Self-heal is a small creeping perennial. The flowers are violet-coloured and occasionally pink or white. The leaves are oval, pointed and slightly toothed; the lower ones are stalked. The stems are hairy. The plant grows on damp pastures, roadsides and heaths and is abundant in these places.
Self-heal, as its name implies, was once considered to have important medicinal qualities. In Ireland it was used as a remedy for sudden strokes. In other countries the plant was used for dressing wounds.
The name Prunella is said to come from the German 'Bräune', a word for quinsy or croup, which the plant was reputed to cure. Other name for Self-heal were Hook-heal and Sicklewort. Culpeper wrote that doctors were unnecessary if one had Self-heal. This view is now discredited.
The flowers bloom from late June to September, occasionally until October.
Self-heal grows throughout Britain, southern Europe, temperate Asia, North Africa, North America and Australia.