Periwinkle: Unraveling its Mysteries

Last Updated on Thu, 4 January 2024 | Vitamins And Supplements

The periwinkle is often overshadowed by more exotic plants. This humble plant with its star-shaped, delicate flowers and glossy, green leaves hides a treasure trove of benefits. It has been used for generations in many cultures, for medicinal purposes, for aesthetic reasons, or even for culinary use. The purpose of this article is to bring light to the many aspects of periwinkle, including its purported health benefits, how it can be used, and expert opinion.

Periwinkle is a flowering plant.

Periwinkle is an evergreen groundcover native to Europe and Southwest Asia. It belongs to Vinca. It is known for its vivid blue or purple flowers. This plant has also been widely naturalized and cultivated in North America, and many other parts around the world. Periwinkle is a beautiful flower, but its true worth lies in the many uses it has.

BBC has reported the medicinal properties of this garden plant. Instagram and Pinterest have a plethora of posts that show how the periwinkle is used in DIY crafts, homeopathic remedies and landscape design. In fact #periwinkle was used more than 1.5 million times just on Instagram, showing the wide interest that this plant has.

Periwinkle: Benefits and Uses

Periwinkle has many potential benefits for your health. Vincamine is a powerful alkaloid found in this plant. It's used by the pharmaceutical industry to stimulate and dilate blood vessels. The plant is also used to treat Alzheimer's and memory loss.

Vinblastine, another alkaloid found in periwinkle, has been shown to have anticancer effects. The compound can be used to treat cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

Benefits include:

Periwinkle: Expert opinions

The rich content of alkaloids in periwinkle has attracted the attention of medical professionals and scientists. According to Dr. James Duke, an ethnobotanist and renowned expert, the plant has the potential to treat diabetes and malaria.

Health professionals also recommend taking periwinkle for cognitive improvement. They do stress that its powerful effects should only be used under medical supervision.

Periwinkle: How to Get Started

Here are some tips to help you get started if you want to incorporate periwinkle in your life. Consult a health care provider or an herbalist before you begin. You can get advice on the right dosage depending on your needs and health.

Online and in stores, you can find periwinkle supplements. They are usually available in capsules or tinctures. A typical dose for cognitive enhancement would be between 15-60mg of dried periwinkle per day. This dosage may differ depending on the individual's health condition.

Periwinkle Side Effects

Periwinkle has many benefits but it is important to know about the side effects. Some of these side effects include skin rash, nausea and upset stomach. It can also cause severe symptoms such as low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Consult your healthcare provider prior to starting any supplement regimen.

Conclusion

Periwinkle is more than a pretty garden plant. The periwinkle plant is worth investigating further because of its medicinal properties. As with all supplements, you should use it responsibly under the guidance of a professional to maximize its potential benefits while minimising any risks.

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