Self-Heal

Prunella vulgaris

Allheal Blue Curls Brownwort Carpenter's Weed Heal-all Heart Of The Earth Hercules Woundwort Hock-heal Hood Weed Hook-heal Hsia-ku-ts'ao Panay Prunella Self-heal Xu Ku Cao Parts used Uses Habitat and cultivation Research Constituents How much to take Applications Collection and harvesting

A highly regarded European wound herb, self-heal is widely used to stop bleeding. In the past, the flower spikes were considered to resemble the throat, and under the Doctrine of Signatures theory, whereby plants cured those parts of the body that they most resembled, self-heal was also used for inflammations of the mouth and throat. In Chinese medicine, the flower spikes are used, and are known as xia ku cao, literally meaning "summer dry herb."

Students of plant lore are at a loss to explain how heal-all got its name, for its medicinal applications were always limited. A member of the mint family, with the mint's square stem but not its aromatic fragrance, self-heal is easy to identify by the dense purple flower clusters at the top of the stem and branchlets. The flowers are set in rings around the spike, never all blooming simultaneously, so that the plant has an unfinished appearance. Seventeenth century herbalists believed that because the flowers have the shape of a mouth, they were effective against mouth and throat infections.

Self-heal gained prominence when military physicians used it to treat a contagious fever that raged among the imperial armies in Germany in 1547 and 1566. Sore throat and a brown-coated tongue characterized the infection, and it became known as "the browns." This popular name was transferred, through medical Latin, to the plant used to remedy the disease-hence heal-all's botanical name of Bronella or Pronella.

Old-time doctors prescribed self-heal as an astringent. According to the 17th-century herbalist and physician Nicholas Culpeper, self-heal "stays the flux of blood from wounds and solders up their lips. It cleanses the foulness of sores and speedily heals them." Self-heal was also a popular gargle for sore throat.

PARTS USED

Whole herb.

USES

Nursemaids would warn their charges not to pick this plant, for if they did, the devil would carry them off: Heal-all and self-heal, both nicknames of Prunella vulgaris, are puzzles to those who study plant lore, because the medicinal uses are limited. Some believe the Latin name was derived from "brunella", a corruption of the German word braune, for" a brown one". Self-heal is an example of what doctors in earlier times called the doctrine of signatures: Plants resembled the part of the body that they healed.

Self-heal was lauded by John Gerard, 16th-century herbalist and chief secretary of state to Queen Elizabeth I. He writes: "There is not a better wound herb in the world", and when mixed with wine and water it will "make whole and sound all wounds, inward and outward." People thought this plant resembled a mouth and used it to cure sore throats and other infections of the mouth. Self-heal has also been used to treat diarrhea and boils. Recently, speculation has it that extracts from the herb serve as an HIV inhibitor. In China self-heal is used as an agent in lowering blood pressure and as an antibiotic. A German and French proverb advises," He needs neither physician nor surgeon that hath Self-Heal and Sanicle to help himself."

Traditional uses - Self-heal has been used as a wound herb for centuries. Self-heal staunches bleeding and accelerates the rate of repair. John Gerard wrote: "there is not a better wounde herbe in the world than that of selfe-heale" (1597). The Irish herbalist K'Eogh stated that self-heal "heals all internal and external wounds, removes obstructions of the liver and gall, and is therefore good for jaundice" (1735).
Modern European remedy - Not used in European herbal medicine on the same scale as in the past, self-heal is mainly employed as a wound herb. Self-heal is also sometimes taken to reduce internal bleeding, and as a gargle to treat sore throats. Externally, self-heal is applied topically to treat leucorrhea {vaginal discharge) and hemorrhoids: It has been considered by some practitioners to be a tonic.
Chinese treatment - In China, self-heal is taken on its own or with ju hua (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) for fevers, headaches, dizziness, and vertigo, and to soothe and calm inflamed and sore eyes. It is thought to cool "liver fire" resulting from liver weakness, and is prescribed for infected and enlarged glands, especially the lymph nodes of the neck. In light of recent research, self-heal is now sometimes used for high blood pressure.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Self-heal is native to Europe and Asia; self-heal can be found in temperate regions worldwide. Self-heal is a wayside plant, growing in meadows and by roadsides, and thrives in sunny areas. Self-heal spreads by self-seeding or via its roots. Self-heal germinates easily and can be grown from seed in spring or by root division. The aerial parts are picked in midsummer when the plant is in bloom.

RESEARCH

Blood pressure - Studies in China indicate that self-heal has a mildly dilating effect on the blood vessels, helping to lower blood pressure.
Countering infection - Chinese research shows the herb to have a moderately strong antibiotic action against a broad range of pathogens, including the Shigella species and E. coli, strains of which can cause enteritis and urinary infections.

CONSTITUENTS

Self-heal contains flavonoids (inc. rutin), vitamins A, B, C, K, fatty acids, volatile oil, bitter principle.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 - 2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day or used as a gargle or lotion.
Tincture: take 1 - 2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

APPLICATIONS

AERIAL PARTS:

TINCTURE - Use for all sorts of bleeding, including heavy menstruation and blood in the urine.

INFUSION - Use cool for the same ailments as the tincture. Can be helpful as an astringent, bitter herb in diarrhea and as a spring tonic.

POULTICE - Apply the fresh leaves to clean wounds.

OINTMENT - Apply to bleeding hemorrhoids.

EYEWASH - Use a very weak, well strained infusion for hot, tired eyes or conjunctivitis.

MOUTHWASH/GARGLE - Use a weak infusion or diluted tincture for bleeding gums, mouth inflammations, and sore throats.

FLOWER SPIKES:

DECOCTION - In China, used to clear "liver fire" associated with irritability and anger, over excitability, high blood pressure, headaches, hyperactivity in children, or eye problems. Often combined with ju hua (Chinese chrysanthemum flowers).

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

The young shoots and leaves are collected in June before flowering.