© Carl Axel Magnus Lindman · Public domain · Commons
Viola tricolor
CautionWildes Stiefmütterchen · (Viola tricolor)
Violet family (Violaceae)
Description
Blooming from April to August with small tricolour flowers in violet, yellow and white, wild pansy grows on fields, meadows and in gardens and is gathered as the flowering herb. It supplies flavonoids such as rutin and violanthin, anthocyanins, salicylates, mucilage and saponins. Tea and baths made from the herb belong to traditional use for blemished, seborrhoeic skin, while compresses are applied in folk practice for skin irritation and joint complaints; internally the herb is also drunk for cold symptoms. The edible flowers have traditionally been used to garnish salads. At normal doses wild pansy herb is considered well tolerated, though rare allergic skin reactions can occur; high internal doses may cause nausea via the saponin content. Skin complaints lasting beyond four weeks warrant medical evaluation, and a paediatrician should be consulted first for children with atopic eczema.
Traditional internal herbal tea from flowering wild pansy herb for seborrhoeic skin disorders and cradle cap (infant seborrhoeic dermatitis) — listed as a traditional indication in the EMA monograph.
Preparation & dosage
INFUSION (internal, EMA traditional use): 1.5–3 g dried wild pansy herb (Violae tricoloris herba) in 150 ml boiling water, covered, steep 10 min, strain. Drink 3× daily. Traditionally used for seborrhoeic skin conditions and mild skin rashes (e.g. seborrhoeic dermatitis, cradle cap in children) as an accompanying internal treatment. Do not extend beyond 4 weeks without medical advice; consult a doctor if condition worsens or does not improve.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–3 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 4 weeks
External wash and compress with wild pansy infusion for seborrhoeic skin, cradle cap and mild rashes — traditional EMA indication for external use.
Preparation & dosage
EXTERNAL INFUSION / WASH: 5–10 g dried wild pansy herb in 1 litre boiling water, steep 15 min, strain and cool to body temperature. Apply as a wash, compress or partial bath to affected skin area, leave 10–15 min, 2–3× daily. Traditionally for seborrhoeic dermatitis, cradle cap, mild rashes and scaly itchy skin. For sensitive children's skin, halve concentration and patch-test first.
- Dry amount
- 5–10 g
- Doses per day
- 1×
- Max duration
- 4 weeks
Folk compress with wild pansy herb infusion for itching, mild skin inflammation and scaly eczema.
Preparation & dosage
COMPRESS: 3–5 g herb in 200 ml hot water, steep 10 min, strain. Soak a clean cloth in the cooled infusion, wring out well and apply to affected area (e.g. itchy skin, mild inflammation, minor abrasions). Leave 15–20 min, repeat up to 2× daily. Folk remedy for itching, mild skin inflammation, scaly eczema and minor wound care. Do not apply to open or infected wounds — seek medical attention.
- Dry amount
- 3–5 g
- Doses per day
- 2×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
Folk cough and cold tea — mucilaginous, mildly diaphoretic, traditionally for catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.
Preparation & dosage
COUGH & COLD TEA: 1.5–2.5 g dried wild pansy herb in 200 ml boiling water, steep 10 min, strain. Drink 3× daily, sweetened with honey if desired. Folk use for catarrhal coughs, mild upper respiratory complaints, and as a mild diaphoretic for light fever. The mucilage content is thought to soothe irritant cough. Not a substitute for medical treatment of persistent or severe respiratory symptoms.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–2.5 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
Traditional 'blood-purifying' tea for chronic skin conditions, eczema, gout and joint complaints — salicylate-containing, mildly diuretic; the concept of 'blood purification' has no modern medical equivalent.
Preparation & dosage
CLEANSING TEA (folk medicine): 1.5–3 g herb in 200 ml hot water, steep 10 min, strain. Drink 3× daily. In European folk medicine, wild pansy was used for centuries as a mild 'blood purifier' for skin conditions, chronic eczema, gout and arthritis — the salicylate content was believed to be mildly diuretic and metabolism-stimulating. The traditional notion of 'blood purification' has no modern medical equivalent; it denotes mild diuretic and metabolic support. Modern evidence is limited.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–3 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 4 weeks
Traditional tincture for seborrhoeic skin conditions — suitable for internal and external use; contains ethanol, therefore not for children under 12.
Preparation & dosage
TINCTURE (1:5 in 25–40 % ethanol): 1–2 ml (~20–40 drops) 3× daily in water internally, or apply undiluted externally to affected skin (dilute 1:3 in water for sensitive skin). Traditionally for seborrhoeic skin conditions — mucilage is soothing, flavonoids are antioxidant, salicylates are mildly anti-inflammatory. Due to ethanol content, avoid in children under 12, pregnant women, or those with alcohol dependency.
- Liquid amount
- 1–2 ml
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 4 weeks
Folk oil salve from wild pansy herb for dry scaly skin, eczema and minor wounds — soothing and emollient action from mucilage content.
Preparation & dosage
SALVE / MACERATE: Fresh or dried wild pansy herb (1 part herb) macerated in warmed olive or almond oil (5 parts oil) for 2–3 hours at approx. 50 °C in a water bath, strain and press well. For salve: melt approx. 5–10 g beeswax into 100 g oil extract, add a few drops of lavender oil if desired. Pour into dark jars, store cool (shelf life 3–6 months). Folk use for dry scaly skin, mild eczema, skin inflammation and minor wounds.
Edible wild flowers — decorative and mildly aromatic; used in flower syrup, crystallised flowers, spring quark and as a salad topping.
Preparation & dosage
EDIBLE FLOWERS / SALAD: The colourful flowers of wild pansy (harvested before full maturity) are edible and used in natural cookery as salad decoration, in flower syrup (boil with sugar and water), crystallised with egg white and sugar as decoration, or fresh in spring quark and herb butter. Mildly aromatic, slightly sweet. Contain rutin and anthocyanins regarded as antioxidant co-constituents. Collect flowers only from unsprayed, unfertilised sites.
Wild pansy herb is considered well tolerated at normal therapeutic doses when used correctly. Rare allergic contact reactions possible with external use (cross-reaction within Violaceae). Internal tea at high doses may cause nausea and gastric irritation due to saponin content — do not exceed recommended dosage. Medical evaluation is required if skin complaints persist beyond 4 weeks without improvement, if condition worsens, or if bacterial infection is suspected. Self-treatment of children with atopic eczema or cradle cap should always be discussed with a paediatrician first.
⏱ Max continuous use: 4 weeks
According to the EMA monograph, there are insufficient data on safety during pregnancy. Avoid therapeutic use (tea, tincture) during pregnancy. Culinary use of individual flowers (salad decoration) is considered safe.
No sufficient data on safety during lactation. Avoid therapeutic use; culinary use of individual flowers is unproblematic.
The EMA monograph permits traditional use in children (external infusion for cradle cap/seborrhoeic dermatitis; internal tea for seborrhoeic skin complaints) — but only after medical diagnosis and under parental supervision. Tincture (ethanol content) not for children under 12. Infants and young children under 2 years should only be treated under medical supervision.
Drug interactions
Salicylate / Acetylsalicylsäure (ASS)
Wild pansy herb contains salicylic acid derivatives (including methyl salicylate as part of the salicylate pool). Concurrent use with aspirin or other salicylates may theoretically produce an additive effect — relevant mainly in patients on long-term anticoagulation or with bleeding tendency. Clinical relevance at usual tea amounts is low.
Antikoagulantien / Thrombozytenaggregationshemmer (Warfarin, Phenprocoumon, Clopidogrel)
Rutin and quercetin from wild pansy herb have weak anticoagulant and platelet anti-aggregatory properties in vitro. High-dose or prolonged use combined with anticoagulants carries a theoretical risk of increased bleeding tendency. Monitor coagulation values (INR) when used concurrently.
Diuretika (Schleifendiuretika, Thiazide)
Wild pansy herb is used in folk medicine as a mild diuretic (salicylates and saponins). Additive diuretic effect with concurrent use of diuretics is theoretically possible — risk of electrolyte imbalance (potassium). Clinical relevance at tea quantities is low; inform physician in cases of heart or kidney disease.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to wild pansy herb or other members of the Violaceae family.
- Pregnancy and lactation (therapeutic doses) — due to insufficient safety data.
- Children under 2 years without medical supervision; tincture not for children under 12 (ethanol content).
- Known allergy to salicylates or aspirin (cross-reaction with salicylic acid derivatives in the herb is possible).
Harvested part: flowering herb
- Time of day:
- On a dry, sunny morning (9–12), once morning dew has fully dried — flavonoid and mucilage contents are then at their highest. Avoid rainy or humid conditions — risk of mould during drying.
- Drying:
- Cut flowering aerial parts (stems, leaves, flowers) 5–10 cm above the ground; avoid woody or excessively thick stems. Bind loosely in small bunches and hang upside down in a well-ventilated shady spot, or spread in a single layer on screens/cloths and dry at max. 40 °C. Flower petals are delicate — preserve blue-violet or yellow colour after drying. Ready when stems snap on bending and flowers rustle. Properly dried herb (Violae tricoloris herba) has a characteristic floral, slightly honey-like scent — musty smell indicates mould; discard.
- Storage:
- 12 months — Airtight in dark glass or tin containers, dry and cool. Store for a maximum of 1 year — thereafter loss of flavonoids and mucilage. Ensure adequate ventilation when refilling; do not mix old remnants with a new harvest.
- Time of day:
- Pick individual flowers in the late morning or midday in dry weather — only fully open, undamaged blooms. Water drops on petals cause mould or colour loss during drying.
- Drying:
- Spread flowers immediately after harvest very flat in a single layer on baking paper or tissue paper at max. 35 °C (lower than herb, due to sensitive anthocyanins). Room temperature on a warm, airy day is often sufficient. Place dried flowers gently into airtight dark jars — light rapidly destroys anthocyanins. For syrup or crystallisation, use fresh flowers immediately after harvest.
- Storage:
- 6 months — Dried flowers maximum 6 months in dark, airtight jars — thereafter strong colour loss and reduced anthocyanin concentration. For culinary purposes, use flowers fresh or process immediately.
- Rutin (Quercetin-3-O-rutinosid)FlavonoidContent: 0.1-0.4 %Aerial parts
Dominant flavonoid glycoside of wild pansy herb. Antioxidant, capillary-protective and mildly anti-inflammatory. Rutin inhibits platelet aggregation in vitro (quercetin moiety) and protects vascular walls from oxidative stress. One of the main quantitative lead compounds of the herb.
- Violanthin und andere C-Glycosylflavonoide (Vitexin, Orientin)FlavonoidContent: 0.05-0.2 %Aerial parts
C-glycosides of the apigenin and luteolin type; companion compounds to rutin. Antioxidant and mildly anti-inflammatory. Together with rutin they define the flavonoid profile referenced in the EMA context for standardisation.
- Anthocyane (Violanin, Delphinidin-3-glucosid, Cyanidin-Derivate)FlavonoidContent: 0.1-0.5 %Flower
Responsible for the characteristic blue-violet to yellow-white flower colour. Antioxidant pigments; scavenge free radicals. In folk medicine, anthocyanin-rich plants were used for inflammation and vascular protection. Violanin is the main anthocyanin of the dark-flowered varieties.
- Salicylate (Salicylsäure, Methylsalicylat, Salicylsäure-Derivate)Phenolic acidContent: 0.02-0.1 %Aerial parts
Responsible for the mildly antipyretic, diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory properties attributed to the herb in folk medicine. Low concentration — pharmacological effect at skin level possible in situ on external application. Relevant for interactions when aspirin or anticoagulants are taken concurrently.
- Schleimstoffe (Polysaccharide und Uronsäure-Fraktionen)MucilageContent: 1.5-3 %Aerial parts
Mucilage-rich herb — polysaccharides swell with water to form a protective gel layer. Demulcent, soothing action on skin and mucous membranes; explains traditional use for irritant cough, seborrhoeic skin and cradle cap. Mucilages are a key contributor to the dermatological indication.
- Saponine (triterpenische Saponinfraktionen)SaponinContent: 0.1-0.3 %Aerial parts
Mildly expectorant saponins support the folk use for catarrhal coughs (mucolytic by reflex stimulation of bronchial secretion). At high doses saponins can cause gastric mucosal irritation — observe recommended tea quantities.
- Carotinoide (beta-Carotin, Xanthophylle, Violaxanthin)OtherContent: 0.05-0.15 %Flower
Partly responsible for the yellow parts of the flower; antioxidant. Violaxanthin is a xanthophyll well characterised in the Viola genus. Nutritionally minor relevance (beta-carotene as provitamin A); not pharmacologically significant at usual intake amounts.
- [1]MonographEMA/HMPC — European Union herbal monograph on Viola tricolor L., herba (Final, EMA/HMPC/179635/2012)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [2]MonographKommission E — Violae tricoloris herba (Stiefmütterchenkraut), Monographie (positiv), BAnz Nr. 76, 1985(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [3]MonographESCOP Monographs — Violae tricoloris herba (Wild Pansy Herb), 2nd edition(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [6]MonographPlants For A Future (PFAF) — Viola tricolor database entry(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [4]BookWichtl, Max (Hrsg.) — Teedrogen und Phytopharmaka, 5. Aufl. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2009: Violae tricoloris herba, S. 667–669(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [5]BookMadaus, Gerhard — Lehrbuch der biologischen Heilmittel, Band III: Viola tricolor, 1938 (Public Domain)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [7]WikipediaWildes Stiefmütterchen (Wikipedia DE)(accessed: 2026-05-21)
- [8]WikipediaViola tricolor — Wild Pansy (Wikipedia EN)(accessed: 2026-05-21)