The Wollziest (Stachys byzantina) has been attributed a special healing effect since Greek antiquity. Although consumption is not toxic to humans or pets, the quantity should be limited.
Is Wollziest poisonous to humans or animals?
The woolly zest (Stachys byzantina) is not poisonous to humans and pets, but consumption should be limited as the plant contains various alkaloids and tannins, which can be intolerable in higher concentrations.
Medicinal herb with bitter taste
The silver-gray, hairy leaves of the Wollziest are fried in batter in Brazil and sold as a snack under the name “Lambari”. The plants of the Stachys genus contain various alkaloids and tannins, the concentration of which is not directly toxic, but should not be consumed in large quantities. Children can safely touch and feel the velvety, soft, hairy leaves of the Wollziests; they are reminiscent of gray donkey ears and often provide children with a special fascination.
The Wollziest as a wound dressing
Researchers attribute microbiological effectiveness against the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to the extract from the leaves of the Wollziest. The cut leaves of the Wollziest were already a popular wound dressing in the Middle Ages for the following reasons:
- soft, hairy texture binds leaking blood
- promotes blood clotting and thus wound closure
- anti-inflammatory effect
Tip
Rabbits and other pets love to eat the leaves of the woolly zest, which sometimes reproduces like a weed. However, when feeding, care should be taken to ensure a balanced mix of other herbs and grasses.
