The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Self-heal is used for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), diarrhea, colic, and stomach upset and irritation (gastroenteritis).
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 – it self-seeds readily.
Self Heal plant, Prunella vulgaris, is also known as Heal-all and Woundwort. A tea from the leaves is used as a remedy for sore throats and as a wash for sprains. The crushed leaves utilised as a poultice cuts, sores and wounds. Self Heal plant is a native of Europe and prefers light, moist soils in an open sunny position. Flowers are blue-violet, purple or purplish red appearing in spring and summer. Frost resistant but drought tender, will tolerate light frost. A perennial ground cover, growing to 0.3m x 0.5m.