An Introduction to the Characteristics, Uses and Care of Common Selfheal

Laihama grass is the common name for Prunella vulgaris, a plant in the Lamiaceae family, also known as hamacao, xuejiancao, guodongqing and other aliases. It gets its name because the leaf surface is uneven, wrinkled and rough, looking very much like a toad's skin. This grass is very common in most parts of our country, on field ridges, roadsides, ditch banks and other moist places.

The plant is usually short, with opposite leaves that have serrated edges and a distinctly wrinkled feel to the touch. From spring to early summer each year, it sends up flower stems bearing small pale purple or blue-purple flowers arranged in clusters. Laihama grass is highly adaptable, tolerating both cold and poor soil, and it begins to turn green again in late winter and early spring, making it a very common wild grass in the countryside.

As for its uses, it is mainly used medicinally in folk practice, often to relieve throat discomfort, cough and similar symptoms; some people also pick the young leaves, blanch them and serve them as a cold salad, make them into pancakes, or dry them for tea. However, after all, it belongs to the category of herbal medicine, and the specific use varies from person to person; it is best to consult a professional before use, and it should not be taken blindly.

Cultivating laihama grass artificially is not difficult. It likes a sunny, moist environment and is not demanding about soil; ordinary garden soil will do. In daily care, just keep the soil slightly moist and avoid waterlogging, and loosen the soil and weed appropriately during the growing season; it grows well even with rough management. After the seeds mature, they scatter on their own, and the following year they often sprout naturally, making it very suitable for growing casually by the vegetable garden or in a flower bed.