Pansies are cheerful flowers that brighten the garden. These tri-colored annuals come in purple, maroon, yellow, white, and various other shades. If you’re looking for the perfect plantings for your window boxes, particularly early in the spring, these fragrant blooms are for you. Perhaps best of all, the petals and leaves are edible and, according to modern research and traditional medicine practitioners, there are many health benefits of pansies.
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Properties
Treatment for skin conditions is one of the most popular ways to use pansies. These annuals boast both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that make them a potent defense against skin issues like acne, impetigo, eczema, and psoriasis. Ointments and creams containing pansy extracts deliver soothing relief of flare-ups. If you don’t have such a cream or ointment on hand, tea brewed from pansies can be made into a poultice and applied to affected areas.
Treatment for Dandruff
Many botanical-based shampoos feature pansies in their ingredients list because these blooms boast nourishing vitamins and minerals that support hair health. In addition, pansies appear to help treat dandruff and are found in some natural shampoos and hair treatments. You can also brew pansy tea to use on your scalp during a wash.
Treatment of Sore Throat
A sore throat is a common ailment that can occur with the onset of the common cold or even as a symptom of hay fever. There are many natural remedies, and pansies are among them. To get relief from your sore throat, add dried pansies to boiling water to make a tea or tincture. Some health food stores may even sell ready-made pansy teas in convenient bags that you can keep on hand during cold and flu season.
Relief from Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that gets its name from the “whoop” sound infected individuals make when taking a breath. The condition also involves a hacking cough and symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and watery eyes. Just as pansy tea can treat sore throats, it can also provide soothing relief from whooping cough.
Pansies for Bronchitis
Bronchitis involves an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. People with the condition may experience it chronically or during an acute episode. Coughing and thick mucous are hallmarks of the condition. While prescription medications may be used to treat bronchitis, home remedies like pansy tea can also deliver relief. Untreated bronchitis can escalate into pneumonia, so it’s important to see your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve.
Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections are common and are always a nuisance. Moreover, an untreated UTI can affect the kidneys. Symptoms of a UTI include increased urination and pain during urination. Drinking pansy tea has long been a folk remedy for urinary tract infections. While a useful treatment or supplement, you should still see your doctor if you suspect you have a UTI.
Treatment for Rheumatism and Arthritis
If you’re looking for a popular folk remedy to help with the treatment of your rheumatism or arthritis, consider adding pansy tea to your regimen. Pansies are loaded with anti-inflammatory salicylates. Reducing inflammation can diminish joint pain.
Hives
Hives can be a chronic condition or appear when triggered by an allergen. Often, hives are not serious, but if the airways are affected, a visit to the emergency room is paramount. For mild cases of hives, people can apply pansies to the skin as a poultice. Sometimes hives can produce uncomfortable swelling, and the pansy compress can also treat this aspect of the condition.
Relief from Anxiety
One of the wild pansy’s nicknames is “heart’s ease” because of its long-time association with the condition once referred to as hysteria. Today, anxiety is the general term used to describe various nervous system and mental health conditions. Drinking a cup of tea brewed with dried pansies may provide some relief from anxiety.
Rich in Nutrients
Pansies are rich in various nutrients; they contain carotenoids, saponins, tannin, and vitamin C, to name a few. They are flavorful and fragrant so they can brighten various dishes and desserts. If you choose to eat pansies, be sure to use or grow organic pansies. If you’re taking any prescription medications, discuss eating any herbs with your doctor.