Rodale's 21st-Century Herbal by Michael Balick

Author:Michael Balick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rodale
Published: 2014-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

CULINARY USE

The minty flavored leaves, stems, and flowers of heal all can be used in salads, soups, or stews or boiled as a potherb. To make a tasty, healthful tea, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, then pour the water over 1 ounce of fresh leaves or flowers. Steep for 5 minutes, then strain.

MEDICINAL USE

As its name suggests, heal all has been used to alleviate a wide range of conditions. It can be taken as a tea, tincture, mouthwash, poultice, or salve. The plant is rich in rosmarinic acid, which regulates the production of thyroid hormone, making it useful in the treatment of overactive or underactive thyroid. As an immune-system stimulant with antiviral properties, it may be beneficial in the treatment of the herpes simplex virus. The herb also soothes inflamed mucous membranes and has been taken traditionally to relieve gingivitis, sore throat, and diarrhea. In lab studies, it has been found to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine use an extract of the herb to treat hypertension. The great 17th-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) recommended applying heal all externally as a plaster or unguent to treat skin wounds and other sores. Heal all is a key ingredient in many natural skin-care products.

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