Vinca major, big leaf periwinkle at Deer House

Vinca major, Family: Apocynaceae Dogbane family

periwinkle, bigleaf periwincle.

I was finding this plant growing all along the riparian areas up at Deer House. I had actually been looking for other plants, and was a little bit taken back how this periwinkle had taken over the riparian areas pushing out palleo mint, the St. John's wort, aralia, and lobelia. 

The more I looked into perriwinkle the more I found it a medicinal plant in its own right certainly prolific. Too prolific yes, yet it is here to stay and I guess I better learn how to use it.

    I was really touched by the beautiful purple flowers that were brilliantly set off by the twining trailing shiny green leaves of the periwinkle.

   The leaves, and seeds of the periwinkle contain vincamine, a precursor to the chemical vinpocetine, which is used medicinally to naturally enhance memory in aging minds.1,2

The old English form of the name, as it appears in early Anglo-Saxon Herbals, as well as in Chaucer, was 'Parwynke,' and we also find it called 'Joy of the Ground.' In Macer's Herbal (early sixteenth century) it is described:

'Parwynke is an erbe grene of colour

In Tyme of May he beryth blo flour,

His stalkys ain (are) so feynt and feye

Yet never more growyth he hey (high).'

And we are also told that 'men calle it ye Juy of Grownde.'

The plant is astringent, bitter, detergent, sedative, stomachic and tonic[4, 7, 21, 53, 165, 238]. It contains the alkaloid 'vincamine', which is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a cerebral stimulant and vasodilator[238]. It also contains 'reserpine', which reduces high blood pressure[238]. It is used internally in the treatment of excessive menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge and hardening of the arteries[238]. It should not be given to patients with constipation[238]. It is applied externally to vaginal discharge, nosebleed, sore throat and mouth ulcers[238]. The plants are cut when flowering and dried for later use[238]. The fresh flowers are gently purgative, but lose their effect on drying[4]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh leaves[4]. It is used in the treatment of haemorrhages[4].

Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) aerial plant and its synthetic alkaloid vinpocetine have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain. Vinpocetine may be able to enhance cognition in patients with dementia, and enhanced memory and learning in patients with vascular dementia.

"it's a late comer, more recent arrival to america's, but then so am I, yes Vinca major.

Michael Moore

VINCA MAJOR , V. MINOR(Periwinkle)

HERB. Tincture [Fresh Herb 1:2, Dry Herb, 1:5, 50% alcohol] 20-40 drops, to 2X a day.

Kiva Rose a clearheaded New Mexican herbalist writes eloquently about the weeds. In this case a town weed. It's true we can't escape or go back, the box was opened now we deal with it, or escape in fantasy. So using these prolific invasive species that just take over is critical and important as they're here to stay like we are and they're not going to go away. 

• Periwinkle (Vinca major) – The astringent flowers and leaves of vining, groundcover-like Periwinkle are an effective vascular tonic, serving to tighten up the tissue of the vascular system wherever there is laxity. Based on this same systemic tonifying action, I frequently utilize Vinca as a vasoconstrictor for certain kinds of migraines."-Kiva Rose, blogpost Weedwifery -http://bearmedicineherbals.com/aha

 Medicinal Plants by  Charles Kane: "like caffeine though. Winkles vasoconstricting effect on peripheral blood vessels, it can be useful in diminishing the pain and sensitivity of an acute stage migraine headache. Systemically as well the plant lessons passive hemorrhaging. Used to quell bleeding from hemorrhoids,

nosebleeds, and urinary tract injury. Profuse menstruation as well as mid cycle bleeding, also diminishes under perry Winkle use" -Charles Kane

"Venus owns this herb, and saith, That the leaves eaten by man and wife together, cause love between them. The Periwinkle is a great binder, stays bleeding both at mouth and nose, if some of the leaves be chewed. The French used it to stay women's courses. Dioscorides, Galen, and Ægineta, commend it against the lasks and fluxes of the belly to be drank in wine."

Nicholas Culpeper, 1653

. "Vinca minor has a stimulating action on the circulatory system and improves the blood flow through the brain. It is noted to be helpful in the treatment of headaches, dizziness, impaired memory, tinnitus and hearing loss (Bartram, 1998), as well as cerebral arteriosclerosis which can lead to dementia due to insufficient blood flow to the brain (Chevallier, 2001). By increasing the blood flow to the brain, Vinca minor may be beneficial for treating conditions which are caused by poor cerebral perfusion such as vascular dementia. This condition is caused by an obstruction in the circulation to the brain which results in insufficiency of blood to the tissues and the brain cells die (Alzheimer’s Society, 2008). Vinca minor’s beneficial effects may be explained by the action of the constituent vinpocetine (an indole alkaloid), which has been isolated in the plant. Vinpocetine has been shown to enhance oxygen release of haemoglobin and therefore increase the amount available to cells (Tohgi et al, 1990). This action, along with its vasodilating effect is considered to be responsible for its success in the treatment of cerebral hypo perfusion (Tohgi et al, 1990)."- Jennifer Gould

"Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) aerial plant and its synthetic alkaloid vinpocetine have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain. Vinpocetine may be able to enhance cognition in patients with dementia, and enhanced memory and learning in patients with vascular dementia." -Jennifer Gould

References/Quotes

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

Macers Herbal 

De Viribus Herbarum

Macer Floridus 1477

Materia Medica, Michael Moore

http://www.swsbm.com/ManualsMM/MatMed5.pdf

Complete Herbal

Nicolas Culpeper 1653

Kiva Rose, blog post "Weed Wifery"

 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/aha

Vincamine article at NIH.gov , , (): The health benefits of vincamine and related compounds, which are sold as drugs in Europe, relate to the treatment of primary degenerative and vascular dementia. As a dietary supplement, vincamine is promoted as a nootropic.,  

HerbalGram . Evidence of Benefits from Herbal Preparations for Improving Cognition and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in the Elderly , , (04-30-2012): 

“Identifying the benefits of Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle) and Vinca minor (Lesser Periwinkle) in a Modern Herbal Practice. With a historical review of the herbs and analysis of current use by herbal practitioners.”

Scottish School of Herbal Medicine and the University of Wales for the award of BSc(Hon) in Herbal Medicine.

-by Jennifer Gould

http://www.reconnecttoself.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/JenGold-Dissertation-2008.pdfg