Herbarium of the Ancients — Detailed Record

Hylotelephium telephium

Please read before use: the information provided below describes traditional and informational uses — it does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. In case of doubt, pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing treatment or use in children, seek advice before use.

Reserved for traditional external use; ingestion of the fresh plant is not recommended without professional advice. Always test on a small area of skin before wider application, as some individuals may experience skin sensitivity to the sap. Do not apply to deep or infected wounds or severely damaged skin without medical advice. Use not reliably documented in pregnant or breastfeeding women and in young children: avoid as a precaution.

Poultice — Fresh leaves

Crushed leaf poultice

Crush a few fresh leaves between your fingers or with a mortar until you obtain a moist pulp. Apply directly to the affected area and secure with a compress or clean cloth for about twenty minutes. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.

Compress — Fresh leaves

Fresh sap compress

Gently press the leaves to extract the sap, then soak a clean compress in it. Apply to irritated skin for a few minutes, repeating as needed throughout the day. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.

Where to find it

Obtaining the plant

Orpine can still be found growing wild on embankments, old walls and woodland edges in Europe, and it is easily cultivated in perennial plant gardens; it is rarely offered in herbal shops.

Harvest season

When to harvest it

The leaves are best harvested fresh between spring and summer, when the plant is full of sap.

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