How to make Violet tincture to ease your cough

Soothing and effective violet tincture may help with a dry cough, painful throat or respiratory congestion. High in rutin and salicylic acid, a violet tincture may also promote sweating and ease the pain.

Who wouldn’t recognize violets? They’re the first flowers to appear at the beginning of spring and they fill your garden with a wonderful flowery scent. With their numerous medicinal properties and uses, violets are an extraordinary creation of nature. The fact that so many powerful medicinal uses are hidden in the essence of violets has been known by people for thousands of years.

While Ancient Greeks used it to make perfumes and ease headaches, insomnia and dizziness, Romans liked to use it for making wine, and Celts blended violet flowers with goat milk to make a bath that made them more beautiful.  

Known as “hearts-ease”, violets were traditionally used to strengthen and comfort the heart and prescribed for emotional upset.

The best way to manifest the full potential of violet is to infuse its fresh or dried leaves and flowers in ethanol and make a tincture or make a violet infused oil.  Using violet tincture we have made these tasty and efficient cough drops to prevent excessively dry cough and soothe and calm a sore throat.

What is a violet tincture

Violet tincture is a concentrated extract made by leaves and violet flowers in alcohol that pulls out the plant’s active ingredients. Violets posses so many extraordinary medicinal benefits that you can capture in this simple to make tincture.

Tinctures are easy to consume but inexpensive luckily, they’re easy to make at home.

Their portability and simple dosage make tinctures ideal to carry anywhere you go.

Fast absorption and long shelf life are other advantages of herbal tinctures. 

Violet leaves and flowers

Early spring is the right time to collect violets. They are easy to spot for their bright violet colours however you can find them in other shades of blue, purple or even yellow. Viola odorata is distinguished by its typical sweet aroma. 

There are more than 400 species of violets, all are edible with medicinal benefits. 

If you are interested in violets and want to dive deeper into their meaning and the symbols they are associated with, this guide is for you.

I usually collect more leaves and prefer to keep the flowers for seeds. I noticed when picking their heart-shaped leaves carefully they keep growing and are available most of the year. if you find a small patch of violets, do not gather every violet flower you see! Always leave some flowers there to help maintain the violet population in your area. 

Flowers make also a great addition to desserts. This easy to make violet Panna Cotta is just a delicious treat that is also healthy and dairy-free.

If you don’t have access to fresh violets you can buy dried here or purchase the ready-made violet tincture

Violets are very sensitive to degradation so make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight and prepare your tincture on the same day.

How to make a tincture from violet?

First step:

Harvest mid-morning just after the dew has evaporated. Collect both, leaves and flowers and choose places far from the highway and busy roads. Also, watch for dogs or other animals excrements.  Your own garden is the best. 

Don’t wash the violets just mechanically remove any dirtiness.

Second step:

Gently chop the leaves and flowers, preferably with a ceramic knife to allow proper infusion

Third step:

Prepare the alcohol. I have been using 40 % alcohol by volume equal to 80-proof vodka but feel free to use any alcohol that doesn’t have any specific flavour or colour. 40% vodka or grain alcohol works really well. 

Fourth step:

Prepare a sterile jar preferably with a plastic lid and fill it with plant material. Pour over enough alcohol to cover the herbs completely. Use ratio 1:3 (one part plant material to 3 parts menstrum) 

If case your glass jar has a metal lid, use parchment paper in between to avoid any corrosion.  

Fifth step:

Tighten the jar properly to avoid the tincture developing rot. Put on the lid, stir well and set in a cool place with an occasional shake.  Shaking helps to break the cell walls of the herb. In case the alcohol evaporates, top it off with some more to make sure the herb is completely covered The whole process of extraction can last 4 weeks. 

Sixth step:

Strain the tincture through a cheesecloth or muslin cloth. Make sure not to leave any solids in the tincture as that might lead to mould development and possible spoilage.

Seventh step:

Label the tincture and store it in a dark bottle with a dropper in a cold place. It can last up to 2 years.

Violet tincture uses:

Sinus infections (cough, sore throat or bronchitis)

Violet tincture contains mucilage that coat, smooth and heal tissues and ease inflammation. The mucilage may also help lose and expel mucous from the lungs when experiencing a dry cough. This quick-fix sore throat spray is easy to make and makes an effective natural remedy for sore throat and dry cough.

Relief when tonsils are swollen and tender

Violet tincture encourages healthy lymphatic circulation and can help when the tonsils are swollen and tender. The tincture can be either applied topically or internally (added to tea) and give immediate relief.

Pain reduction

Violet tincture is high in rutin and contains salicylic acid. Therefore is able to ease pain and inflammation, moreover, it promotes sweating that can help reduce fever. It might also help ease flu symptoms.

Stress relief

Violet tincture possesses calming properties and can ease stress. Similar way works Mistletoe tincture that helps with anxiety and stress.

Heart health

High content of rutin and salicylic acid eases blood circulation. It may also prevent blood clots and therefore reduce chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Violet tincture for dogs

Violets ability to encourage healthy lymphatic circulation allows it to use it as lipoma herb for dogs. It may dissolve any hard or soft accumulations. 

Dogs natural magazine published an article with recommended dosage for dogs which is 1 tablespoon for small and medium dogs in a half cup of water and 2 tablespoons for large dogs. This recommended dosage should be given for six days, then one day off and repeat the cycle for another six weeks. After that, the lipoma should start to shrink. If not it is better to consult with a herbalist or veterinarian. If the lipoma starts to shrink, take one week off and repeat the six weeks cycle again until clear. 

What is your favorite tincture you make at home?