Genus: |
Viola |
Family: |
Violaceae |
Location: |
W and S Europe; widely naturalized. |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained, moist, rich soil in sun or partial shade. Remove dead flowers promptly in order to prolong flowering. Plants may be damaged by slugs, snails, and viral and fungal diseases. Viola tricolor self sows freely. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown when ripe or in spring; by stem tip cuttings in spring or late summer; by division in autumn or spring. |
Harvest: |
Whole plants, leaves, and flowers are collected during the flowering season, and dried for use in decoctions (V. yezoensis), infusions, and liquid extracts. Roots are collected in autumn and dried for decoctions. Leaves of V. odorata are often used fresh, and flowers may also be picked in spring for extraction of essential oil. V. tricolor is often powdered when dried and used in skin creams. |
Height: |
38cm (15in) |
Width: |
38cm (15in) |
Hardiness: |
Z4-9 |
Parts Used: |
Whole plant, Flower |
Properties: |
A bitter-sweet, cooling herb that is laxative and diuretic, lowers fever, cleanses toxins, and reduces inflammation. It is also expectorant, relieves pain, and promotes healing. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for bronchitis, whooping cough, rheumatism, skin complaints (especially weeping eczema), urinary complaints, capillary fragility, and autoimmune disease involving several of these symptoms. Externally for itching skin complaints and varicose ulcers. Combines well with Galium aparine (See, Goosegrass), Rumex crispus (See, Curled Dock), Trifolium pratense (See, Red Clover), and Urtica dioica (See, Nettle) for eczema; with Agathosma crenulata (See, Oval-leaf Buchu), Elymus repens (See, Quack Grass), and Eupatorium purpureum (See, Joe Pye Weed) for cystitis; and with Tussilago farfara (See, Coltsfoot) or Urginea maritima (See, Sea Onion) for whooping cough. To treat eczema, seborrhea, cradle cap, and constipation. Germany's Commission E has approved the use of heartsease to treat skin inflammation. |
Possible Side Effects: |
Heartsease's side effects include anorexia and diarrhea. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking heartsease with these drugs may increase the action of the drug: |
Aminosalicylic Acid, (Nemasol Sodium, Paser) |
Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin) |
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate, (Trilisate) |
Choline Salicylate, (Teejel) |
Salsalate, (Amgesic, Salflex) |
|
Culinary Uses: |
Flowers are added to salads, used as a garnish, or frozen in ice cubes for summer drinks. |
Bibliography: |
Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright ©: 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pg.405 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.267-268 |