Self-heal

Low, spreading mint-family perennial with dense spikes of violet hooded flowers from early summer into fall. A long-time traditional wound herb, and well visited by bumblebees and other native bees.

Ours is the native lance-leaved self-heal (subsp. lanceolata), native to Pennsylvania. Grows 4–12 inches tall in full sun to part shade and moist to average soil. Hardy in Zones 3–9. Blooms June to September. It spreads by short rhizomes and self-seeds, making a pretty low groundcover for lawns and garden edges, and it flowers even when mowed. In Traditional Chinese medicine the dried flower spikes are known as Xia Ku Cao and are traditionally used as a cooling, drying herb. It is used to treat a myriad of mucosal lesions.  It is rich in polysaccharides, including Prunellin and the triterpene, Ursolic Acid, which has antiviral properties.  Because Self-heal takes up lead and other pollutants, do not gather it from roadsides. As with any medicinal plant, talk with your health care provider before internal use.