Self-Heal, Common selfheal, Aleutian selfheal, Lance selfheal

Prunella vulgaris

Physical Characteristics

Prunella vulgaris is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.

Habitats

Ground Cover; Lawn; Meadow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Drink Leaves - raw or cooked[9]. They can be used in salads, soups, stews etc[183]. Somewhat bitter due to the presence of tannin in the leaves, though this can be removed by washing the leaves[177]. A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is used as a refreshing beverage[161, 183]. Very tasty[168].

Medicinal Uses

Alterative Antibacterial Antibiotic Antidiarrhoeal Antipyretic Antiseptic Antispasmodic Astringent Carminative Diuretic Febrifuge Hypotensive Stomachic Styptic Tonic Vermifuge Vulnerary Self heal has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, sores etc[7]. It was also taken internally as a tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea, sore mouth, internal bleeding etc[4, 222]. In Korea it is used to treat oedema, nephritis, scrofula and goitre[279]. The whole plant is alterative, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[4, 9, 13, 21, 176, 218]. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas, Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc[176]. It can be used fresh or dried, for drying it is best harvested in mid-summer[4]. The plant is experimentally antibiotic and hypotensive[218, 222].

Known Hazards

None known