Heartsease (Viola Tricolor)

Heartsease is a liquid extract of the dried leaf and flower of Viola tricolor, a small European wildflower of the family Violaceae. It has many folk names, including wild pansy, johnny jump up, love-in-idleness and heart's ease, and its little tricolored blooms are the wild ancestor of the modern garden pansy. Our product is made from the aerial parts - the leaves and flowers. This alcohol-free version is a vegetable-glycerin glycerite. It is a whole leaf-and-flower liquid extract carrying the plant's natural spectrum of constituents, not an isolated or standardized single-compound product, and it is meant to be taken internally by the drop. The raw material is grown in the USA and each batch is gluten free.

Both are liquid extracts of the same Viola tricolor leaf and flower; only the solvent differs. This alcohol-free version is a glycerite made with vegetable glycerin and crystal clear water, giving it a naturally mild taste that suits those who prefer to avoid alcohol. The tincture uses organic alcohol at 48% by volume with vegetable glycerin and water, the classic conventional method that yields a super-concentrated extract with a long shelf life. Choose the glycerite if you prefer no alcohol; choose the tincture for a traditional alcohol-extracted format. The botanical inside is identical.

Not quite - they are all in the genus Viola but they are different plants. Heartsease is Viola tricolor, the small wild pansy with tricolored flowers. The big, showy garden pansy you buy at a nursery is a different plant, Viola x wittrockiana, a 19th-century ornamental hybrid bred for large flowers; our product is the wild species, not that hybrid. Heartsease is also distinct from two other Viola products we sell: Sweet Violet is Viola odorata (we make a leaf extract of it), and the plant we list simply as Violet, or Zi Hua Di Ding, is Viola yedoensis, a Chinese species. So when you see Heartsease here, it is specifically Viola tricolor, the wild pansy, made from the leaf and flower. We label each of our Viola products clearly by common name, botanical name and plant part so there is no confusion between heartsease, sweet violet, Chinese violet and the ornamental garden pansy.

Shake well before use. Use the number of drops and the frequency shown on the label, in a little water, tea or juice, or as directed by your practitioner. Because it is alcohol free, this glycerite can be taken directly or added to a cool drink. Drink the entire contents. Do not exceed the suggested serving. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.

The flowers and leaves of heartsease are edible and the herb is generally well tolerated, but a concentrated liquid extract should be used sensibly and not taken above the suggested serving. Heartsease naturally contains salicylates (salicylic acid derivatives) and saponins, so use caution if you are sensitive to aspirin or salicylates, or if you take blood-thinning medication, and speak with your practitioner first. High doses may cause stomach upset. If you are pregnant or nursing, or considering it for a child, talk with a qualified healthcare practitioner before use. If you take any medication or have a medical condition, consult a practitioner first. Keep out of reach of children. Store as directed on the label. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Made in the USA by Hawaii Pharm LLC, Honolulu, HI, with domestic & imported ingredients.