Crassulaceae
Houseleek
Sempervivum tectorum
✓ Generally Safe
Safe in Pregnancy
Native to: Mountains of Southern and Central Europe
Also known as: Common Houseleek, Hen and Chicks, Roof Houseleek, Jovibarba
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Leaf
Therapeutic Uses
Burns (topical — traditional emergency cooling and demulcent), insect stings, warts, corns, skin inflammation, earache (fresh juice drops). Ancient topical remedy.
Herbal Actions
Demulcent, astringent, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic, antifungal
Active Constituents
Mucilage, malic acid, citric acid, tannins, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin), isocitric acid
Preparation Methods
Juice🧴 Salve/Balm
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | NOT for internal use |
| Tincture | Topical ONLY: squeeze fresh leaf juice, apply 3–4x daily |
| Notes | Always available in garden — growing on walls and roofs. Split leaf, squeeze clear gel for immediate burns. Refrigerate gel for cooling effect. Ancient Greek and Roman topical remedy. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Safe in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
None known
Contraindications: Topical: very safe. Internal: insufficient data — not recommended.
Side Effects: Rare contact sensitisation. Very safe topically.