Benefits of Drinking Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal) Infusion, Pairing Methods, and Who Should Avoid It

Prunella vulgaris, also known as Mai Xia Ku and Xi Ju, is a medicinal herb commonly found in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Shaanxi and other regions. Because it has effects such as soothing the stomach and enhancing memory, it is widely used as medicine. It is now cultivated in most regions. So what are the benefits of drinking Prunella vulgaris infusion? What can it be infused with? Who should not drink it?

I. Effects and actions

1. Main effects

(1) To treat scrofula and saber-like swellings, whether ulcerated or not, or long-standing fistulas: Prunella vulgaris 6 liang, water 2 zhong, decoct until reduced to 7 parts, remove the dregs, and take away from food. If deficiency is severe, decoct into a thick paste, take it, and also apply it to the affected area; taking more is beneficial.

(2) To treat eye pain due to liver deficiency, constant cold tears, tendon and vessel pain, and photophobia with fear of daylight: Prunella vulgaris half a liang, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu Zi) 1 liang, grind together into powder. Take 1 qian each time, adjusted with preserved tea, at any time.

(3) To treat incessant uterine bleeding: grind Prunella vulgaris into powder. Take 1 square-inch spoon each time, adjusted with rice water.

(4) To treat red and white vaginal discharge: pick Prunella vulgaris flowers when in bloom, dry in the shade and grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time, with rice water before meals.

(5) To treat postpartum blood dizziness, when heart qi is about to fail: pound Prunella vulgaris and squeeze out the juice, take 1 cup.

(6) To treat facial paralysis with deviated mouth and eyes: Prunella vulgaris 1 qian, Arisaema cum Bile (Dan Nan Xing) 5 fen, Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fang Feng) 1 qian, Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou Teng) 1 qian. Decoct in water, take with a little warm wine at bedtime.

(7) To treat head and eye dizziness: fresh Prunella vulgaris 2 liang, rock sugar 5 qian. Stew with boiling water, take after meals.

(8) To treat epilepsy and high blood pressure: fresh Prunella vulgaris 3 liang, winter honey 1 liang. Stew with boiling water and take.

(9) To prevent measles: Prunella vulgaris 5 qian to 2 liang. Decoct in water, 1 dose per day, taken for 3 consecutive days.

(10) To treat bacillary dysentery in children: under 2 years old, Prunella vulgaris 1 liang, Scutellaria barbata (Ban Zhi Lian) 5 qian; 2 to 6 years old, Prunella vulgaris and Scutellaria barbata 1 liang each; 6 to 12 years old, Prunella vulgaris and Scutellaria barbata 1.5 liang each. Decoct in water and take.

(11) To treat acute tonsillitis and sore throat: fresh whole Prunella vulgaris plant 2 to 3 liang. Decoct in water and take.

(12) To treat bruises and incised wounds: pound Prunella vulgaris into a paste and apply it.

(13) For blunt injuries and knife wounds: chew Prunella vulgaris in the mouth and apply it to the injured area.

(14) For tinea versicolor with white spots: decoct Prunella vulgaris into a thick juice and wash the affected area every day.

2. Effects of pairing with various medicinal herbs

(1) Effects of pairing with dandelion

To treat the early stage of breast abscess, the specific formula is equal parts Prunella vulgaris and dandelion. Decoct with wine and take, or make into pills.

(2) Effects of pairing with chrysanthemum

Prunella vulgaris paired with chrysanthemum is a health product that can be used to treat dizziness and headache during menstruation due to liver qi stagnation.

(3) Effects of pairing with Forsythia suspensa and Scrophularia ningpoensis

Used to treat conditions caused by clearing liver fire and dispersing stagnation; Scrophularia ningpoensis clears fire and disperses nodules; Forsythia suspensa detoxifies and disperses nodules. Used together, the three enhance the power to clear fire and disperse nodules, and are used to treat scrofula due to binding of phlegm and fire.

(4) Effects of pairing with white peony root and Angelica sinensis

Mainly treats by clearing the liver and dispersing blood stasis. Used together, the three have the effect of nourishing liver blood and relieving liver stagnation, and are used to treat various conditions caused by liver stagnation and blood deficiency.

3. Side effects:

Because Prunella vulgaris is a cold-natured substance, people with rheumatism or weak spleen and stomach should best not consume it, so as to avoid worsening the condition.

II. How to eat it

1. How to eat it

(1) Prunella vulgaris lean pork soup

① Clean Prunella vulgaris thoroughly, wash it with water, and cut it into small sections with a knife.

② Cut the meat into small pieces, pour them into a pot of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes, then remove them, rinse with water, and set aside for later use.

③ Pour an appropriate amount of water into the pot. After it boils, put the Prunella vulgaris and lean pork into the pot together, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer the soup over medium heat for 2 hours. Add salt and monosodium glutamate to season, and it is ready to eat.

(2) Prunella vulgaris and pork intestine soup

① Sort and clean Prunella vulgaris, and wrap it in gauze for later use.

② Rinse the pork intestine clean with salt or scallions, remove the fat along the edges, and cut into small sections.

③ Wash the ribs clean, cut them into pieces, put them into a pot of boiling water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove and rinse clean, and set aside.

④ Put all the above ingredients into a pressure cooker and press the soup button (the time can be determined by yourself, generally at least half an hour). After it finishes, discard the Prunella vulgaris, add an appropriate amount of salt, and it is ready to drink.

(3) Prunella vulgaris, chrysanthemum and mulberry leaf tea

① Clean Prunella vulgaris and chrysanthemum, and place them on a plate for later use.

② Put all the ingredients into a soup pot, pour in 12 bowls of clean water, and simmer over high heat then low heat for 30 minutes.

③ Pour out the herbal tea using a strainer (the remaining tea dregs can be simmered one more time), and then it can be drunk slowly.

(4) Monk fruit and Prunella tea

① Clean the monk fruit and Prunella vulgaris, rinse them once with water, and set aside for later use.

② Soak Prunella vulgaris in clean water for half an hour.

③ Put the monk fruit and Prunella vulgaris into a pot together, add an appropriate amount of clean water, and boil for 15 minutes.

④ Pour out the herbal tea using a strainer (the remaining tea dregs can be simmered one more time), and then it can be drunk slowly.

2. What it cannot be eaten with

Prunella vulgaris is a medicinal herb, and eating too much will naturally be toxic, but so far there is nothing to note when taking Prunella vulgaris, so mixing it with other foods is not a problem.

3. Who is not suitable to eat it

(1) Pregnant women

Pregnant women have a relatively special constitution and generally cannot consume any medicine, so Prunella vulgaris is no exception.

(2) Women during menstruation

Prunella vulgaris is bitter and cold in nature and flavor, and may increase the accumulation of cold qi in the body, stimulate uterine blood vessels, and trigger menstrual pain or worsen existing menstrual pain symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that women who are menstruating should not eat Prunella vulgaris.

(3) People with weak spleen and stomach

Such as those with diarrhea, loose stools, indigestion, etc. Prunella vulgaris is bitter and cold in nature and flavor, and contains saponins, which can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. People with weak spleen and stomach who eat Prunella vulgaris may worsen gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms.

(4) People with allergies

For people allergic to Prunella vulgaris, eating it may cause allergic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and itching. If you cannot determine whether you are allergic, you can take a small amount first and observe for about 1 hour. If there is no uncomfortable reaction, you can continue taking it.