Traditional Use of Common Selfheal as medicinal plant in the Balkans

Common selfheal Prunella vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) is in the focus of studies mostly as wide used herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). There is fragmentary knowledge of it‘s folk use in Europe. The purpose of the study is to present the data on the common selfheal as a herbal remedy in Bulgaria and the Balkan region.

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and from main sources that provide information for medicinal plants for the end of 19^th and to the middle of the 20^th century [1] [2].

In the study area, folk names mainly reflect the use of herb for wound healing. The aboveground part was only used (Prunellae herba) which contrasts with the dominant use of dried fruit spike (Prunellae spica) in TCM.

Totally 84 folk recipes were collected. The most frequently prepared formulation was an infusion (64%) which is used internally for cough and pain relief. Field data have shown its increased use as a haemorrhoid agent. Externally applied as infusion, decoction and maceration in olive oil as well as freshly crushed leaves, for treatment of different types of wounds and bites.

The study presents new data and shows a specific profile of traditional use in the study area.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the financial support of Bulgarian National Science Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science, Contract No 2901/KP-06-China/15/17.12.2020.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021

• References

• 1 Ahtarov B, Davidov B, Yavashev A. Materiali za Balgarski botanichen rechnik. BAN, Pridvorna Pechatnitsa; 1939, Sofia.
• 2 Georgiev M. Entsiklopedija bălgarska narodna meditsina. Prof. Marin Drinov Academic Publishing, 2013, Sofia.