Self-Heal, Common selfheal, Aleutian selfheal, Lance selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae
What it is like
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.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
Waste ground, grassland, woodland edges etc, usually on basic and neutral soils.
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Leaves - raw or cooked. They can be used in salads, soups, stews etc. Somewhat bitter due to the presence of tannin in the leaves, though this can be removed by washing the leaves. A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves is used as a refreshing beverage. Very tasty.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Medicine
Rating: 3
Self heal has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, sores etc. It was also taken internally as a tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhoea, sore mouth, internal bleeding etc. In Korea it is used to treat oedema, nephritis, scrofula and goitre. The whole plant is alterative, antibacterial, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, hypotensive, stomachic, styptic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Pseudomonas, Bacillus typhi, E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc. It can be used fresh or dried, for drying it is best harvested in mid-summer. The plant is experimentally antibiotic and hypotensive.
Alterative: Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.
Antibiotic: An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial
Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.
Antipyretic: Treats fevers. See Febrifuge.
Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.
Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
Styptic: An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.
Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.
Other
Rating: 3
An olive-green dye is obtained from the flowers and stems. The plant is a good ground-cover in sunny positions or light shade.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
How it is grown
Thrives in any damp soil, in full sun or in light shade. Plants are apt to become troublesome weeds in turf that is at all damp. Self heal is a good plant for growing in the spring meadow.
Propagating it: Seed - sow in mid spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed then it can be sown outdoors in situ in mid to late spring. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Best place to grow: Ground Cover; Lawn; Meadow;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 3-7
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist