Selfheal


Selfheal

A genus of sevena species of perennials, occurring in northern temperate regions and NW Africa. Prunella vulgaris (selfheal) is rather invasive as a garden plant but is well worth including in a wildflower meadow. It has a long history of use in herbal medicine. Culpeper explained that it is called selfheal because "when you are hurt, you may heal yourself". John Gerard, the 16th century English herbalist, wrote "there is not better wounde herbe in the world...". Though European herbalists have always regarded it primarily as wound, in Chinese medicine it is used mainly for complaints associated with disturbed liver energy. The first mention of selfheal in Chinese medical literature was in Chinese Medical literature was in the Shen Nong herbal during the Han dynasty (206BCE-CE23). Prunella is and alternative spelling of Brunella, from the German bräune, "quinsy" (a throat infection), for which P. vulgaris was a standard treatment.

Creeping, aromatic perennial with 4-angled stems and oblong-ovate, toothed leaves, 4-5cm (1½-2in) long. Purple, 2-lipped flowers are produced in compact spikes from summer to autumn.


Common Name:
Selfheal
Other Names:
All-Heal, Blue Curls, Brownwort, Carpenter's Herb, Heart of the Earth, Heal-All, Hock-Heal, Sicklewort, Woundwort.
Botanical Name:
Prunella vulgaris
Genus:
Prunella
Family:
Lamiaceae
Cultivation:
Moist, well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Invasive.
Propagation:
By seed sown in autumn or spring; by division in spring.
Harvest:
Plants are cut in summer, when flowering and dried for use in infusions, ointments, and tinctures. Flower spikes are cut in autumn and dried for use in decoctions.
Height:
50cm (20in)
Width:
Indefinite
Native Location:
Europe, temperate Asia, and N Africa
Hardiness:
Z4-9
Variations:
f. alba
Has white flowers
History:
This common wildflower with distinctive blue-purple flower clusters is found worldwide, growing in fields and woods and along roadsides and wastelands. The Chinese have used self-heal, which they call xia ku cao, for over 2,000 years, but there is no mention of the herb in ancient Greek and Roman writings. In the West, it appears self-heal has been used medicinally for only about 500 years. The plant's genus name, Prunella, is a Latin derivation of the name the Germans gave the herb—Brunella—which is from the German bräune or die bruen for "quinsy", a type of tonsillitis which especially plagued soldiers and for that self-heal was used almost exclusively for its significant wound-healing properties, hence the herb's most popular common name—wound-wort. The sixteenth-century herbalist John Gerard, who called the herb Prunell, claimed there was no better plant for healing wounds. "The decoction of Prunell made with wine and water", Gerard claimed, "doth join together and make whole and sound all wounds, but inward and outward…." Today, self-heal is still used to treat wounds, plus a variety of other "inward and outward" ailments.
Parts Used:
Whole plant, flowers (xia ku cao)
Properties:
An astringent, slightly bitter, saline herb that lowers fever and blood pressure, stimulates the liver and gall bladder, and promotes healing. It has diuretic, antibacterial, and alterative effects.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally, in Western medicine, for hemorrhage and excessive menstruation (whole plant); in Chinese medicine, often combine with Chrysanthemum x morifolium (See, Florist's Chrysanthemum) for fevers, headaches, high blood pressure, mumps, mastitis, conjunctivitis, and hyperactivity in children related to liver energy problems (flowers). Externally, in Western medicine, for minor injuries, sores, burns, bruises, sore throat, mouth inflammations, and hemorrhoids (whole plant).
Self-heal has antibacterial, alterative, antioxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, blood-pressure-lowering, diuretic, fever-reducing, tonic, and wound-healing properties. It is taken internally to treat diarrhea, headaches, heavy menstrual bleeding, and intestinal worms. It is applied externally, in creams and ointments, to bruises, cuts, sores, and hemorrhoids. Self-heal tea may also be used as a gargle to treat gingivitis, other gum and mouth inflammations, and sore throats.
Self-heal is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, where it is prescribed for "hot" ailments, including abscesses, boils, conjunctivitis, cystitis, fevers, gall bladder ailments, goiter, high blood pressure, headaches, irritated eyes, kidney and liver ailments, mumps, and swollen lymph glands.
Preparation:
Self-heal is available as dried root and in capsules, creams, ointments, teas, and tinctures. To make a tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb and steep for 5 minutes. Strain, and drink 1 cup a day.
Caution:
Do not use self-heal if you have low blood pressure or are taking medications to lower your blood pressure.
Bibliography:
The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pg.331
The Modern Herbal Primer by Nancy Burke Copyright©2000 Yankee Publishing, Inc. pp.95-96