Within the Periwinkle Sapphire from Madagascar, shown in gem study pages at:
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~adg/adg-pgimages.html#chrysob ,
ancient history lives to express the origin, it seems, of one of the folk names for the Periwinkle plant - that is, "violet of the sorcerers",an expression originating in France.
Take some time to study gem records, if you can, Often, the roots to modern medicine, or to lost secrets on healing come to the fore when rather exquisite collections of pigment from flowering plants or coloured bark have formed to crystallize within the semi and precious, sparkling gems many of us value.
Of course, people planted and gathered the fruits of the earth for medecines, dyes and foods. Where excellence existed in the plant kingdom, people gravitated and settled, or at least roamed as foragers to the fairer acres as they found them. So one may sometimes see the uses for herbs and plants through human inventions of the past in natural photos from plant photonic records.
Its most important genus, Rosy Periwinkle, was formerly classified as the species Vinca rosea, Lochnera rosea and Ammocallis rosea. Furthermore, lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) may also be called Common Periwinkle. Both species are also known as 'myrtle'.
"Smart Poison"
I deliberately clicked into the keywords on this gem site, because of the words 'Madagascar' and 'Periwinkle'. The plant is also called Madagascar Periwinkle, but this is the rosey -pink variety which has been discovered as having very magical healing qualities.
From Rosy Periwinkle (a member of the genus Vinca, of the plant family, Apocynaceć) comes an alkaloid - vincristine, currently used to fight childhood leukemia.
Rosy Periwinkle is also used as a cure for Diabetes,and in 1923, was thought to have the ability to replace insulin.
Vincristine acts as a "mitotic spindle poison". In mitosis, the process of cell division, the mitotic spindle helps to pull the two halves of the cell apart. Vincristine acts like a "smart cell" and poisons the mitotic spindles in malignant cells as they are dividing, selectively allowing normal cells to remain, unharmed.
"Vinblastine and vincristine are alkaloids found in the Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus (formerly classified as Vinca rosea, which led to these compounds becoming called Vinca alkaloids). They and vindesine and vinorelbine, semisynthetic derivatives of vinblastine, all work by inhibiting mitosis (cell division) in metaphase.
These alkaloids bind to tubulin, thus preventing the cell from making the spindles it needs to be able to move its chromosomes around as it divides (this is similar to the action of colchicine, but is different from the action of paclitaxel, which interferes with cell division by keeping the spindles from being broken down). These alkaloids also seem to interfere with cells' ability to synthesize DNA and RNA."
Refer to the link below for further study:
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/botany/vvv.html
Article about this Smart Medicine:
"Studies in Germany have confirmed that periwinkle is one of the most powerful herbal cerebral vasodialators, opening microcirculation to the brain."
http://www.selfhealschool.com/html/smart_medicine.html
If you see the ancient ways within the sapphire, perhaps you might gird your own waist with a garland of the pretty, shining dark leaves, and their soft, wide, five-petalled flowers, as ancient people did to ward off misfortune. They called the plant "Joy of the Ground".
In the Spring, the Periwinkle bursts with freshness,proliferately blooms with mildly scented ,fresh flowers which bloom well before frost has left the earth, and continues to create brilliantly shining leaves in the multitudes. The vines' flowers smell like Phlox flower scent mingled with violet undertones. It is well know that Viola, itself, helps to fight cancer as well.
"Periwinkle at the gate keeps unwanted at bay."
It seems the "Sorcerers' Violet" was grown near home portals, and also scrumpled into love potions and magic protection spells which left the participant with the power to fight the wicked, and to excorcise demonic possession. Culpeppers' Herbal recommended this herb to fight nightmares, and it has been used to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels, including as another remedy for hemmhorhoids.
Dogbane? Will Periwinkle flot out the werewolf in us, too?
http://perversiontracker.com/archives/000061.html archived
In "Perversion Tracer dot com, Periwinkle is said to be a member of the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae).
There, one finds that its alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine, are both also used in the treatment of Hodgkin's Disease.
Apocynaceae Catharanthus roseus
Officially, this is the name for the Rosy Periwinkle.
Vinblastine is more in focus for the treatment of Hodgkins disease,but both vincristine and vinblastin, both alkaloids of this plant, are majors in fighting cancer.
"Originally native to Madagascar, the rosy periwinkle is now grown throughout the world."
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/gardens/Horticulture/DetailedPlantInventory/ROSY%20PERIWINKLE.html
You have probably seen Periwinkle growing most anywhere in North American gardens. There are some people who find its' rich ,spreading mat of dark leaves a gravely sight, and they superstitiously avoid its proliferation, uprooting it and replacing it with lawn grass,perhaps, but the plant is of such benefit that no home should be without a source (for the homeopathic ecstacy of knowing a cancer -fighter is dewing away your own blues, as you tenderly tip its wet leaves in the morning).
" Darklight Imagery " Some gorgeous images by CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON :
Take some time- this site is lovely!
http://www.darklightimagery.net/newnature2/periwinkle.html
Darklight Imagery Index link:
http://www.darklightimagery.net/index.html
prolific flowering image:
http://www.sspictures.fsnet.co.uk/images/gbflowers/periwinkle.jpg
The Evening Periwinkle Mystery
flowers ,images and the spirit..
http://spiritkeep.net/NewFiles/ericgal2.html
Periwinkle (Vinca minor) Herb Recipes
Periwinkles' Latin name, pervinca (from the root "to bind"), is the source for both the present generic and common names.
Its' habitat is also in borders of woods, roadsides, and abandoned sites as well as gardens.
An astringent and sedative, its main herbal uses are a good remedy for diarrhea, excessive menstruation and hemorrhage. "To stop bleeding in the mouth and nose and also to help toothache, chew the herb. Periwinkle tea can be used for nervous conditions, hysteria, and fits.
"Used as a haemostatic for rectal lesions."
Mix 5 parts glycerin to 1 part tincture which can be applied topically to hemorrhoids.
Fresh (1:2), dry (1:5), 50% alcohol. Take 20 to 40 drops up to 3 times a day. When creating a tincture, do not use anything but Vodka Spirit, if you are ingesting drops.
(An herb tincture may be prepared in cheap ethyl alcohol from the drugstore, but its use must be reserved for topical application, like in insect sting pads.)
Ever made your own insect sting pads? At least its worth knowing how to do, if you need a months' worth for ten people!
http://www.indianspringherbs.com/periwinkle.htm
Periwinkle, Cezayirmeneksesi, Common Periwinkle, Vincapervinc
Whole Plant | Flowering Plant
Periwinkle can be used for some urinary problems, like hematuria. It can be used in digestive problems such as colitis or diarrhoea where it will act to reduce the loss of fluid or blood whilst toning the membranes.
It may also be used in cases of nose bleed, bleeding gums, mouth ulcers or sore throats.
It will combine well with Cranesbill and Agrimony,and for menstrual problems it may be used with Beth Root.
Infusion:
pour a cup of boiling water onto l teaspoonful of the dried herb and let infuse for l0-l5 minutes. Drink three times a day.
take l-2ml of the tincture three times a day.
http://www.rain-tree.com/periwinkle.htm
Web Resources Clinical References and Abstracts from Medline. U.S.:
White periwinkle image.Sources...
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/botany/perihist.html
The blooms of the natural wild plants are a pale pink with a purple "eye" in their centers, but horticulturists have developed varieties with colors ranging from white to hot pink to purple.
Periwinkle was used for diabetes in Europe for centuries. In India, juice from the leaves was used to treat wasp stings.
In Hawaii, the plant was boiled to make a
poultice to stop bleeding.
In China, it was used as
an astringent, diuretic and cough remedy.
In Central
and South America, it was used as a homemade
cold remedy to ease lung congestion and inflammation and sore throats.
Throughout
the Caribbean, an extract from the flowers was used to make a solution to
treat eye irritation and infections.
Western researchers noticed the plant in the 1950's as they learned of a tea Jamaicans were drinking to treat diabetes. They discovered the plant contains a motherlode of useful alkaloids (70 in all at last count).
Some, such as catharanthine, leurosine sulphate, lochnerine, tetrahydroalstonine, vindoline and vindolinine lower blood sugar levels (thus easing the symptoms of diabetes). Besides vincristine and vincrastine, others lower blood pressure, and yet others act as hemostatics (arrest bleeding)
Periwinkles also contain the alkaloids reserpine and serpentine, which are powerful tranquilizers. (Reserpine has been actually used as an anaesthetic during surgery,and it is also formed of the bacillus, Botulinum, which has usually been the medicinal source for the anaesthetic ).
Because the alkaloids in this plant can have serious side effects such as nausea and hair loss, it is not recommended that people attempt to medicate themselves with periwinkles."
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/botany/vvv.html
Pharmacology of vincristine, etc:
http://ohld.ag.utk.edu/ohld110/annuals/culture.html
colours of varieties
"White with red eye, clear white, red, pink, rose, apricot, and purple --a new hybrid."
Vinca is very drought tolerant and is the kind of plant that can sprout in a crack in the sidewalk and thrive. During rainy seasons, it can succumb to a fungus disease and die.
"Being released this year is the new ‘Diva’ series of vincas. ‘Diva’ is supposed to be like a vinca on steroids. It’s bigger and supposedly tougher."
http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/flowers_tough_new_exciting.htm
copyright Sue Risk Northdays Image 2004 - 2015
