Botanical Name
- Family Crassulaceae
- Sempervivum tectorum
Common Names
- Houseleek, Jupiter’s Eye, Jupiter’s Beard, Thor’s Beard, Bullock’s Eye, Sengreen, Ayron, Ayegreen, Aaron’s Rod, Hens and Chickens, Liveforever, Thunder Plant
Cautions
- No cautions are listed as long as the prescribed doses are followed.
Description
Native to central and southern Europe, the plant now grows wild in northern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It is a succulent perennial, growing to four inches and producing round rosettes of leaves and flowering stems which bear clusters of bell-shaped red flowers. A widely cultivated ornamental garden plant, it spreads easily and prefers sandy, dry soil.
History
The Frankish King Charlemagne (742-814 CE) told his subjects to plant the herb on their roofs since it reputedly warded off lightning and fire.
The botanical name of Sempervivum means “forever living,” referring to its hardiness – but not enough to ward off lightning and fire.
Key Actions
- antiseptic
- antidiarrheal
- antiparasitic
- anti-inflammatory
- diuretic
- soothing astringent
Key Components
- tannins
- mucilage
- malic and formic acids
Medicinal Parts
- Leaves, leaf juice
Traditional Uses
Freshly pressed leaves and their juice are used externally to soothe skin conditions, including burns, wounds, ulcers, insect bites, sore nipples, corns, inflammations, hemorrhoids, eczema, stomatitis, fungal infections, as well as itchy and burning parts of the skin.
Infusions are used internally to treat inflammations of the mucous membranes and has long been used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, worm infestations, and for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Gargles of the juice may be used to treat throat inflammations, including tonsillitis and stomatitis (inflammations of the oral cavity).
Traditionally, the leaves were chewed to relieve toothache and the juice sniffed to stop nosebleeds.
