Q. By chance, I applied a fresh “lambs ear” leaf to a chronically sore finger. Within minutes, there was complete relief, and now I apply a leaf nightly. What do you know about this?
A. Lamb’s ear is Stachys byzantina, a popular ornamental plant with thick, furry silver-green leaves. Several species of Stachys have antibacterial activity against pathogens such as Streptococcus sanguinis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, May-June, 2008).
Iranian scientists have concluded that Stachys byzantina and Stachys persica offer valuable natural compounds with antioxidant and anticancer as well as antimicrobial properties (Pharmaceutical Biology, Jan. 2014). The plant is sometimes referred to as woundwort, suggesting that others have found it as helpful as you to ease soreness.