Also called all-heal, self-heal was mentioned in Chinese medical literature of the Han dynasty (206 BC to AD 23), and is still used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It was popular for centuries in Europe as a wound herb and for throat problems.
Self-heal has gained recent respect for its antiviral qualities. Effective for feverish colds and ’flu, it has been proposed for treating herpes and AIDS, and is an underrated liver, gallbladder and thyroid remedy.
Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Deadnettle family
Description: A creeping perennial with downy leaves and violet flowers, reaching 30cm.
Habitat: Lawns, meadows and woods.
Distribution: Common throughout the British Isles, and found virtually worldwide.
Related species: Cut-leaved self-heal (P. laciniata) has creamy white flowers and is found on dry lime soils.
Parts used: Flowers and leaves, dry flower spikes.
As you would expect from a plant known as all-heal, self-heal has a wide range of medicinal actions. It is, however, underused in contemporary western herbal medicine.
Self-heal has a long history of western folk use. One name it acquired was ‘touch and heal’, indicating its value as first aid for cuts and wounds. It was also found to staunch bleeding and help knit a wound together. Taken internally as a tea, it treated fevers, diarrhoea and internal bleeding.
The Latin name Prunella was given by Linnaeus to Brunella, the German name of the plant. This reflected its use for ‘die Braüne’ or quinsy, meaning a throat abscess. A self-heal tea was taken internally, and a self-heal mouthwash and gargle used to treat a wide range of mouth and throat problems.
In the European tradition the plant is picked just before or while flowering, but in China the flower tops are collected in late summer when they are starting to wither. This variation in time of harvesting, along with regional variations in the plant’s chemistry, could explain the different uses of self-heal in the two traditions.
In Chinese medicine, self-heal is given for ascending liver fire and liver deficiency. It clears liver congestion and stagnation and brightens the eyes, which are regarded as linked to the liver. In common with European use, it is said to lessen heat and dissipate nodules, particularly in the neck, such as scrofula, lipoma, swollen glands and goitre.
Use self-heal for…
Julie has always used self-heal in her practice, mainly for treating ’flu and hot flushes. We knew we needed to take a deeper look at this plant when it seeded itself with exuberance all over our garden while we were writing this book – it seemed to be trying to tell us something. The more we thought about and used self-heal, the more impressed we became.
Recent studies have shown self-heal to be an effective remedy for herpes. If we look back at the old herbals, we see this is not new. In 1640, John Parkinson wrote that self-heal ‘juice mixed with a little Hony of Roses, clenseth and healeth all ulcers and sores in the mouth and throate, and those also in the secret parts’. We know today that both roses and self-heal have antiviral properties.
Self-heal ready for picking: the fresh flower in European medicine
Self-heal is a good remedy for ’flu and fevers because it combines cooling, immune-stimulating and antiviral qualities. It has been found to be effective against a broad range of bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculi, which causes tuberculosis.
The old use for goitre ties in with American herbalist James Duke’s research on self-heal. He found it to be among the most effective herbs for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), which often leads to a goitre formation. He has also confirmed that self-heal treats Graves’ disease and other hyperactive thyroid conditions. This means its effect is amphoteric, that is, it normalises function by stimulating an underactive gland or reducing overactivity.
The dried flower in Chinese medicine.
Self-heal is high on Duke’s list of plants with marked antioxidant activity. Studies show that self-heal has strong immune-stimulatory effects, and calms inflammatory and allergic responses. In preventing viruses from replicating, it shows promise in the treatment of AIDS. It is also used for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Self-heal tea
For tea, we prefer to harvest the flower spikes when they mature and are turning brown, drying naturally on the plant. You can shake out any ripe seeds to sow, ensuring a supply of plants for the years ahead.
Use about two flower spikes per mug of boiling water and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. Drink freely. For hot flushes, it is best drunk cool. It can be used as a mouthwash and gargle for mouth ulcers and sore throats.
Self-heal infused oil
Fill a jar with fresh self-heal blossoms and leaves. Pour olive oil in to fill the jar, stirring as you do so to allow air bubbles to escape. Cover the jar with a piece of cloth held on with a rubber band – this will allow any moisture to evaporate. Place the jar on a sunny window sill.
Check the jar every few days, and if necessary push the plant material back down under the surface of the oil. After two to four weeks the colour will have drained out of the plants. Strain off the oil. Allow it to settle, so that any water will sink to the bottom, then pour the oil carefully into bottles and label. This oil will keep for several years, but it is best to make a fresh batch every summer if you can.
Self-heal cream
To make a cream, you will be using some of the self-heal oil you have made, and combining it with a strong self-heal tea. This cream recipe can be used for other herbs or combinations of herbs too.
50ml self-heal oil
15g beeswax
50ml self-heal tea
Put the oil and beeswax in one bowl and the tea in another, and stand them both in a large pan of hot water. Heat until the beeswax melts. It is important that they are both the same temperature. Slowly pour the tea into the oil mixture while beating with an electric mixer set at the slowest speed. If you want, you can add a few drops of self-heal stock essence (instructions on next page). Once all the oil is mixed in and the mixture has emulsified and thickened, pour the cream into clean jars. Once set, label and store in a cool place or in the fridge.
Self-heal flower essence
To make the flower essence, find a patch of self-heal growing in a peaceful sunny spot. Just sit near the plants for a while until you feel relaxed and at peace with the plants and the place. Because flower essences are based on the vibrational energy of a plant rather than its chemistry, your intention is important.
When you are ready, place a small clear glass bowl on the ground near the plants. Fill it with about a cupful of rain water or spring water, then pick enough flowers from nearby to cover the surface of the water. Leave them there for an hour or two – you can relax nearby or go for a walk while they infuse. The water will still look clear, but the flowers may have wilted. Use a twig to lift them carefully out of the water, and then pour the water into a bottle that is half full of brandy. This is called your mother essence. You can use any size of bottle you like, but a 200ml blue glass bottle works well, and it may be easier to fill if you make use of a funnel. If there is any water left over, you can drink it.
To use your essence, put three drops of mother essence in a 30ml dropper bottle filled with brandy. Using this stock bottle, you can:
• put 20 drops in the bath, then soak for at least twenty minutes.
• rub directly on the skin, or mix into creams.
• put a few drops in a glass or bottle of water and sip during the day.
• make a dosage bottle to carry around with you, by putting three drops of stock essence into a dropper bottle containing a 50/50 brandy and water mix or pure distilled rosewater. Use several drops directly under the tongue as often as you feel you need it, or at least twice daily.
Self-heal essence reminds us that all healing is self-healing, and is valuable if you are ill and don’t know where to turn for help. It will help you choose the therapies that will be beneficial, and enkindle your own innate healing energy. It can be used alongside any other form of treatment to enhance its effectiveness and benefits without risk of negative interaction. Self-heal doesn’t just work on a physical level, but will support the mental and emotional aspects of healing. It also serves to calm and centre the spirit, benefiting meditation and prayer.