Latin: Prunella Vulgaris
Also Known As: All Heal, Heart of the Earth, Sicklewort, Heal All, Hook Heal, Carpenter's Herb
Family: Lamiaceae
Habitat and Description: This low growing perennial loves to grow in scrubland, grasses, meadows, by the side of the road, in the middle of the veg patch, anywhere it can get its little roots in. It is a tenacious but beautiful little survivor, with whorls of leaves growing around the familiar squarish stem of the lamiaceae family. The flowers have the hallmark appearance of this plant family as well, and are deep, rich purple, appearing on an almost cylindrical flower head at the top of a stem that rises above the basal set of leaves and has paired sets of leaves growing up it.
My first experience with this plant was in an enchanting story involving a unicorn, where the plant was used to bring the unicorn back to life. Then I grew it, and instead of staying obediently in the herb garden, it decided to grow all over the garden, and two years after the fact, was popping up all over the lawn and in the flower beds, much to the family's chagrin. Still, it is a very pretty and useful little plant so is better greeted with a smile than a curse. I must admit this is one of my favourite herbs – it is most certainly one of the earliest herbs I worked with!
Parts Used: Aerial parts
Constituents: bitters, alkaloids, tannins and volatile oil, flavonoids including rutin, polysaccharides, and pentacyclic triterpenes such as betulinic, oleanolic and ursolic acids which are diuretic and antineoplastic. It also contains vitamins A, B, C & K
Planetary Influence: Venus
Associated Deities and Heroes: As it has such a long standing reputation as a healer, I suspect the plant could probably be associated with assorted healing deities – possibly Brighid and so on and so forth, as well as Aesclepias, Hygeia and the rest of that particular branch of the Greek family of Gods and Goddesses, as these are the ones most usually associated with healing.
Festival: All
Constitution: Cool and neutral
Actions and Indications: This herb has such a plethora of uses that it really deserves to be a part of every herbal medicine chest. Self heal made into a tea can be used to soothe the discomfort of sore throats, especially when mixed with honey. By extension it can also be used to ease the irritation of chest infections in general, such as bronchitis. The cold infusion of the herb can be used to soothe hot flushes.
It can be applied as a salve to speed the healing of injuries, and taken internally to improve healing from surgery and to speed the healing of internal injuries.
The herb is astringent, and is also suitable for haemorrhage, for which it can be taken internally and used externally. It can lower fevers, making it a fantastic herb for treating feverish colds and the dreaded influenza, especially where the illness has led to raised glands – I suspect it may also have some uses in treating glandular fever as well. It can be used to return thyroid function to normal as it is an amphoteric thyroid herb. Self Heal can be used to stimulate the immune system and soothe inflammatory responses that cause illness and pain. It can also be used to soothe allergic responses so I suspect it would probably combine well with Eyebright and Mullein in the treatment of hayfever and seasonal change related problems.
The herb can also be used for the digestive system, to relieve hepatitis, jaundice and simple diarrhoea. Some sources reckon it can also be used to improve the body's ability to cope with diabetes by having an action on the pancreas. The flowers in particular are apparently a liver restorative, though I've never used the flower tincture on its own – I'll make some this year from wildcrafted herbs and see whether it is really all that different from the leaf tincture. Any excuse to play in the kitchen!
In addition to all its other useful properties, the herb can be used to lower high blood pressure and resolve oedema, and as a general kidney tonic as well as for haematuria. As it has some pretty good anti viral properties, I can't help wondering if it could also be used as part of a prescription for those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, especially where this was kicked off by a viral infection prior to the onset. Because the herb stimulates the immune system and soothes inflammatory responses, it could possibly also be used as part of treatment for fibromyalgia.
Topically, because the plant has such a high mucilage content, it can be used to draw infection out of wounds. A spit poultice can be made of the plant if you are unlucky enough to be out and about when injury occurs, or a mortar and pestle can be used to break up the fresh herb.
In China, the herb is used as an anti cancer treatment as it has some anti mutagenic properties, as well as being anti oxidant.
Spiritual and Energetic Uses: Self Heal can be used to give strength to those suffering chronic, long lasting illness who are beginning to lose hope. It can encourage self healing and motivation and support self transformation – probably not overly surprising given the colour of the flowers. Purple has often been associated with spiritual growth. To me, Self Heal is the flower of magic and fortitude – the ability to see the wonder in small things and use those as stepping stones to get you through dark times.
Magical Uses: Self Heal can be used to strengthen healing magic in general, as part of an incense, wash, anointing oil or strewing herb. If you are going to use it in this particular context, an infused oil can be used to anoint candles used to perform candle magic. Dry the flowers and infuse in sweet almond oil or any other vegetable or seed oil. Empower under a waxing or full moon, and store in a dark bottle – I'd probably favour blue or green glass if you can get hold of it.
Folklore: Apparently Self Heal used to be gathered by the druids in much the same way as Vervain. It was to be picked at night during the dark phase of the moon, preferably when the Dog Star was rising, and dug up with the druid's sickle before being held up in the left hand. After this, thanks should be said and the plant separated for drying into flowers, leaves and stems. Rather complicated but given just how many uses this herb has, perhaps well deserved!
It always surprises me with some of the herbs that have fallen out of favour in modern times just how little folklore is associated with them. It seems to me that Self Heal really deserves a far more colourful history than it seems to have at the present!
Dose: I've had trouble finding a recommended dosage level so would suggest no more than 10mls for a solo dose. I probably wouldn't use more than about 30mls per weekly prescription as part of a combination of tinctures. For the tea, one heaped teaspoon of the herb to a cup of hot water, drunk three or four times a day.
Contraindications: None known.