Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
The shared monograph “violae herba cum flore” includes Viola arvensis Murray. This profile is limited to the parts and preparations described in it.
Inclusion in a collective monograph does not prove that each species has been studied separately in humans. The form and pharmaceutical quality described remain decisive.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
A common name and photograph do not guarantee identification. Check the botanical name and part indicated on a traceable product.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Mild seborrheic skin conditions
Flowering aerial parts: traditional oral or cutaneous use for mild seborrhoeic skin conditions, depending on preparation and age. Clinical evidence is insufficient.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications & precautions
- Source-listed contraindicationPlant/salicylate allergy; cutaneous use: open wounds or extensively damaged skin.Source
- PrecautionAvoid hot baths with fever/infection, heart failure or hypertension.Source
- PrecautionG6PD deficiency: one childhood haemolysis case after oral use was reported; seek medical advice.Source
Medicine interactions
- No interaction reported in the sourceNo interactions reported in the monograph for these preparations; compatibility with every medicine is not established.Source
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Stop use if an unexpected reaction occurs; limited data do not mean absence of risk.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding: insufficient safety data.
SourceChildren & adolescents
Oral use not recommended below 18; cutaneous use below 12, owing to insufficient data.
SourceIf symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Forms & how they are used
DOCUMENTED FORMS
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Oral infusionFlowering aerial parts · Route: oral
Infusion for a compressFlowering aerial parts · Route: topical
Preparation described in the shared monograph.
Please note: Do not use on open wounds or extensive lesions.
Read the sourceUnderstanding the plant’s actions
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
How does the plant act?
Viola arvensis belongs to the group of pansies with flowering aerial parts. The traditional target of this profile is skin with mild seborrheic conditions. The dossier does not allow this tradition to be turned into a proven treatment for eczema, severe acne or any rash. Results for V. tricolor are not automatically those for V. arvensis.
Traditional skin comfort
The use concerns defined preparations and routes. “Depurative” does not describe an established medical mechanism and is not used as an explanation.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
A topical preparation and a herbal tea are not equivalent. For personal research, retain the full botanical name and the words “flowering aerial parts”.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
A negative result for a mixture does not establish the effect of pansy alone
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
- Type of research
- EMA assessment of a 4-week trial, 88 adults
- Preparation concerned
- Cream combining Mahonia aquifolium, Viola tricolor and Centella asiatica, compared with its vehicle.
- Observed results
- The cited study finds no significant difference across the overall comparison.
- Limitations to consider
- This is a mixture containing V. tricolor, not a trial of V. arvensis; a result cannot be attributed to one of the components or to a related species.
What can we take from this?
No clinical mechanism specific to V. arvensis is demonstrated here. The profile of V. tricolor is not copied as though it had been verified for every constituent of this species.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — violae herba cum floreAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Shared monograph on the flowering parts of pansyAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — final assessment of pansies, flowering aerial partsAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.
