You’d think a plant with a name as auspicious as this one would be dramatic and imposing. Instead, it camouflages itself on your lawn. But it has been used internally and externally since at least the 2nd century in both China and Europe. Its botanical name, Prunella, derives from the German word Brunella, which comes from dying Braune, meaning quinsy {a throat abscess}, for which it was commonly used in the Middle Ages.

Self-heal is a creeping perennial that volunteers in moist places like woods, pastures, sub-alpine meadows, and, of course, lawns. It sends up a flexible, branching, the flowering stalk that can reach 1 foot tall, with soft oval or lance-shaped leaves and beautiful pink to blue-violet flowers on spikes.

True to its name, this herb traditionally “heals all,” from simple eyestrain to whole-body inflammation.

Self-heal is used as a tea, in…