! BRAND NEW ! Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris)

Prunella vulgaris is an herb that has been used to treat illnesses for centuries.

It’s a member of the mint family and has large green leaves and purple flowers. It grows all over the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Prunella vulgaris is also known as “heal-all” due to its traditional use in healing wounds, throat infections, and several other ailments (1).

The possible health benefits of this plant are attributed to several of its compounds. These include flavonoids, tannins, and ursolic, rosmarinic, and oleanolic acids, which may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (1, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Specifically, these compounds may help prevent complications associated with diabetes, protect against herpes, and have anticancer effects (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

 Here are just some of the benefits of this plant.

 

Tissue State : Heat, Tension, Stagnation (learn more about traditional western herbalism energetics)

Constituents : Beta-carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin C, vitamin K, zinc, flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenes, rosmarinic acid, essential oils, tannin.

Actions : 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.

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. 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

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. Reducing inflammation can be a key component to alleviating many diseases and imbalances making Self Heal so versatile. 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. 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. Finally, Self Heal addresses inflammation as an immunomodulator, appropriately enhancing the body's immune response and helping to moderate an over-responsive immune response. 

Many of the key indications for Self Heal are related to excess heat and especially excess stagnant heat which results in swelling and engorgement. 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. 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. 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). The herb is useful in damp lung conditions including wet coughs and congestion as well as more serious conditions like tuberculosis. 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. In general, it is a good ally for processes of detoxification.

Self Heal has long been used as an herb for all complaints of the mouth and throat including sore throats, tonsillitis, laryngitis, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and gum disease in general. Use as a gargle and as a tea, but it can also be applied externally as a compress to the neck. In fact, the Latin binomial for Self Heal, Prunella, "was originally Brunella or Brunellen, a name given to it by the Germans as it was used to treat die Breuen, an inflammatory mouth and throat problem, common to soldiers in garrisons."⁴ As I mentioned earlier, many herbalists like myself reach for Self Heal to help harmonize and enhance an herbal blend, but also help to tend to the emotional wounds that can appear alongside physical ones. Herbalist Deb Soule writes:

“For years I had felt that a plant with the name self-heal must have the gift of healing internal wounds that cause feelings of sadness, grief, despair, anger and hopelessness. I began adding small amounts of the tincture of self-heal along with other herbs to enhance the healing properties of a formula. Sometimes I add a few dried flowers of self-heal to a tea mixture to help facilitate a deeper, more inward healing process.”⁵

Self Heal was one of the first flower essences I worked with and it was introduced to me as the type of essence that most anyone would benefit from working with. Self Heal helps us to connect with the belief that healing is even a possibility. I like making an herbal massage oil with both the herb and essence of Self Heal, using it for general body care, reducing lymphatic swelling, and supporting the emotional body through the physical one.

Topically, Self Heal continues to act as a useful anti-inflammatory that draws out heat from wounds and injuries alongside its antiseptic qualities. Many of Self Heal's common names like "carpenter's herb" and "sickle wort" refer to its use by laborers working with sharp tools who were able to harvest this freely growing herb easily. Use the herb as a wash for wound care, liniment, and/or salve for bruises, sprains, strains, boils, and burns. Also a good choice for bug bites and stings (great to use alongside Plantago spp. if you happen to get stung by a bee or other insect when out and about). Used internally and externally, Self Heal is a good ally for hemorrhoids, piles, and ulcers, as well as acne, rashes, and other skin irritations. Use as a compress for back pain, muscle and joint pain, as well as headaches. For those prone to tension headaches, consider combining with Blue Vervain (Verbena officinalis) and/or Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Self Heal is also useful as an eyewash for cases of conjunctivitis.

Finally, I want to share a description from Anishinaabe mashkikiiwikwewag, Keewaydinoquay, about Self Heal that so succinctly sums up the beauty of Self Heal's (ingijibinaa) healing gifts:

“If it has a nice place to grow in, a moist and sunny or semishaded place, this plant can grow to be eighteen inches tall, but if it is growing on a suburban lawn that is dry and regularly mowed, it can be two inches tall. In either extreme it will endeavor to put out its little flower and live a full life. As Kee used to say, ‘If a little weed can do that, so can people.’

 

May help with diabetes complications

Prunella vulgaris may help prevent complications associated with diabetes, a disease marked by high blood sugar levels.

Studies in test tubes and rodents suggest that certain compounds in the herb may inhibit enzymes that break down and metabolize carbohydrates in your body. In turn, this may lead to lower blood sugar levels and improved diabetes control (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

In addition, Prunella vulgaris may protect against atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that can increase your risk of heart attack (4Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

People with diabetes are more likely to develop risk factors for atherosclerosis, including artery damage from high blood sugar, elevated triglycerides, and high total and LDL (bad) cholesterol (10Trusted Source).

One 8-week study fed diabetic mice a diet high in fat and cholesterol and gave some of them Prunella vulgaris extract.

The mice given Prunella vulgaris had lower total blood cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides. The extract also led to improvements in heart function (4Trusted Source).

The results of these studies suggest that Prunella vulgaris may help decrease blood sugar and prevent atherosclerosis associated with diabetes.

May have cancer-fighting properties

Certain compounds in Prunella vulgaris may have anticancer effects.

Specific carbohydrates in the plant have been shown to induce cancer cell death and prevent tumor growth in test-tube studies (6Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

Test-tube studies also show that caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and other plant compounds in this herb may act as antioxidants that fight underlying cell damage. This damage is caused by reactive molecules called free radicals, which are linked to cancer development (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

One study in human liver cancer cells found that Prunella vulgaris stopped the spread of cancer by inhibiting certain enzymes that promote cancer growth (14Trusted Source).

Furthermore, a study in 424 people with breast cancer found that those who took the herb along with an anticancer medication lived significantly longer than those who took the medication alone (13Trusted Source).

In fact, almost twice as many people in the group who took Prunella vulgaris with medication showed no evidence of disease after their treatment, compared with the group who did not take the supplement alongside their medication (13Trusted Source).

However, keep in mind that this research is in its early stages. More human research is needed to fully understand the role of Prunella vulgaris as a complementary cancer therapy.

May help treat herpes

Prunella vulgaris is often cited as a possible treatment for the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is marked by contagious sores around your mouth or genitals.

Specifically, a type of carb in Prunella vulgaris has been shown to block the replication of HSV cells in test-tube studies (5Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).

In addition to blocking the virus from spreading, Prunella vulgaris may protect against herpes by stimulating the activity of immune cells like macrophages, which help your body fight infection (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

Animal studies have found that topical creams containing Prunella vulgaris significantly reduce the number of sores and skin lesions caused by the herpes virus (19Trusted Source).

 

May have anti-inflammatory activity

Prunella vulgaris may also help fight inflammationin your body and thus have the potential to help treat inflammatory diseases.

One test-tube study in human heart muscle cells found that Prunella vulgaris extract suppressed the activity of inflammatory proteins known to lead to the development of heart diseases and stroke (20Trusted Source).

Prunella vulgaris has also been shown to fight intestinal inflammation in mice. It may protect against diseases like colitis, an inflammatory condition of the colon that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and rectal bleeding (21Trusted Source).

 

SUMMARY

Compounds in Prunella vulgaris may help prevent diabetes complications, have anticancer effects, treat herpes, and fight inflammation.

 

 

 

GENESIS 1:29

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

 

SUGGESTED DOSE:

Adults = Take 1-2 mL  (20-40 drops)  up to 3 times a day.

 

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As always, talk to your health care practitioner or pharmacist before taking herbs for medicinal purposes. Herbs can interact with certain health conditions and/or medications. Be safe first and foremost.