Herbs Guide

Periwinkle

Family Name: Apocynaceae

Botanical Name(s): Vinca Major

Popular Name(s): Periwinkle, Greater Periwinkle, Early Flowering Periwinkle, and Lesser Periwinkle.

Parts Used: Aerial Parts

Habitat: Indigenous to Southern Europe

Description: The plants grow one or two feet high and have glossy, dark green leaves (1-2 inches long) and flowers all summer long. The blooms of the natural wild plants are a pale pink with a purple "eye" in their centers.

Uses: It is used in digestive problems such as colitis or diarrhea where it reduces the loss of fluid or blood whilst toning the membranes. May be used in cases of nosebleed, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers or sore throats. As an astringent it may be used internally or externally. Its main use is in the treatment of excessive menstrual flow, either during the period itself (menorrhagia) or with blood loss between periods (metrorrhagia).