Gemmotherapy is an alternative medicine derived from phytotherapy which uses the buds and young shoots of trees and shrubs. The macerates of buds are the result of maceration of fresh buds harvested in the spring, at a key point in their natural development cycle, in a mixture of water, alcohol and glycerin. The bud extracts obtained are called glycerin macerates.
The use of plant buds dates back to the Middle Ages, where alchemists made ointments and syrups to treat respiratory ailments.
However, it was not until 1970 that gemmotherapy officially appeared in the pharmacopoeia, thanks to the publications of the work of Belgian doctor Pol Henry. Indeed, he was the first to put forward the hypothesis that the embryonic plant tissues must contain all the informative energy for the development of trees. He called this discovery " phytembryotherapy ".
The first bud extract studied by him was that of the downy birch (Betula pubescens).
The buds and young shoots contain all the power of the future plant. Indeed, they constitute the entire genetic heritage of the plant, providing them with all of its properties. In phytotherapy, all the active and useful molecules of the plant constitute the totum . For example, the glycerine macerate of linden has the sedative properties of its flowers and the depurative properties of the sapwood.
Plant embryonic tissues have an incredible nutritional richness: growth hormones, vitamins, minerals, trace elements ...
Gemmotherapy is a natural therapy that can be used safely at all ages . It has a wide field of application by responding to numerous therapeutic indications. Did you know, for example, that it was possible to fight cellulite using gemmotherapy ?
The extracts of buds and young shoots are mainly presented under two types of gemmotherapy products:
In order to get good results, the buds should be taken outside of meals directly on the tongue. The ideal is to keep the glycerin macerate in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing it. It is also possible to dilute it in a little water or honey.
Start with 5 drops the first day, then gradually increase the dosage to 15 or even 20 drops. Once your symptoms have disappeared, keep the same number of drops for the rest of the treatment without increasing. A cure of at least 3 weeks is often recommended, repeated 3 times with a week of rest between each cure.
A 30 ml bottle of glycerin macerates can be used for a cure of about a month, at the rate of 10 to 15 drops per day. You can use a maximum of 2 to 3 buds taken simultaneously (in the same glass of water) or separated at different times of the day. Normally, your therapist will give you the dosage that corresponds to your specific problem.
There may be contraindications with gemmotherapy, especially with regard to pregnant women. At the beginning of pregnancy, it is recommended to inquire with a health professional before taking buds. To take no risk, the best is to turn to gemmotherapy without alcohol.
In addition, certain buds are not recommended for people with heart disease or suffering from bleeding disorders and hypertension. If you are taking medical treatment, you should make sure that the buds do not interact with it.
