Sempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae)

Did you know that you can heal ear pain with houseleek? I recently learned about this from my mum. She was visiting her mother (my grandma), who had a terrible earache. No medicine helped her, and she didn’t know what to do. Then she remembered the houseleek plant in the garden and what she had read about it being beneficial for various types of pain. She plucked a leaf and put a drop of the plant’s juice in my grandma’s ear. That was the only thing that helped her, and it worked very quickly. I found this very interesting and wanted to share this information with you.

Sempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae), known as houseleek, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of ear inflammation, burns, bruises, corns, warts, and freckles.

This plant grows where hardly any other plant can survive. It tolerates heat and cold without any problems and retains its leaves even in winter. It is also attractive and decorative all year round. The botanical name Sempervivum is derived from the Latin words semper (always) and vivus (living), meaning “always living.” The spiral shape of the houseleek is a symbol of invincible, eternal life.

Houseleek thrives in rock gardens, on flat roofs, and in the wall joints of dry walls in full sun. The soil should be well-drained. If the soil is more loamy, it can be mixed with sand or gravel to ensure good drainage. According to old beliefs, the plant was considered a protection against lightning and was purposefully planted on roofs.