Self-Heal or Heal-All....Does It Really?

Asian and Chinese medicine regard Self-Heal's anti-infective and anti-tumor properties as well, but more research needs to be done in these areas to comment conclusively.

Gardening with Self-Heal

A member of the mint family, Self-Heal is a hardy perennial that forms a dense patch of deep green ground cover, and features towers of purple flowers on stems from 8"-1 foot tall. The foliage is dark green, the leaves oval and opposite. While there is little to no scent to this herb, the bloom alone is worth adding it to your garden. Self-Heal will take virtually any light conditions from full sun to part shade, and average soil. It does prefer to be kept moist, but can take drying out between waterings. Some guides will tell you Self-Heal can't be grown in hot, dry summers, but I have it in part shade in just such a climate, and it does beautifully. As a member of the mints, it is very easy to grow and will spread rapidly, so give it plenty of room. While it will tend to get a bit invasive, it's such a lovely little plant you won't mind the chance to divide it and use it throughout the garden. No other plant I'm familiar with is quite like it esthetically, it makes a perfect addition to cottage gardens and the deep purple sets off taller pink and white flowering plants to their advantage. Even in the fall, the spent flower head - which tend to resemble a corn silo or even an ear of corn - make attractive dried accents in the fall and winter months.

Magical Use

Ellen Everett Hopman in A Druid's Herbal tells us that Self-Heal should be gathered while the Dog Star is rising, at night, during the dark of the moon. She recommends Self-Heal for working healing magic. I echo her advice to be certain to leave a gift or offering to the Earth when harvesting this herb.

As an herb of Venus, I would also recommend using Self-Heal in rituals of self love, self worth and while using affirmations.

While this little herb may not *quite* live up to its name, it is a useful herb to have around, and is well worth adding to the herb or flower garden.

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