Selfheal / prunella spike

The dried fruiting spikes of selfheal, a small mint-family meadow herb, sold as brownish bristly spikes. Herbaceous and lightly bitter, it needs a good 45 minutes' boiling to draw its flavour and is the base of classic cooling drinks rather than rich soups.

TCM properties

Nature · cold　Flavour · pungent、bitter　Meridians · liver、gallbladder

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy it is a summer herb for cooling the liver, traditionally brewed with black beans or monk fruit to clear liver fire, brighten the eyes and disperse swelling and knots.

Cautions — read first

• [SAFETY CRITICAL] Cold in nature and hard on the stomach. Take care if your spleen and stomach are weak, if you are qi deficient, or if you run cold.
• Pregnant women should take care
• Not to be drunk continuously over a long stretch

Preparation

Soak and rinse the dried spikes. They need a longer boil, 45 minutes or more, before the flavour comes out.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

河南確山及長江流域各省

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists

Pairs well with