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Long post ahead 😂
Scroll to the end for 🐰🐰RABBIT USES🐰🐰

SELF-HEAL (Prunella vulgaris)
OTHER NAME(S): All-Heal, Blue Curls, Brownwort, Brunelle, Brunelle Commune, Brunelle Vulgaire, Brunette, Carpenter’s Herb, Carpenter’s Weed, Heal-All, Heart of the Earth, Herbe au Charpentier, Hercules Woundwort, Hock-Heal, Petite Consoude, Prunella, Prunelle Vulgaire, Sicklewort, Slough-Heal, Woundwort, Xia Ku Cao
^^^Names vary upon location or area of the world. Also keep in mind that some names may be used for different plants in different areas.^^^

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Self Heal, Heal-All, was one of the first weeds I took a special interest in, actively seeking more info than my guidebook provided. I suppose it was the name lol… with a name like that it should do about everything! Unsurprisingly it does do quite a bit 🧐

DESCRIPTION/HOW TO ID
Self heal is a plant in the genus Prunella and is part of the mint family. Self heal grows to about 30 to 40 cm or 1 to 2 feet high and then tends to fall over and sprout roots.
It has tough reddish colored stems which branch at the leaf axis, and the leaves are lance-shaped, with serrated edges and reddish tips, measuring from 5 to 8 cm. long by about 2.5 cm. wide.
The leaves appear in pairs along opposite sides of the squarish stem.
The flowers are tubular in shape, and the upper lip forms a purplish hood, while the lower lip has 3 lobes and is white in color.

***Extra tidbit: If you find a patch you like to pick from or if you’re growing your own, picking and pinching from the center stem encourages growth. Two flower heads will sprout from where you pinched the one. This also makes for a bigger bushier plant. If you do this continuously you will not be disappointed. The harvest from that one plant will end up being so much more than it would have been by taking a bit of care 😉

Constituents and Compounds

The plant’s chemical constituents include betulinic acid, D-camphor, D-fenchone, cyanidin, delphinidin, hyperoside, manganese, caffeic acid, lauric acid, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, myristic acid, rutin, linoleic acid, ursolic acid, beta-sitosterol, lupeol as well as rutin (flavonoid). Bitter principles; alkaloids; saponins; phenols; tannins; mucilage; proteins; lipids; glycoside (aucubin).

Self Heal contains vitamins C, B1 and K, and thiamine. It also contains chemicals called tannins that might help reduce skin swelling (inflammation) and have a drying (astringent) effect on the tissues.

SHORT OVERVIEW

Prunella vulgaris is a medicinal herb that belongs to the mint family.
Some claim it can help protect against viruses, infections, and chronic diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

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
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
Specifically, these compounds may help prevent complications associated with diabetes, protect against herpes, and have anticancer effects
All parts of the herb are edible, and you can add its leaves to salads or other recipes.
It’s also sold in pill and liquid-extract form, as well as in balms and ointments that can be applied directly to your skin. You can find it online or in supplement shops.

MEDICAL & Therapeutic ACTIONS

1. Astringent
2. Anti-allergenic
3. Antibacterial
4. Anti-mutagenic
5. Antimicrobial
6. Anticarcinogenic
7. Antioxidant
8. Antiviral (inhibits virus replication)
9. Antipyretic (febrifuge) – Fever reducer 😉
10. Antiseptic (mild)
11. Antispasmodic
12. Carminative
13. Cholagogue
14. Choleretics
15. Demulcent; anti-inflammatory
16. Detoxifier
17. Diuretic
18. Expectorant
19. hemostatic or styptic
20. hepatoprotective
21. Hypotensive
22. Immune booster/stimulant
23. Relaxant
24. Restorative
25. Stomachic; Digestive
26. Thyroid amphoteric
27. Tonic (kidney)
28. Vasodilator
29. Vermifuge (anthelmetic)
30. Vulnerary

COMMON MEDICINAL USES (very limited list as I expounded quite a bit below)

* Mouth and throat ulcers
* Stomach upset and irritation
* Internal bleeding
* Immune Booster
* Disorders of the female reproductive system (gynecological disorders)
* Wounds
* HIV/AIDS
* Crohn’s disease
* Ulcerative colitis
* alleviate eye inflammations and eyestrain
* a decoction of self-heal to soothe the digestive tract during or following an attack of diarrhea.
* peripheral vasodilators
* It has also been used to help remove mercury from the body.
* Self-heal is indicated in: infections, flu, fevers, sore throats, mouth ulcers, laryngitis, tonsillitis, swollen glands, mumps, glandular fever, mastitis, tension headaches, diarrhoea, colitis, bleeding, haemorrhoids, gout, liver & gallbladder problems, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, kidney problems and oedema

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Immune system:
Just as the name suggests, Self-heal is used to enhance our own healing powers and improve immunity. It is an effective antibiotic against a range of bacteria and has a potent antiviral action, including activity against HIV and viral hepatitis. This is combined with an immunomodulatory effect of the polysaccharides helpful in lowered immunity, HIV, chronic fatigue syndrome and allergies.
Self-heal has an affinity for the lymphatic system, useful for swollen glands, mumps, glandular fever and mastitis. In Chinese medicine, it is used for resolving accumulations and masses, particularly in the upper body (chest, throat, and head). According to the Shennong Bencao Jing, Self-heal is used for “breaking concretions and dispersing bound Qi (Chi) of the neck.” It is still used in formulae for treating thyroid swellings and breast lumps as well as mumps. When taken in hot infusion, the diaphoretic action increases sweating and helps reduce fevers.
Rosmarinic acid contributes to the antioxidant effects of Self-heal, whilst research suggest it has antimutagenic effects, indicating its possible use as an anticancer herb. Urosolic acid is a diuretic that has also been shown to have anticancer properties and helps to clear toxins and excess uric acid via kidneys. It is recommended in the treatment of gout.

Skin:
Self-heal has a reputation as a detoxifying herb and used for boils and other inflammatory skin problems. In Chinese medicine it is classified as a fire-purging herb as it is used for inflammation and infections of the eyes and skin.

Nervous system:
Self-heal’s relaxant properties can be helpful in headaches, particularly when related to tension, vertigo, over-sensitivity to light and high blood pressure. It is used in China for hyperactivity in children.

Digestive system:
As an astringent, Self-heal can be taken for diarrhea and inflammatory bowel problems such as colitis. The bitters can be helpful in liver and gall bladder problems including viral hepatitis.

External Uses:
Tinctures or infusions can be used as astringent gargles for sore throats and mouthwashes for mouth ulcers and bleeding gums. The tea can be used, or the fresh plant rubbed on to the skin to stop bleeding from cuts and reduce swelling from bites and stings. Self-heal can also be used for inflammatory skin problems, piles, varicose veins and ulcers, as well as in drops for inflammatory eye problems.

Lymphatics:
One of the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Self Heal is lymphatics, and typically of lower-body lymphatic movement. Self Heal is great for supporting varicose veins, as well as a great as a lymphatic stimulant and a diruetic.
Self Heal has quite a history of working with edema and kidney issues, not just in the States but in Asia too. However, don’t just leave it in the “lower body lymphatic” box – Self Heal is great any time there are swollen lymph nodes – both topically and internally – whether that’s just as a part of a routine cold or flu regime, or a more serious issue. Self Heal has long been used for lymphatic movement in tonsilitis and tuberculosis, and more recently in lymphedema that happens after mastectomy. For that matter, it’s great with mastitis too – which is not just an infection, but an overflow of milk from the milk ducts that causes an immune response in the surrounding tissue. The only way to clean it out is to actually clear it out which means you’ve got to move the lymph!

Anti-Viral:
There have been a whole host of studies showing that Self Heal has many antiviral properties, especially against the herpes simplex virus, HPV and even HIV. Research shows Prunella inhibits the binding ability of a virus, so that the virus can’t replicate. Which means that Self Heal is a plant you want to put into your cold-sore salve, and at the first sign of a cold sore or other herpes outbreak, use the salve, or a compress of strong tea, and drink a bunch of the tea as well. Blend it with Lemon Balm and St. Johns Wort (if you’re not taking pharmaceuticals) for a very strong herpes-fighting formula!
The anti-viral application is MUCH broader than just cold sores though– take Self Heal at the first sign of any kind of illness. Don’t bother to wait to figure out if it’s cold, flu, or whatever else – because a plant that can inhibit the replication of viruses, disrupt biofilms, and stimulate the lymphatic system is going to be useful in fighting ANY kind of pathogenic infection! Not only that, but Self Heal doesn’t have any reported pharmaceutical interactions (beyond the standard potential to interact with blood thinners) which means that even if you end up with some bacterial mess and you have take some prescription antibiotics, Self Heal can and will still help! It has its own various antibiotic mechanisms and there have been many studies showing that combining herbs with biofilm disrupting actions with antibiotics makes the antibiotics more effective, but in the case of Self Heal, you also get the bonus lymphatic stimulation – a real weak point in our standard western approaches to illness. Antibiotics will kill off whatever you’ve got (hopefully), but you still need the lymphatic system to get in there and clean up the aftermath. So whether you’re au naturale or going the mainstream medicine route, Self Heal is an important part of your recovery from any pathogenic gunk!

Allergy Support
Self Heal supports kidney health, stimulates lymphatic movement, and has immunomodulating polysaccharides (similar to Astragalus and immune supporting mushrooms) – add all that together and what do you get? Allergy support! You’ve probably heard about Nettle for allergies, but that’s not the only plant that excels in this area. When you’re working with herbs to support your body through allergy season, it’s important to be consistent, and to start early. I really like tea as a medium, not only because it’s a great way to work with herbs, but also because the water preparation gets right to the kidneys, which are so strongly tied to our body’s ability to get through allergy season. I like a good quart of tea daily – you can go with Self Heal all by itself, or blended with Nettle and Goldenrod (and perhaps a little Marshmallow leaf or Linden if you dry out easily). The great thing here is you’re not just reducing or suppressing your allergies, you’re INCREASING the health of your body! And you still get all those other great effects too – so go on! Beat your allergies AND soothe your gut, AND move your lymph, AND…

Wound Care and Gut Health
And of course, the namesake, wound care! Prunella has been found in studies to have biofilm disrupting action, which certainly accounts for some of its amazing wound healing renown. Self Heal can draw out infection, such as in an abcess, and is very beneficial in stimulating the healing of wounds, burns, and ulcers (including internally). Self Heal also has styptic actions, staunching the flow of blood. This means that from washing the wound to preventing infection to growing healthy new skin cells, Prunella is super helpful! And it’s not just on your skin, but your GI tract too: remember, the cells of your GI tract are the same type of cells that your skin is made of. When you have a plant that can help heal wounds and grow healthy skin tissue, that’s also going to apply to your guts. So whether it’s ulcerative colitis, IBS, Crohn’s, or just the aftermath of using NSAIDs, Self Heal will help get your guts back in order!

Gingivitis:
Of its many uses, Prunella vulgaris may also support good dental hygiene, and there are several studies that support this. In 2004, a study was conducted on 40 volunteers in a double-blind clinical trial over a period of 84 days. Three checkups were performed on the volunteers over the course of the study in which the amount of plaque and papillary bleeding were assessed. Based on those parameters, those volunteers given the treatment showed a significant decrease in gingivitis than those volunteers who were just given the placebo. In 2009, another study was conducted on isolated cells with gingivitis, and that research showed that extracts taken from the plant reduce inflammation and prevent plaque formation that would cause gingivitis.

TRADITION/HISTORY/FOLK

-Prunella Vulgaris was once proclaimed to be a Holy herb and thought to be sent by God to cure all ailments of man or beast, and said to drive away the devil, which lead to the belief that Heal-All was grown in the Witches garden as a disguise. The root was used to make a tea to drink in ceremonies before going hunting by one Native American tribe to sharpened the powers of observation.
-In traditional Chinese medicine, self-heal has been referred to as a cooling herb, useful against fevers and liver and kidney disorders and as a tonic.
-According to Chinese medicine Self-heal is bitter, cold and pungent and enters the liver meridian, gently reducing liver fire and nourishing the blood. As ‘liver fire’ can be linked to inflammatory eye problems, Self-heal is indicated in painful and dry eyes, hypertension and glaucoma. Its pungency disperses stagnant qi (chi) and constrained heat and helps resolve lumps and nodules caused by stagnation of liver qi (chi) and accumulation of phlegm and heat.
-In Korea it is used to treat oedema, nephritis, scrofula and goitre.
-From an Ayurvedic perspective Self-heal has light and dry qualities, it has all tastes except sour and has a cooling effect overall. It reduces excess pitta and kapha and can increase vata if used over long periods. It has an affinity for rasa / plasma and rakta / blood tissue and acts predominantly in the prana / respiratory, rasa / lymphatic, rakta / circulatory, anna /digestive srotas / systems of the body.

CULINARY
Self-heal is edible: the young leaves and stems can be eaten raw in salads; the plant in whole can be boiled and eaten as a potherb; and the aerial parts of the plant can be powdered and brewed in a cold infusion to make a beverage
Self Heal is said to have a slight minty taste and may be used in salads, stews, soups and teas. Traditionally the Cherokee cooked and ate the young leaves and the Nlakapamux used to drink a cold tea infusion made from the whole plant as a common beverage.

Selfheal contains vitamins A, B, C, K, flavonoids, manganese,zinc and rutin. The plant’s high content of antioxidants has been the subject of much recent research.

RECIPES/OTHER USES

**Dye**
An olive-green dye is obtained from the flowers and stems
-To start your dye pot, add 4 oz of Prunella for every pound of items you’ll be dyeing. Place the prunella in the pot and cover with the items to be dyed. Add water until the dye bath covers the wool or silk. Return to the stove and heat to simmering. Hold the simmer for 1 hour, turn off the heat, cover the pot and let sit for 8 hours. After 8 hours, separate your dye materials from the Prunella. Rinse in cool water until the water runs clear. Hang your items to dry!
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Tea:
Place 1 to 2 spoonfuls of dried self-heal leaves into a cup of hot water. Steep the tea for an hour. Drink two or three cups of self-heal tea per day for optimal results.

Decoction:
Prepared with fresh flower spikes and used to treat high blood pressure, bad temper, anxiety, and hyperactivity. The decoction is frequently mixed with Chinese chrysanthemum (ju hua) for more effective healing.
Use about 1 teaspoon of herbs and one cup of cold water. Put your herbs and water into a pot, then bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and let it simmer from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on how hardy the plant is. Strain the liquid, then drink or use it in your culinary recipes.

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**Self-Heal Skin Serum Recipe**
This is a luxurious recipe that can potentially protect the skin from sun damage. It has a soft and silky feel to it, without leaving an oily feeling. Use it daily in the morning and night to protect your skin from sun damage. It can also be used to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin.

What you’ll need…
5 ounces of jojoba oil
4 ounces of argan oil
1 ounce of pomegranate oil
15 grams of freshly dried self-heal herb
1 teaspoon of rosemary extract
20 drops of neroli essential oil
7 drops of lavender essential oil
3 drops of blue chamomile essential oil.

1. Measure out the jojoba oil, argan oil and pomegranate oil by volume into a double boiler or a metal bowl that fits over a pan of water.
2. Add approximately 15 grams (1/2 ounce) of self-heal herb.
3. Turn on the heat under the double boiler and warm the oil until it is warm to the touch. Turn off the heat and cover with a lid. Throughout the day visit the oil and heat it again slightly, and then let it sit. Take care not to let the oil get too hot. Some people use a modified crock pot for this – just be careful that it doesn’t get too hot or “fry” the herbal material.
4. After heating the oil for 24-48 hours, place the mixture in a blender. Blend on high until the blender feels warms to the touch.
5. Strain off the herbs from the oil. I did this through several layers of cheesecloth and then squeezed the herbs really well to get most of the oil out. You can then strain the oil again through more layers of cheesecloth to get any of the fine particles out. You’ll know you have a really potent extraction if the end result is a deep dark green oil. Don’t worry though, this becomes completely clear and invisible on the skin!
6. Next add the rosemary extract and the essential oils. Stir well.
7. I put the oil into a 2 ounce bottle with a treatment pump. You could also put it in a traditional tincture bottle with a dropper or any other small decorative bottle that seals well.

This recipe makes approximately 8 ounces. Keep in a cool place. It should last a year if not longer.

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Infusion of Self Heal

Used to reduce or stop most types of bleeding. One or two teaspoonfuls of crushed and dry self heal herb can be added to one cup of boiling water and allowed to stand for 10 minutes for proper infusion.
❗️The herb itself should not be boiled❗️

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Cold OIL Infusion of Self Heal

What you need:
* Mason Jar (pint sized with wide mouth)
* A tight-fitting lid
* Fine Sieve
Ingredients:
* 2 cups Organic Virgin Olive Oil or Organic Sweet Almond Oil or other cold-pressed oil of your choice
* 1 cup of Self Heal or 1 1/2 cups of fresh and wilted Self Heal
* ¼ tsp. Natural Vitamin E or 4 capsules of Natural Vitamin E

Instructions:
1. Wash and sterilize all equipment.
2. Put the herb of your choice into a dry glass jar that has a tight-fitting lid.
3. Pour oil over herbs. If you are using fresh herbs, bring the level of the oil right to the rim.
4. Use a knife to press down herbs and remove air pockets.
5. Cap the jar tightly.
6. Allow the herbs to macerate (become softened by soaking in a liquid) in a warm, sunny window.
7. Tilt the jar daily to mix the herb and oil.
8. After 4 to 6 weeks, strain the herb from the oil. You can leave it up to 8 weeks if you wish.
9. Bottle in a blue or brown colored glass bottle.
10. Add vitamin E, and gently shake to mix.
11. Cap tightly and label.
12. Store in a cool, dry place and protect from intense light.
Now you have an infused oil that is ready to use to make salves, ointments, healing and moisturizing balms, creams, and moisturizers. The possibilities are endless and it is always a great idea to have several versions of them in your DIY pantry for quick herbal medicine making.
If you used dried plant material, your infused oil can also be used in cooking or used raw in salad dressings, dips, and sauces.

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How to Make a Tincture of Self Heal: (alcohol based)

What you need:
* Self Heal Herb
* 40% vodka (in glass bottle)
* 1 glass jar
* Parchment paper
* Masking tape for labelling
* Cheesecloth
Instructions:
1. Fill up a glass jar with herb halfway.
2. Add vodka so that level of the liquid is at least two inches above the herb. Note: If you are using dried herbs, you might have to add more vodka at a later time.
3. Place parchment paper between the lid and jar. (This is done to prevent the rubber seal from dissolving.)
4. Seal jar tightly.
5. Label jar with date, percentage alcohol, herbs, and method used.
6. Shake two times per day for one month.
7. After a month squeeze out the menstrum (the resulting liquid) using cheesecloth preferably.

‼️How to Make it Alcohol-Free‼️
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Homemade Non-Alcoholic Herbal Extract aka Herbal Glycerite

Herbal extracts are arguably the most potent way to deliver the healing and balancing benefits of herbs to our bodies. And, compared with alcohol-based tinctures, herbal glycerites are faster to make, alcohol-free, and taste better. A plus for kids! Keeps 3 to 5 years.
Author Wardee Harmon
Ingredients
* herbs of choice single or multiple
* non-GMO palm-derived glycerin (I prefer this to soy-derived glycerin or GMO glycerin)
* pure water boiling
* quart size jar or jars
* 8- quart Instant Pot OR crockpot tall enough to fit quart size jars*
* fine mesh strainer
* pot or big bowl
Instructions
1. Put herbs in quart size Mason jar to 1/3 full (for dried soft herbs) or 1/2 full (for dried hard herbs) — not packed down.
2. Then pour a bit of boiling water over the herbs to help release nutrients (optional).
3. Pour glycerin over all to fill the jar to just below the bands. You may have to add glycerin a bit at a time and stir with a spoon to help it soak down in. It’s so thick!
4. Then cover the jar with a metal band and lid and screw down tightly (so nothing leaks during the cooking).
5. Put a towel on the bottom of the pot (whichever you’re using).
6. Put the jar(s) on top of the towel.
7. Then fill the pot to the shoulders of the jar(s) with water.
8. Set slow cooker or crockpot to low for 3 days. (If using the Instant Pot, the slow cooker setting only goes up to 20 hours. This is fine, just keep resetting it so that it “cooks” on low for a total of 72 hours and be sure to adjust the Slow Cook setting to Low.)
9. Then keep an eye out that the mixture doesn’t boil or leak out over the 3 days. (Some crockpots run hot; you can turn it off at night if you fear it’s getting too hot.)
10. Turn off crockpot or Instant Pot.
11. Remove jar(s).
12. The glycerin should be quite dark now from the herbs.
13. Then put the strainer over a big bowl or pot.
14. Dump the contents of one jar into the strainer and let the liquid drip into the pot.
15. Pour some boiling water over the herbs to help rinse all the glycerin off. (Use as little as possible.)
16. Then stir with a big spoon to help the herbs drip out fully, and also press the herbs with the spoon to squeeze out as much glycerin as you can. You can also use your hands and squeeze!
17. Compost the herbs.
18. Then pour the finished glycerite into a glass jar and cover tightly. Or you can use a funnel and separate into 2- or 4-ounce amber dropper bottles.
19. Label.
20. Finally, store in a cool, dark location. Even better to keep in the refrigerator.

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Hot Oil Extraction/Quick Infusion

You will need a full day to infuse the oil using a low heat. **I like to do this in my smaller crock pot.**
Also the type of oil you use is completely up to you. Some people use olive oil and others use almond, coconut or sunflower. It’s a personal preference 😉

1. Put 3 to 4 cups of fresh, chopped self heal in a heat resistant sauce pan or use your crock pot on low.
2. Cover the herbs with oil so that they are just barely covered.
3. Leave the pan uncovered, and slowly raise the temperature of the oil until the mixture just barely begins to bubble. (Leaving the pot uncovered allows the moisture in the fresh herbs to evaporate off)
4. Simmer gently, stirring frequently, until the herbs are crisp. If you use your crock pot on low to do this, your herbs will not cook too fast.

This process should take 4 to 5 hours or up to a full day to complete.

Cool, strain and you are ready to use!
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Poultice:
Crushed fresh leaves can be applied directly wounds or used as a dressing for small cuts and scrapes to prevent infection.

Here’s what you’ll need to make a Poultice
* Dried Prunella Vulgaris (Self Heal or other herbs of your choosing)
* Lavender Flower Powder (thickening agent)
* Muslin Bag
* Spoon
* Hand Blender

1. Cook and soften the herb: Place a quarter of a small muslin bag of comfrey into a pan. Add water just enough to soften the comfrey and heat the mixture.
2. Blend and Mix: Add lavender flower powder and hand blend it until it gets pasty.
**Yes, you can use other thickening agents but lavender has so many beneficial uses that most other options simply don’t have. It’s something I recommend everyone have on hand in their first aid box or part of their apothecary.
3. Stuff and Use: Stuff the muslin bag with the mixture and it is ready to use!

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How to Make Herbal Salves

**Before making a salve, you will need to have a herbal infused oil prepared beforehand. I added a few recipe ideas above for that.

You will need-
•infused oils
•beeswax
•vitamin E capsules
You can buy vitamin-E capsules at most grocery or drug stores…Walmart too!! Shocking I know 😂
Quantity depends on you. It’s an 8-1 ratio. 8 parts oil to 1 part beeswax. So for instance 8 oz. of oil to 1 oz. of beeswax.
Measure your oil and place it in the top of a double burner.
Gently heat until the beeswax is melted. Dip a teaspoon into the salve and take it back out then shake it off. Let it set up either at room temperature or in the freezer for quicker results. This will give you an idea on the texture of your salve. When it has hardened, you can tell how thick the salve is. If you think it’s going to be too hard, add a bit more oil. If you’d like it harder, add a bit more beeswax. It will become a bit harder than it is on the spoon so keep that in mind when you make any adjustments.
When it is the consistency you want it, use the tip of a sharp knife to poke a hole in the vitamin E capsule and squeeze it into the salve. Stir and pour your salve into a wide mouthed jar or metal container. Easy enough!

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Eye Wash

30 drops of self heal tincture to a 1/2 cup saline solution (1/2 cup warm water and 1/8 teaspoon whole salt – not table salt) and rinse both eyes twice a day.
Or
Strain a cup of the infusion through cheesecloth or some other fine filter and use it the same way.
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⚠️CAUTIONS/WARNINGS ⚠️
Cautions/Contraindications: Self-heal is considered safe if used appropriately.

Herb/Drug Interactions:
Because of its effects on blood sugar, Prunella vulgaris should be used with caution for people with diabetes or those with low blood sugar as it may interfere with diabetes medications.
I also came across information that implicates possible issues of using self heal while on blood thinners. Always check with your physician if you are on other medications before attempting to introduce any herbal remedy.

Look-A-Likes
Be careful not to confuse self-heal with another plant called sanicle. Sanicle is sometimes referred to as self-heal, but it’s different!❗️

Purple Dead Nettle and Henbit is often confused with Self Heal. It has similar characteristics. Though both are safe for consumption, each herb has different uses.
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🐰🐰RABBIT USES🐰🐰

After doing as much research as I can take I have found not much on self heal when it comes to our buns. Not that it’s toxic to them, they just don’t really find it palatable…. picky bunnies lol. However don’t let that deter you from self heals uses on our furry friends. It’s still wonderful at wound care! You can keep some on hand to make a poultice if the wound is really nasty or bad. You can make an infusion to keep in your first aid box to clean wounds both superficial and deep. Self heal will clean the wound, heal the skin and tissue as well as reduce swelling. Its wonderful at tissue repair both internally and externally. Its great for abscesses which is common as you know in the rabbit world. It also treats mastitis very well, also common!
It’s well known to heal the GI tract. If you can get them to consume it. When available and growing, I put little new growths into my pickings and feed it to the buns. I never noticed it left behind so they will eat it, they just don’t seek it out. I’ll update this area as I come into more info 😉

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Sources

–https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/…/the…/20065974.blog…
–https://www.motherearthliving.com/plant-p…/an-herb-to-know-7
–https://www.mofga.org/…/The-Maine-Org…/Spring-2005/Self-Heal
–https://commonwealthherbs.com/self-heal-herb-of-the-week
–http://www.positivehealth.com/…/prunella-vulgaris-self-heal…
–http://www.medicinalherbals.net

Some photo credits belong to Sid Vogelpohl

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