Common Selfheal Tea

Self-heal, or prunella vulgaris, is an edible and medicinal herb with a long history of traditional use. One of the popular ways to use self-heal is by making a Self-Heal Tea, which is believed to have various health benefits.

Self-Heal Tea Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon dried self-heal leaves and flowers
1 cup hot water
Honey or sweetener of choice (optional)

Instructions:

Harvesting Self-Heal

Harvest self-heal from clean and pesticide-free areas, at least 10 ft from a trail and 50 ft from a high-traffic road. Selfheal often grows in lawns along with grass; you can seed into your lawn, still mow, and be able to raise a bumper crop.

Collect the leaves and flowers of the self-heal plant. You can use both the leaves and flowers for making tea.

Drying Self-Heal: Rinse the self-heal leaves and flowers under cool, running water to remove dirt or insects.

Pat them dry gently with a paper towel or cloth.

Spread the leaves and flowers in a single layer on a clean surface or a drying rack.

Allow them to air dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight until thoroughly dried. This might take several days to a week.

Making Self-Heal Tea: Place the dried self-heal leaves and flowers in a tea infuser or teapot.

Steeping the Tea: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and let it cool slightly for a minute or two.

Pour the hot water over the self-heal leaves and flowers in the infuser or teapot.

Cover the teapot, place a lid on the cup, and let the tea steep for about 5-10 minutes. Adjust the steeping time according to your taste preferences. Steeping longer can result in a stronger flavor.

Straining and Serving: Remove the tea infuser or strain the tea using a fine mesh strainer into a cup.

If desired, sweeten the tea with honey or your preferred sweetener.

Enjoying Self-Heal Tea: Self-Heal Tea has a mild, earthy, and slightly astringent flavor.

It's often enjoyed for its potential health benefits, including its traditional use as a tonic for various ailments.

Self-Heal Tea can be consumed warm or cold.

As with any herbal remedy, it's essential to exercise caution and consult a healthcare professional, especially if you have allergies, medical conditions, or are taking medications. While self-heal is generally considered safe for consumption, it's always best to seek professional advice before using herbs for medicinal purposes.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Self-heal contains compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the body. This can be beneficial for conditions like arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.

Antioxidant Effects: The herb is rich in antioxidants, which help combat free radicals in the body. Antioxidants play a role in reducing oxidative stress and may contribute to overall health and disease prevention.

Immune Support: Some studies suggest that self-heal may have immunomodulatory effects, meaning it could help support the immune system's function. This can contribute to the body's defense against infections and illnesses.

Wound Healing: Self-heal has been traditionally used topically to aid in wound healing. Its potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties could assist in promoting healing and preventing infections.

Digestive Health: Self-healing has addressed digestive discomfort, including soothing indigestion and helping with gastrointestinal issues.

Respiratory Health: Common self-heal has been historically used to alleviate symptoms of respiratory ailments, such as sore throat, cough, and congestion.

Skin Health: The herb's potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may make it useful for managing skin conditions like acne and minor skin irritations.

Heart Health: Some studies suggest that self-heal may have cardiovascular benefits, such as potential effects on blood pressure regulation and heart health.

Antiviral Potential: Preliminary research indicates that common self-heal might possess antiviral properties, potentially helping to combat certain viral infections.

Stress and Anxiety: Traditional use of self-heal includes its role in reducing stress and anxiety, though more research is needed to confirm this effect.

It's important to note that while common self-heal holds promise for these potential benefits, scientific research is ongoing, and individual responses can vary.

If you're considering using self-heal for its health benefits, it's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have preexisting medical conditions or are taking medications.

Self-heal is often available in various forms, including teas, tinctures, and supplements, but the quality and safety of these products can vary, so choose reputable sources or harvest your own!

Urban Rewilding can help you seed self-heal into your lawn for an endless, low-maintenance crop that supports pollinators and provides natural medicine right outside your door.

Whether you want to rewild your yard with native plants that regenerate the land or create a space filled with nutrient-dense, edible, and medicinal plants, we design landscapes that enhance biodiversity and support your health. From self-heal and yarrow to elderberry and camas, we’ll help you build a thriving, resilient yard that nourishes both you and the ecosystem.