Pansy, also known as viola tricolor, wild pansy, yellow wild pansy or
bird’s eyes is a flowering herb native to North America and Europe.
There are several varieties of the pansy plant which feature flowers
in a wide range of colors. Pansy flower health benefits plus its
beauty have earned the plant a revered place in many gardens around
the world. In folk medicine, various civilizations used pansies as
infusions and tinctures to treat a variety of ailments including broken
hearts, cold, and flu.
[Note: The Right Flowers is not a medical site. Knowledge of and information about the therapeutic benefits and applications of flowers, while known through the ages, does not constitute medical advice. If you are having health issues, you should consult with a physician.]
Pansies produce beautiful, tri-color blossoms which are loved by
flower enthusiasts. The name pansy is derived from the French term
“pensée”, roughly translated to mean “thought”. Ancient people held
that the three colors of the flowers represented loving thoughts,
memories, and souvenirs.
Pansies are high in carotenoids and mucilage. They also contain small
amounts of essential oils, vitamin C and tannin. In additions, pansies
have salicylic acid and cyclotides. Their health benefits include:
Skin care
Pansy has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. This makes it
ideal for treating and managing skin problems such as acne, itching,
cradle cap, eczema, and psoriasis. In addition, its anti-bacterial
properties make it handy for promoting the healing of wounds, sores,
abscesses, and boils.
Respiratory system
Pansies have antitussive properties, which make them an effective remedy
for people suffering from whooping cough, and bronchitis. Remedies
made from pansy flowers are known to soothe irritations in the throat
membranes while loosening and eliminating phlegm.
In addition, the flowers contain anti-inflammatory properties, making
them a handy remedy for people suffering from asthma. Their flavonoids
have anti-asthmatic properties that help in reducing coughing while
opening up the airways.
Since pansies are anti-allergens and have mucilaginous properties,
they are great for soothing sore throats and managing colds and flu.
The flowers are also rich in salicylates and salicylic acid. These
properties make them effective for reducing fevers as well as numbing
pain due to their analgesic properties.
Diuretic
Pansy blossoms have diuretic properties, which means that they favor
the elimination of body fluids. Compounds with diuretic properties are
ideal for eliminating of toxins and accumulated water in the body.
This helps in managing edema, obesity, heart disease, and rheumatism.
Depurative
Pansies have compounds that purify the blood and fight inflammation as
well as infections that affect the urinary system. Their demulcent
capabilities also help in dissolving kidney stones and treating gastric
mucosa and duodenal ulcers.
From the pansy flower health benefits outlined above, you can tell
that ancient people were right in seeking out this handy plant.
The pansy is a sister flower to the violet, as they’re both of the viola genus, and descend from a pretty weed that grew in the grain fields and hedgerows of early 19th Century England. Cultivation began, with the desire to produce a round flower with overlapping petals, and as you can see from the picture to the left, that objective has surely been met. 
Pansies are available in a huge range of colors from white and pale yellow, through gold and orange to red, and on to blue, violet, and finally to a purple so dark it appears almost black. A great many bi-colored and many tri-colored flowers are also available, and many variants have quite showy markings on the face of the flower. Ah yes, the face. The common name, pansy, is derived from the French word pensée (which means thought.) The flower is so named because some think it resembles a human face; and indeed, in the heat of August, the plant often droops forward, as if in deep thought.
Pansies have an forgettable, delicate perfume-like fragrance. Many observers (can one observe a scent?) say that the fragrance is more noticeable in the early morning and at dusk, especially for a concentrated arrangement. The yellow or blue pansy flowers seem to have the strongest fragrance, but don’t be shy, if you’re buying in a florist, of putting your nose down into the flowers (allergies permitting) and inhaling deeply to find the most fragrant available.
The pansy, because its name is derived from “thought,” carries the meaning of loving thoughts. Some consider the pansy to be a flower of remembrance, and they’re often seen at memorial services and in cemeteries. The same meaning, of loving thoughts, is also applicable to those who are still with us, and in this case the pansy not only sends loving thoughts, but also asks for loving thoughts in return. For this reason, pansies are always an appropriate bouquet for someone with whom you share a friendship or a special bond.