Heal-All (Prunella vulgaris), also known as Self-Heal, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for treating bites and stings. Historical texts and ethnobotanical surveys indicate that the herb was commonly applied topically as a poultice or infusion to relieve irritation, swelling, and pain from insect bites and minor wounds. The rationale for these uses comes primarily from traditional Western herbalism and some Asian folk practices, where Heal-All is considered a vulnerary (wound-healing) and anti-inflammatory plant.

Scientific validation for these specific applications is limited. While laboratory studies have shown that Heal-All contains compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mild antimicrobial properties, such as rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid, there are no clinical trials that directly investigate its efficacy for bites or stings in humans. Any apparent benefit is therefore inferred from its general anti-inflammatory action and traditional use rather than robust scientific evidence.

In summary, the use of Heal-All for bites and stings is justified by longstanding traditional use, supported partially by laboratory evidence of relevant bioactivities, but lacks direct clinical validation. The strength of evidence for this use is therefore modest, meriting a rating of 2 out of 5.