Banafsha – Sweet-Violet

Description

Banafsha or Sweet-Scented Violet or Viola odorata is native of Asia, North Africa, and Europe. The plant is cultivated since ancient times for medicinal purpose and as a source of perfume and colouring matter in (Kashmir) India. The rootstock of the plant is thick and produce dark green leaves. The plant is stemless and the leaves are Brahmi plant-like in appearance. The flowers are violet and scented. The fruit is many-seeded and present in the unilocular capsule.

Viola odorata contains different types of chemical constituents including flavonoid, glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, saponins and tannins. Banafsha is used in Unani medicine for treating respiratory ailments, bronchitis, whooping cough, fever, skin conditions, cystitis, throat infection and rheumatism due to it’s anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, antipyretic and laxative properties. As it contains salicylic acid which is used to make aspirin hence effective for the treatment of headaches, migraine, and insomnia.

In Homeopathy, Viola odorata is used in case of ear disorders such as deafness, otorrhea since birth, etc. as it has a specific action on ears. Otorrhea is discharged from the ear and may originate from the ear canal or the middle ear and is often associated with hearing loss. The most characteristic symptom to indicate this remedy is tension in the forehead, scalp, and back and lower part of the skull.

Constituents of Viola odorata

Viola odorata is a rich source of sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, chloride and iron.

Leaves of Viola odorata from Kashmir are reported to contain a triterpene ketone, probably friedelin (0.016%), Beta-sitosterol (0.033%), and straight-chain alcohol.

An essential oil, alkaloid, and a colouring matter are also present in leaves.

Benefits of Banafsha

1. It cleanses the blood, the liver, kidney, and lungs.
2. It loosens the phlegm.
3. It reduces heat inside the body.
4. It gives relief in congestion of lungs, cold, cough, difficulty breathing, fever, bronchitis, and another cough-related respiratory ailment.
5. It helps in sore throat and swollen glands.
6. It dissolves tumors and abnormal growths.
7. It is given in case of ear discharge since birth.
8. It reduces nervous tension, stress, and insomnia.

Medicinal Uses of Viola odorata

Viola odorata has anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, and laxative action. It is especially used in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough. As it contains salicylic acid, it gives relief in stress, headaches, migraine, and insomnia.

It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, coughs, asthma, and cancer of the breast, lungs or digestive tract.

The flowers are anodyne, expectorant, demulcent, diuretic, purgative and emollient and used in the treatment of respiratory ailments.

The seeds are used in the treatment of the urinary complaints due to diuretic and purgative action.

Syrup of the flowers is used for cough and hoarseness.

A tea prepared from the flowers and leaves reduces headache. It calms the nervous system and relaxes the mind. The tea is prepared by taking 1/4 cup of flowers and leaves in one cup. Boiling water is poured on it and steeped for 5-10 minutes. This is filtered and taken. This tea loosens the mucus and help to expel it through the nose chest and lungs and thus giving relief in cold, cough, whooping cough, blocked sinus, throat infection, etc.

Leaves are emetic, purgative, expectorant, emollient and diaphoretic. The leaves are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are chewed as anticancer. Chewing of leaves also helps in headache.

It is also used externally in skin diseases, inflammation and to treat mouth and throat infections. Poultice or compress of fresh leaves is applied.  The leaf paste is applied on burns.

The roots are emetic (in excess) and purgative.