Herb comparison
Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) vs Violet (Viola odorata)
Both plants are listed as traditional remedies for 3 of the same conditions, which is why they are easy to confuse. Their descriptions and full safety notes are below, free.
- About
- American spikenard (Aralia racemosa) is a tall, aromatic perennial bush up to about 6½ ft (2 m), with fleshy roots, large compound leaves, and clusters of greenish-white flowers followed by red or purple berries. Known for its warming, expectorant properties, spikenard is a tonic for weak or congested lungs.Sweet violet is a creeping perennial growing to 6 inches tall with toothed oval leaves and attractive violet-blue or white flowers with a five-petaled corolla. Native to much of Europe and Asia, it is a common wayside plant also found along roadsides and in woodlands. In classical mythology, sweet violet was associated with death, but classical physicians recognized it as an effective emetic and cough remedy. The 17th-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper noted that violets are cooling and moistening when fresh and green.
- Safety & precautions
- Pregnancy: Not recommended. General: Can be stimulating; follow recommended doses.No known warnings noted in the source material. The root should be used cautiously due to its stronger expectorant and potential emetic effects at higher doses.
Safety text above is printed in full and is never abbreviated. For each plant’s complete precautions, drug and food interactions and preparation notes, open its own page - both are free.