Bernadette Roger
An investigation into Viola tricolor's use in clinic today and traditional use in treating skin conditions with emphasis on the energetics of the plant
Abstract
The project was designed as a postal questionnaire which was sent out to 47 herbalists in the North of England. They were asked questions about the type of skin conditions; what other herbs were used in conjunction with Viola tricolor; the energetics of the plant and the temperament of the patients; and what other conditions do they treat with Viola tricolor? A blind tasting of the herb was carried out by a group of students to compare with the respondents' energetic findings.
Of the 30 herbalists who replied, 28 of them use the herb in the treatment of skin conditions, in particular eczema. Most of the respondents who see the herb in energetic terms describe it as gentle, cooling, moistening. A small number consider the plant to be warm and drying. They consider that is suits children and women who are sensitive and may have experienced emotional difficulties. Only one respondent reported any side effects. Approximately 60% of the respondents use Viola tricolor to treat other conditions such as rheumatism, bronchial conditions, capillary fragility, lymphatic congestion, as part of a detoxifying regime and to treat cancer with lymphatic involvement.
