In general, it is a good ally for processes of detoxification. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, Self Heal continues to be used in treating tumors both malignant and benign and there has been research showing that Self Heal might be useful in the treatments of some cancers. The herb is useful in damp lung conditions including wet coughs and congestion as well as more serious conditions like tuberculosis. The herb can be useful in autoimmune conditions "as manifested by joint pains, low-grade fever, fatigue."³ As an anti-inflammatory, cooling tonic, Self Heal is also a good herb to turn to in case of fever (combine with Eupatorium perfoliatum to help with painful fevers). Other indications for Self Heal include pain caused by tension including tension headaches, neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as dizziness and vertigo caused by hypertension. Conditions like mastitis can often be helped using Self Heal both internally and externally (alongside other mastitis herbs like Phytolacca americana), as well as alleviating the pain of fibrocystic breast tissue, sore nipples, and general swelling. Many of the key indications for Self Heal are related to excess heat and especially excess stagnant heat which results in swelling and engorgement. Finally, Self Heal addresses inflammation as an immunomodulator, appropriately enhancing the body's immune response and helping to moderate an over-responsive immune response. As a lymphatic tonic, Self Heal addresses stagnation and the issues that can arise from it such as congested and swollen glands, which can lead to infections. Self Heal clears heat from the body by improving the efficiency of the liver and kidneys, as well as by acting as a blood tonic. Reducing inflammation can be a key component to alleviating many diseases and imbalances making Self Heal so versatile. One of the reasons that Self Heal is so useful and easy to add to many an herbal blend is that it addresses inflammation in the body in multiple ways. As Culpeper writes, "Here is another herb of Venus, Self-heal, whereby when you are hurt you may heal yourself: It is a special herb for inward and outward wounds.”² Main Uses : Self Heal is one of my "how about a little" herbs, in that I'll come to the end of making a blend and I'll think "how about a little Self Heal" and add a pinch of it to the herbs already assembled. Tissue State : Heat, Tension, Stagnation ( learn more about traditional western herbalism energetics)Ĭonstituents : Beta-carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, vitamin K, zinc, flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenes, rosmarinic acid, essential oils, tannin.Īctions : Alterative, antibacterial, antibiotic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, bitter, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, febrifuge, hemostatic, hypotensive, immunostimulant, kidney tonic, liver stimulant, stomachic, styptic, vasodilator, vermifuge, vulnerary. Growing conditions : Low growing perennial that prefers moist soil and part to full sun.Ĭollection : Spring and early summer when it has started to flower. Often found in shady edges of woods, fields, roads, and yards. Habitat : Naturalized throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. Zodiac Signs : Virgo (Guardian & Remedy), Gemini (Remedy), Aries (Remedy) Tarot Cards : The Chariot, The Tower, The Devil, The Tens (Minor Arcana) Self Heal is a wonderful herb to work with and I hope that you’ll find the following plant profile of use to your own studies and practice.Ĭommon + Folk Names : Heal-all, common selfheal, all-heal, blue curls, carpenter's herb, dragonhead, heart of the earth, Hercule's woundwort, hook heal, pimpernel, sickle wort, woundwort, consuelda, ingijbinaa I find their energy to be steadying, their ability to inspire hope in the healing process enduring. It’s a common wayside herb and it’s healing gifts are tied up with the health of working people out in the fields, carpenters and farmers, laborers and Travelling folk. In the part of California that I’m in, Self Heal grows everywhere much like California Poppy ( Eschscholzia californica) or Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale). It’s always exciting to meet a plant friend you’ve only read about and since then I’ve worked a lot with beloved Self Heal. When I moved to Nisenan and Miwkoʔ Waaliʔ land / Sacramento, one of the first plants I noticed that was new to my eyes was this little purple flower that seemed to show up in everyone’s front lawn.¹ A careful look through plant identification books revealed to me that this was Self Heal ( Prunella vulgaris), a plant I’d learned about in my studies as an herbal student, but not one that I’d ever seen in person before.
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