Periwinkle is often known by science as "Vinca Major or Minor", but more commonly throughout history referred to as, Sorcerer’s violet, Creeping Myrtle, Joy on the Ground, Devil’s Eye, and even ‘fiore di morte’ or Death's Flower in Italian. This flowers folk history is as long as it's many names and it has spanned throughout time and cultures commonly being used for various issues both spiritual and medical for hundreds of years. It is a perennial plant that belongs to the Apocynaceae plant family. It is native to Europe, but can now be found all over the world, and has small, five-petaled flowers that come in shades of blue, purple, white, and pink. It is often used as a ground cover in gardens, due to its ability to spread quickly and thrive in various conditions. It is often seen as a symbol of friendship, tranquility, and everlasting love.
This small but mighty flower has a long history of healing wounds and cuts, which is how it got its well-known name as "cut finger". Back in the day it often served as a remedy for boils, toothache, and nosebleeds. Sir Frances Bacon at one point even believed if you tied the leaves around your leg, it would help guard against muscle cramping. Periwinkle is often underrated and does actually have a wide range of medicinal and metaphysical uses, that I thought you may be interested in.
Medicinal uses of Periwinkle:
Brain Health: Periwinkle contains vincamine and vinpocetine, an alkaloid that is believed to improve memory and cognitive function.
Blood Pressure Regulation: It has properties that can help lower blood pressure.
Wound Healing: Periwinkle has astringent properties that can help stop bleeding and promote healing of wounds.
Circulation: Periwinkle is known to improve blood circulation.
Oral Health: It can be used to treat oral sores and toothaches4.
Diabetes Management: Some studies suggest it may help in managing blood sugar levels.
Stress Relief: Periwinkle can help ease stress and anxiety
Diarrhea Recovery: Periwinkle has traditionally been used to help with diarrhea due to its astringent properties. These properties help to tighten and dry out tissues, which can reduce the fluid loss associated with diarrhea
Cancer treatment: Periwinkle extract contains compounds that exhibit modern medicinal uses and have shown promise in treating certain types of cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
Antidiabetic effects: The plant has been found to have blood sugar-lowering properties, making it potentially beneficial for managing diabetes in modern medicine.
Memory enhancement: Certain chemicals found in periwinkle have been linked to improved memory and cognitive function, offering potential modern medicinal benefits for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Antimicrobial properties: The flower has demonstrated antimicrobial activity, including antibacterial and antifungal effects, suggesting its modern medicinal use in fighting infections.
Anti-inflammatory effects: Periwinkle may help reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis, contributing to its modern medicinal uses.
Metaphysical Properties & Benefits/Uses:
Intuition Enhancement: Periwinkle is believed to enhance intuitive abilities, helping individuals connect more deeply with their spiritual selves.
Serenity and Peace: The calming influence of periwinkle promotes a sense of serenity and peace, making it useful in meditation and relaxation practices.
Spiritual Connection: Periwinkle is associated with the Third Eye chakra, which is linked to spiritual insight and connection.
Psychic Abilities: It is thought to enhance psychic abilities and promote a deeper connection with the spiritual realm.
Healing: Periwinkle is used in healing practices to promote emotional and spiritual well-being.
Cleaning & Clearing: Its thought to banish negative energy and to promote a positive loving environment
Restoration of Memories: Folklore tells that consuming or even just gazing upon the flower can aid in bringing forth memories that were once forgotten or repressed.
Fidelity and Happiness: To promote this people stuffed the leaves of the plant into the marital bed at night, especially when newlywed.
Harmony: It's said growing it outside your home also helped to encourage harmony inside.
Love: This flower has long been seen in homemade brews and love potions and rituals due to its ties to love, fertility, and friendship all encases in an "ever-after" title.
This flower can be taken orally in a tea or tincture, used as an oil, used in aromatherapy, meditation, topical applications, as well as rituals, spell work, and castings. Periwinkle's gentle and soothing properties make it a valuable herb for those seeking to deepen their spiritual practice and connect with their inner selves.
**As always, we are not medical professionals, and you should always consult your doctor before adding or removing anything from your diet**