Description
Medicinal Uses
Heal-All (Prunella Vulgaris) grows all over the world and has been used by various cultures both as medicine and food. It belongs to the mint family but does not taste of mint.
Traditional use of Heal-All included as an expectorant, to assist female reproductive disorders, as a skin treatment and astringent, an antiseptic and to treat colic, stomach upsets and gastroenteritis. It would be taken internally as a medicinal tea for sore throats, fevers, wounds, internal bleeding and weakness of the heart and liver. Chinese herbalists considered heal-all useful for changing the course of a chronic disease.
There have been studies indicating some potential as antibacterial agents and for treating other conditions. The tannins may assist in reduction of skin swelling and inflammation and have an astringent effect on the skin. The active constituents include betulinic acid, rosmarinic acid, myristic acid, and tannins. The plant also contains vitamins A, C and K and thiamine.
Growing Instructions
Grow self heal in full sun or partial shade, in any moist, well-drained soil. Grow with other low-growing plants, as it can be dominated by taller ones. Cut any taller plants around it back at the end of the season. Self heal is particularly suited to growing in a wildflower lawn.
