House look and its past uses

Sempervivum tectorum, Houseleek or Thunderbeard is a rosette-forming succulent that we now find in many varieties in plastic pots in garden centers. A bit of a disappointment for such a medicinal herb from the past. Although there may be more interest in these types of greasy plants due to the great interest in another ‘greasy’ plant, Aloe vera. Our native and hardy thunderbeard probably has the same medicinal effect on the skin and mucous membranes as the aloe. In the past, wild artichokes were still quite common outdoors on the roofs of houses, and our ancestors knew how to make good use of them. Modern man has, unfortunately, banished it from the roofs as something that disfigures their contemporary bungalows. Now this precious medicinal plant can only be found on old roofs and walls, boulders and rocks, in places where there is little soil, that little soil is sufficient for life and reproduction.
In folk medicine, the fleshy, juicy ­outer leaves or scales were used for both internal and external use.

Lord-Uncle about Thunderbeard

In one of my old-fashioned herbal books from the beginning of the 20th century, the spiritual Lord Uncle describes much (too much) of the beneficial effects of this plant for many internal organs: lungs, liver, stomach and intestines ­. ‘Take a cup of houseleek tea to drink every day for two or three weeks (20 grams of scales for 1 liter of boiling water). To combat vomiting and vomiting, one tablespoon of it is taken every hour. Against the nervous shocks and fears of the children during their sleep, as well ­as against the falling sickness, they are made to drink a teaspoon of freshly squeezed juice from the scales two or three times a day.

This same juice produces good results when applied to rashes, ulcers, bruises, burns and pimples in the mouth. In case of ear problems, simply put a little in the ear. Sustained ­treatment with fresh juice of Thunderbeard, or with a paste of leaves in vinegar, makes warts and corns disappear. In case of sprains, strains and bruises, fresh scales of the plant are placed on the affected area.

Hildegard on huszwurtz, Sempervivum tectorum

Even further back in time, it was mainly Hildegard von Bingen who made intriguing statements about the effect of house look. The houseleek is cold, and it is useful for people to eat because it is fatty in nature. For if a man who is sound in his sexual nature were to eat it, he would be completely inflamed with lust, so that he would become mad. And if a man’s seed is dried up, so that he lacks seed and he is already an old man, he shall soak the houseleek in goat’s milk until it is completely soaked with the milk, and then he shall boil him in the milk and Add some eggs to it, so that a dish can be created. And he must eat this for three to five days, and his seed will acquire reproductive power again, and he will have children.” Temptingly interesting recipe and harmless to try.

Simple ointment for first aid

Also simple and certainly effective is an ointment that you make by boiling crushed leaves in pure (unsalted ­) pork fat (equal grams of each) until the juice of the plant has completely dissolved into the fat; then the warm mixture is poured through a fine sieve and allowed to cool and set. Good for rough or irritated skin, burns and cracks.

I do not want to claim that all these applications are equally efficient, but I do think it would be useful to reintroduce external use in particular. It is a very practical plant, it is available fresh all year round, can grow in the driest places and is particularly decorative.

Some studies

1. • Phytother Res. 2003 Nov;17(9):1032-6.Antinociceptive activity of Sempervivum tectorum L. extract in rats.
   • Kekesi G, Dobos I, Benedek G, Horvath G.Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6701 Szeged.
   • Tentative Identification of Polyphenols in Sempervivum tectorum and Assessment of the Antimicrobial Activity of Sempervivum L.

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