Prunella, Self-heal, Xia Ku Cao 夏枯草

Also called Consolida minor
Xia Ku Cao (TCM)
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Dietrich, Flora regni borussici, 1834

Botanical name:
Prunella vulgaris

Parts used:
Flowering tops; Herb

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. (Warm in the West) Sweet, Bitter
Bitter, Cleansing, Binding

Classifications:
2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD
2T. GLUTINATE

Uses:
1. Clears Liver Heat (TCM, West):
-red, swollen, painful eyes, Headache, Dizziness

2. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Viral infections including Herpes, Glandular Fever, Mumps, HIV etc.

3. Clears Heat and Poison, Resolves Masses:
-Swollen Glands in the neck

4. Clears Heat, Clears Stasis, Promotes Healing:
-A valuable Vulnerary (Wound herb); long used internally or externally for all sorts of Wounds, Bruises, internal Bleeding

5. Moves the Blood, Clears Blood Stasis:
-Amenorrhea, sluggish Menstruation

6. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Difficult Urination and Edema.

7. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-heat-type Cough and Lung disease

8. Kills Worms.

9. Externally:
-topically for all inflammations (plaster)
-used for various Wounds and Ulcers (plaster, or fresh herbs beaten and applied)
-topically applied to the bites of Rabid Dogs and other venomous Bites. (plaster, or fresh herb beaten and applied)
-applied to Cramps, Pain and Spasms of the Sinews and Tendons. (the ointment or plaster is applied topically)
-as a mouth wash or gargle for all sores and inflammations of the Mouth, Gums and Throat.

Main Combinations:
1. Liver Heat:
i. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
ii. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
2. Hyperthyroidism, Liver Heat, Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
3. Scrofula, Lymphatic swelling:
i. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
ii. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
iii. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
iv. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
4. Hypertension:
i. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
ii. Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
5. A wash for Wounds and Ulcers, Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
6. Fractures, combine Self Heal with ... available in PRO version
7. Plaster for Dislocations and Trauma of the Joints, Self Heal with ... available in PRO version

Major Formulas:
Decoction of Self Heal
Decoction of Self Heal and Kelp
Decoction of Timaei (modified)
Powder for Cancerous Ulcers (Gabelhover)


Cautions:
Generally Safe.
1. In TCM it is not used for marked weakness.
2. It may lower Thyroid function and aggravate Hypothyroid conditions.

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Herb, Conserve of the Flowers