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).
