Biennial or perennial herb 20-30cm. high. Stems quadrangular, pubescent, reddish-violet. Leaves opposite, entire or slightly toothed.
Labiatae
Prunella vulgaris L.
Local name:
English names:
Sicklewort, black man, carpenters herb, all-heal, pimpernel, brunel, common self-heal, carpenter grass, sickle-heal.
Description:
Biennial or perennial herb 20-30cm. high. Stems quadrangular, pubescent, reddish-violet. Leaves opposite, entire or slightly toothed. Inflorescence in terminal spike of numerous whorls; flowers of two kinds, the small female, the bigger bisexual, pale violet. Fruit of 4 hard nutlets.
Flowering period:
April - June.
Distribution:
Grows wild in wet soil near small streams in the mountains.
Parts used:
The whole plant, except for the roots, is gathered during the flowering period, washed and lightly dried in the sun or in ovens at a low temperature.
Chemical composition:
The whole plant yields D. fenchone and ursolic acid.
Therapeutic uses:
The aerial parts have antibacterial properties and are beneficial in the treatment of mastitis, scrofula, goitre, ophthalmalgia, metritis, hypertension, neurodermatitis, hepatitis, furunculosis, impetigo, eczema, oliguria and leucorrhoea. The average dose is 8 to 16g per day in the form of a decoction. Poultices of the pounded fresh plant are used to help wounds to heal.