Lambs Ear,
(Stachys byzantina), is a woolly, fuzzy plant that you can't help but pet, it's so soft. But did you know it has many medicinal uses also? So much so, that it's also called wooly woundwort.
Here's a few things I bet you didn't know about it.
In medieval times, and even today, it's leaves were used as bandages to help stop bleeding.
A cold water infusion freshly chopped leaves, or even dried and powdered leaves, makes a refreshing beverage, although I haven't tried this yet.
According to Wikipedia, it can be taken internally as a medicinal tea to help in the treatment of the liver and heart, and to help with diarrhea, a sore mouth and throat, fevers, and internal bleeding.
Lambs ear has antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and is super absorbent, which makes it an excellent field bandage.
It can also reduce the swelling from bee and wasp stings.
Lambs ear was also one of the first, all natural, womens pads for that certain time of month. It was also one of the first, original "toilet papers".
Lambs ear is a natural dye for wool and other cloth. Boiling the leaves in water, add a mordant, and you get a terrific looking, creamy-yellowish beige coloring.
You can eat the young leaves in fresh salads, or gently steamed.