Self Heal, Healall, All-heal
Prunella vulgaris

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A creeping herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has short underground stems or rhizomes which then produce upright stems. It can be slightly hairy. The stems can be 50 cm long. They are square or flattened in cross section and purple in colour. The leaves are oval and can be slightly scalloped. They have leaf stalks. The flowers are deep blue or purple but can be white. They grow in spikes. They are surrounded by rounded bracts with a long tapering point. They are purplish and with white bristles underneath.

It is used in medicine. There are 7 Prunella species. Leaves and flowers are high in antioxidants.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist shaded and partly shaded ground. In Argentina it grows between 200-1,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Andaman Islands, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, Faroe islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Korea N, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Lord Howe Island, Luxembourg, Manchuria, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Sicily, Sikkim, Sinai, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

A drink can be made by dropping the freshly chopped or dried leaves in cold water. The young leaves and shoots are eaten raw in salads. They are also cooked with other greens as a potherb. They can be added to soups or stews.

It is available in Chinese stores in USA and Australia. It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by dividing the rootstock.

Its other names

Local names

Brinola, Brunela, Czemborek, Metspiparmunt, Prunela

Synonyms

Prunella incisa;