Healing Benefits of the Self-Heal Plant You Should Know

When you hear of a plant called self heal, you know this is a plant you need to get to know. The name won’t let you down. The healing benefits of self heal are extensive, it’s one you’re going to want to add to your own apothecary.

How to Identify Self Heal

Self heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a small plant that likes to creep along the ground rather than stick out. I have seen it grow up to about 12 inches tall, but normally I find it to be about 6 inches or less.

It’s a member of the mint family, which is known for their powerful medicinal properties. Being a member of the mint family, it has a square stem. The leaves are small and triangular shaped. The flower head is round and has many small flowers that protrude from the sides of it, although you often find only a few flowers on the head at a time.

A native of Europe and Asia, self heal can also be found all over North America. I found quite a bit growing around my yard even though I’ve never planted it.

In this post, we’ll explore the pharmacological uses of self heal and how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle for improved health. The parts of the plant to use for medicinal purposes are the aerial parts: leaves, stem, and flowers.

A group of self heal plants growing in the ground

Healing Benefits of Self Heal

*I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Please consult a physician before using herbs for medicinal purposes

Healing One’s Self, One Wound At A Time

One of the more obvious healing benefits of self heal is the ability to help heal wounds. There are many ways this plant can help heal your basic wounds and minor burns:

Antiseptic – help prevent infections
Antibacterial – help heal infections
Styptic – help stop bleeding
Anti-inflammatory – decrease inflammation and pain
Vulnerary – helps promote healing by increasing collagen and accelerates the stages of healing.

Self heal can help at all stages of basic wound healing. It can be used in tincture form but an infused oil made into a salve or cream is probably your best choice. Since most tinctures are made with alcohol, that would sting quite a bit if put directly on a wound or burn!

Healing Infections of All Kinds

Members of the mint family love to tackle infections. Self heal is no different and loves to attack all the little bugs that plague us as humans. I mentioned the antibacterial qualities of the plant in the last section, but this plant is also antimicrobial and antiviral. It basically likes to take on all the bugs that try to make us sick. While it’s not perfect and won’t cure everything, there are many things it is very good at.

Antibacterial
Antimicrobial
Antiviral

These three qualities combined make this plant a powerhouse for basic healing. Studies have also shown that the antibacterial property of the plant helps with UTIs as well as mastitis.

Viral infections are tougher on living beings since most of the time there are no medications that can really tackle them. Most medications only target symptoms or secondary issues related to the virus. But studies using self heal have shown that it could be a very good ally for hepatitis, HIV-1, Ebola, SARS, and other hard to treat viral illnesses.

Immune, Digestive, and Cardiovascular Systems

Immune System

An immunomodulatory herb is one that helps regulate the immune system. Self heal is an immunomodulatory herb meaning it can help boost the immune system when needed. It can also help calm it down if you happen to have an over active immune system.

Digestive System

Digestive disorders are very common in today’s world. Battling them can feel overwhelming, and I know some that quit thinking it’s a lost cause. Herbs can be powerful when it comes to helping improve digestion and self heal is one herb to add to that list.

Self heal can help with basic digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and gas. It can also help tackle bigger issues like ulcers. Ulcers are sores that are slow to heal. They are common in the digestive system, but the can appear on the outside of your body as well. Self heal can help promote the healing of ulcers and sores in your mouth, stomach, and intestinal tract. You could also use it externally as well on other types of ulcers.

The plant is also has stomachic and diuretic properties. Stomachic means it can help stimulate digestion and improve appetite. Diuretic means it help increase urination, increasing the elimination of toxins in the body.

Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular (heart) diseases are quite prevalent in the United States where I live. They have affected our family: my father had low blood pressure and had many instances of passing out from his blood pressure getting to low. Self heal is an herb that can help on both ends of the spectrum. It can help regulate blood pressure by either helping to lower if it’s too high, or bringing it up if it’s too low.

The plant’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties can also help with cardiovascular infections.

Immunomodulatory – regulate an under and overactive immune response
diarrhea
gas/bloating
ulcers
stomachic – stimulate digestion and improve appetite
diuretic – increase urine output
hypo and hyper tensive – regulate blood pressure

Thyroid Issues

I am someone that personally battles thyroid issues. I have an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This means my thyroid is underproducing the T3 hormone and I must supplement myself with medication.

In doing research for this post, I found studies that showed self heal has properties that can help support the thyroid in several ways. One way is helping it with autoimmune thyroiditis issues exactly like what I have. Of course I ran out immediately and harvested it. I can’t wait to see whether it helps me or not. I’ll be sure to update if it helps me.

This plant can also help support the thyroid with other thyroid dependent diseases as well, not just autoimmune issues.

Goiter is a thyroid condition where the thyroid becomes enlarged. Research shows self heal can help with this condition, not only gently supporting the thyroid but also using it’s anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce goiters.

Chemotherapy and Cancer Possibilities

At its most basic level, cancer is a DNA mutation that happens when DNA replicate to produce a new cell. This mutation causes cells to grow and divide rapidly and the result is cancerous tumors. Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the primary treatments for cancer, but both create complications and side effects of their own. There is quite a lot of promising research on the self heal plant that it may be able to help with cancer and the effects of treatment.

Cancer Potential

Self heal is antiproliferative, antimutagenic, chemoprotective, and antitumor. It also has strong antioxidant properties. These healing properties of self heal make the plant a potentially strong ally in the fight against cancer.

Antioxidants are important because they fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals create all kinds of issues in the body, from inflammation to cancer. Antioxidants help expel free radicals, which helps prevent the issues they cause. The seeds of the self heal plant were found to be stronger antioxidants than the leaves and stems.

Antimutagenic is a property in which the plant can help prevent DNA mutations. Self heal is an antimutagenic and this benefit could potentially be beneficial, along with the antioxidant properties, in helping prevent some cancers.

The third quality of self heal that could aid in the prevention of cancers is it’s antiproliferative property. This means that it can help prevent cells from the unrestricted and rapid dividing of cancer. Studies have shown that it’s shown benefits in several cancers, pretty much everywhere on and in the body.

Because self heal is pretty incredible, it also has a fourth quality and that is anti-angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels. This can be a good thing when it comes to things like wounds. But in cancer it’s very bad. New blood vessels form to supply the cancerous tumor with a supply of blood. Self heal has properties that can help interfere with this process, potentially preventing a blood supply from forming to a developing tumor.

Radioprotective properties

Cancer still happens and chemotherapy and radiation are the most advanced treatments we currently have for it. But they take a toll on your body. Enter self heal again. Self heal can help protect you and/or help minimize radiation sickness and radiation induced anemia. It also promotes apoptosis or cell death. Apoptosis is a way for your body to get rid of abnormal cells or ones that are not needed.

Other Note-Worthy Healing Benefits of Self Heal

Antipyretic – can help reduce fevers
Antiestrogenic – blocks or inhibits effects of estrogen in the body
Antihyperglycemic – can help suppress blood sugar rise
Antispasmodic
Adaptogenic – help body cope with stress
Help relieve headaches and migraines
Treat atopic dermatitis
Protect and treat inflammation from UV exposure
Reduce gingivitis

There are even more things studies have shown that self heal can help with. The list is too exhaustive to add everything on one webpage. Check out the source links below if you’re interested in learning even more. The studies done with this plant are quite fascinating!

clump of self heal growing out of a mulched ground

How You Can Use Self Heal As Medicine

There are several ways you can use self heal as medicine:

Eat it
Make a tea
Use it as a tincture
Infuse it in oil

These four ways are going to be my standard answer for how to use herbs as medicine, and are definitely the best ways for self heal.

Eating Self Heal

Many people add self heal to salads. I have yet to do that so I can’t speak on how it tastes! If you try it, leave a comment below and let everyone know what you think.

Making a Tea to Extract Medicinal Properties

To make self heal into a tea, take either fresh or dried self heal and put about a teaspoon dried plant material (2 teaspoons fresh) per cup into a tea bag or infuser. Poor 8 oz of boiling water over it and cover the cup to keep the steam from escaping. There are special tea mugs you can buy that come with covers, or you can just cover the cup with a small saucer plate like I do.

Let the tea steep for about 10-15 minutes then remove the cover. Take out the self heal and enjoy your refreshing medicinal tea.

Making a Tincture

Tinctures typically involve alcohol but can be made with vegetable glycerin or vinegar if you do not consume alcohol. Keep in mind that when you are taking a tincture, you are taking such small amounts that it is impossible to feel any effects of alcohol.

I make a tincture by using 100 proof vodka. Fill a jar with fresh self heal. I like to cut it up into smaller pieces so I can fit more in and have more surface area for the alcohol to extract from. I feel it’s important that the plant be fresh, so it still retains all of its water and alcohol soluble properties. Some people like to use dry plant matter, but I don’t think it’s as potent since it’s lost its water-soluble properties in the drying process. Use your own judgement on what works best for you. Make sure you fill the jar to the top with plant material, don’t pick a jar that’s larger than the amount of plant material you have. It doesn’t matter what jar you use, just make sure it has a lid that is tight.

When your jar is full of self heal, pour the alcohol over it until it reaches the brim of the jar. You may have to let it sit for a minute before the alcohol makes it into all the nooks and crannies. Add more if necessary. Seal the jar with the lid and sit it in a cool dark place for 6-8 weeks.

When it’s ready, strain out the plant material and your tincture is ready for use.

Tinctures are pretty powerful medicine, so start slowly when taking it. Start with just a few drops several times a day, and work up until you reach the number of drops your body needs to feel the medicinal affects.

Making an Oil Infusion

An oil infusion is best used to make a salve, cream or lotion, but of course you can always use the oil to cook with too! My favorite oil to use is avocado oil, but you can use a pure olive oil, grapeseed oil, or basically any oil that isn’t soy or canola based. I wouldn’t recommend using either of those due to their inflammatory properties.

Oil infusions should be made with dry plant material only. Because oil and water are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, if you use fresh plant material your oil is going to end up growing mold.

Fill a jar up with dried self heal, use the stem and all. Just like with a tincture, cut the plant matter into smaller pieces to allow more surface area for extraction.

Pour the oil over the plant material up to the rim of the jar. Cap it tight and place it in a warm, dark place for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, strain out the plant material and your oil is ready to go!