Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum), of the Crassulaceae family. Evergreen rosette-forming succulent spreading by offsets; native range: the mountains of southern and central Europe, long naturalized on old walls and roofs. Globally recognized as hayy-ul-alam (حي العالم) in Arabic, and common houseleek, hens-and-chicks, sengreen, Jupiter's beard in English. The part used is fresh leaf and its juice. Tight rosettes of thick, pointed, cool green leaves that snap to release a copious, slightly acid, astringent mucilage.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
HOUSELEEK
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Houseleek
- Scientific name
- Sempervivum tectorum L.
- Family
- Crassulaceae
Form
- Part used
- fresh leaf and its juice
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- astringent · sour · mucilaginous
- Unani
- astringent · sour
Temperature
Western: cold (in the third degree)
Unani: cold & moist (3rd degree)
convergence: both {witness_count} witnesses read it markedly cold — a refrigerant of hot swellings
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- skin · mucous membranes
- Unani
- skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- refrigerant, astringent, cooling and vulnerary; the fresh juice soothes and draws out heat
- Unani
- mubarrid (refrigerant), qabiz (astringent), rade (repellent of hot matter) and muhallil
Cautions
- Contraindications
- cold, boggy and phlegmatic conditions where its coldness is unwanted
- Toxicity
- practically harmless externally; large internal doses of the juice may loosen and gripe the bowel
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