Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

We had some periwinkle (Vinca minor) growing in the backyard of my childhood home, and there was a patch of it in the front yard of my previous residence. I love the flowers, and the plants make an easy-to-grow ground cover that can even be a bit invasive if you don't keep it trimmed back. 

I mention this because as I was writing this article, it occurred to me that I’ve never actually tasted the leaves. This is a bit strange, given that I routinely taste all kinds of medicinal plants to get a feel for their energetics and action. In contemplating this, I realized that I got the impression as a child that the plant was poisonous and that this idea was still present in the back of my mind. 

In investigating the toxicity of periwinkle, I found that it is one of those plants that fit in the category of what I call medicinal herbs. You wouldn’t eat it in a salad, but there’s no indication that it would kill you either. If you took too much it would cause nausea and vomiting, but so do a lot of other strongly medicinal plants. 

So, with that information in mind, let’s discuss some of the potential benefits of lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor). Much of this information would also apply to the closely related species greater periwinkle (Vinca major), but not to the tropical species Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). If you're going to harvest the remedy yourself make sure you can accurately tell the difference between greater and lesser periwinkle as they have some different properties.

Periwinkle for the Head and Brain

My practical experience with periwinkle is limited to using it as a remedy for headaches. It doesn’t help all headaches. It is primarily helpful for severe headaches that arise from a lack of blood flow to the brain. Matthew Wood says that it helps headaches from the temples going up to the crown of the head and with aches behind the eyes. Because of this property, periwinkle is an ingredient in several herbal formulas for migraine headaches. 

Periwinkle is also used as a nootropic herb, one that enhances concentration and memory. It contains numerous alkaloids, including vincamine, vincine, and vincaminine, which appear to enhance blood flow and oxygenation in the brain. It may also help with tinnitus, ringing in the ears, Ménière's disease, and dizziness.

A derivative of vincamine, known as vinpocetine, is sold as a nutritional supplement in the United States. It is approved as a drug in Europe and may have some benefits for enhancing cognitive function, especially in the elderly, It can also fight brain fog, enhance mood, and aid recovery from strokes. Periwinkle itself likely has some of these properties.

Astringent and Relaxant

There is a kind of paradoxical action in periwinkle. On the one hand, it appears to have a relaxing effect, including relaxing blood vessels to lower blood pressure, but on the other hand, it is used as an astringent to staunch bleeding. It has been used for heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding gums (gingivitis), nosebleeds, ulcers, and wounds. It has also been used as a gargle for swollen tonsils and sore throats, and for diarrhea and vaginal discharge. 

Matthew Wood suggests that as a relaxant, it is specific for "tension that begins in the legs and spreads upward to the rest of the system." So, if you get cramps in the legs it might be worth a try.

Homeopathic Remedy and Flower Essence

Vinca minor is used as a homeopathic remedy. I found the indications interesting and I've wanted to try it but haven't found it available for sale in the United States.  It is indicated in cases of problems with bleeding, such as heavy menstrual bleeding or frequent nosebleeds. It's also helpful for erupted and itchy skin conditions. Emotionally, it's helpful for people who feel weak, anemic, and fearful, especially fearful of death or misfortune. Matthew Wood also suggests the herb is for behavior problems including irritability and difficulty paying attention.

There are also a number of companies that sell a flower essence of Periwinkle but nobody seems to have an accurate picture of the plant as a flower remedy. My best guess is that it would match some of the homeopathic indications, such as a feeling of weakness, fear of death and misfortune, and people who "bleed" or leak their energy. However, I would need more clinical experience to give an accurate description of the emotional indications of periwinkle flower essence.

This points out a weakness in the marketing of many flower essence companies. When it comes to flower essences, unfortunately, people often promote whatever intuitive ideas they have about the plant without testing those ideas clinically. I've discussed this with Patricia Kaminski who founded the Flower Essence Society. They combine intuition with historical uses and traditions, wisdom about plant signatures, and clinical testing before they release information about what the flower essence does, which is why I find their information to be accurate. To learn more about this you can watch the interview I did with her How Do Flower Essences Work? 

Using Periwinkle

To use periwinkle, you can dry the leaves and use them to make tea. Use 1-2 teaspoons of the dried leaves per cup of boiling water and infuse for 10-15 minutes. You can drink one cup up to three times a day. You can also gargle with the tea for sore throats or apply it topically as a compress or fomentation. The tincture is generally made from fresh leaves and the dose is just a few drops (1-3) up to three times a day.  

There are some cautions for periwinkle. It is not to be used during pregnancy. You should also avoid it if you have low blood pressure or liver or kidney disease.