Self Heal – Prunella vulgaris This is a gorgeous little plant flowering profusely now in January, in full sun or shade. I love it and want to share more about it along with a delicious pesto recipe I whipped up.

Self heal flowers

• Prunella comes from either the Latin meaning purple as in the flower colour or from German where Prunella means quinsy, which means to cure
• a perennial plant that has no smell, even though interestingly it is in the lavender/mint family
• the tubular violet flowers form compact, cylindrical heads at the tops of the square stems (one of the features of the lavender family)
• the bluish-purple flowers, hooded and lipped observed closely are covered in hairs
• in winter the plant is compact and low growing
• the leaves are oval and in opposite pairs, often with a reddish/purple tinge, which the stem can have too
• the lower leaves have stalks and the upper leaves near the flowers are stalkless
• Self heal has a creeping, mat forming habit and likes to grow indamp lawns, damp lime deficient pastures, forest margins and clearings
  

  Mat forming Self Heal

• Self heal is one of the great unsung healers of the world, according to Susun Weed. She says the leaves and flowers contain more antioxidants (rosmarinic acid), which helps prevent heart disease and cancer than any other plant tested
• Self heal has antiviral properties and can also be used in liver, gall bladder and thyroid problems
• it can also increase circulation to the head for ‘hot’ conditions in the throat, lymph glands, tonsils and eye problems, conjunctivitis, eye tiredness & strain, headaches (Burgess, I., Weeds Heal:A working Herbal)
• Self heal contains minerals, including calcium, making this plant especially important for pregnant, nursing, menopausal and post-menopausal women
• The leaves and pretty violet flowers can be added to salads, pestos (see recipe below) and even better added to your smoothies.

Self heal Pesto Recipe
bunch of galensoga (left in photo) bunch of self heal (right in photo)

Galensoga & Self heal leaves

2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup cashew nuts
3T lemon juice
3T olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper optional

Method

Smash up the garlic & cashews in a food processor or blender add the rest of the ingredients and process until well combined. Adjust the seasoning and add a small amount of water or more lemon juice if it should be too thick.(Adapted from Dr Libby’s Real Food Kitchen)

Self heal pesto