Heal All (Self Heal) Seed, Prunella vulgaris

Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris), also called “heal all”, is a common weed found growing on lawns, field edges, and creek banks all throughout North America and other parts of the world.

Besides being a great plant for bees and butterflies, all of the aerial parts are edible and used medicinally – this includes the flowers, stems, and leaves.

Self heal doesn’t really have a smell or scent, and the leaves taste pretty plain – they’re not unpleasant at all, but are reminiscent of nibbling on a tasty bit of lettuce.

GROW: Sow seed in very early spring in a flat outdoors, or give a short cold and moist conditioning treatment before sowing in a warm place. This plant is easy to grow and will readily self seed once established. Grow self heal in moist but well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade. It does best when surrounded by other low-growing plants and grows extremely well in lawns. Ensure that it’s not smothered by taller plants, cutting them back at the end of the season. Deadhead after flowering if you want to stop self heal spreading.

HARVEST: Self Heal is a low growing perennial, with a sprawling or creeping habit. It blooms with clusters of purplish flowers in mid to late summer, depending on where you live. For maximum potency heal all herb should be harvested during the mature flowering stage. All aerial parts (above the ground) can be harvested. Cut plant just above the surface of the ground leaving the root system for future growth. Heal all herb can be harvested more than once in a season from the same plant when cut and the root system is left in place.

USE: As the name suggests is commonly used as a medicinal herb. A poultice may be made from the whole plant and placed on wounds to promote self healing. An infusion may be made by boiling 600mls of water, adding 30 grams of self heal and letting it steep. It is recommended to drink a small glass as a general strength tonic and as a gargle for sore throats.