What is Gemmotherapy?
Gemmotherapy extracts are a fairly new and powerful addition to the field of plant-based therapies. Gemmotherapy extracts are produced from certain trees and shrubs you may already be familiar with — Oak, Black Currant, Common Birch, Hawthorn and Common Fig to name a few. The commonly used parts of the trees and shrubs are the buds and young shoots (as well as some seeds and sap, although these would not be considered true Gemmos) for the restoring of health as well as the maintaining of it. The tree buds and young shoots contain the growth material (plant stem cells) of the entire plant and are the most nutrient dense aspect.
These extracts on a cellular level promote drainage, tonification, and rejuvenation of organs. Worked with in microdoses we address the nervous system’s state, which is always the first step towards healing of any kind. Nervous systems are vital for communication within the body — reacting to changes within the internal and external landscape. When it is harmonized, we can respond fluidly to life with greater ease. The use of Gemmotherapy extracts for a variety of both acute and chronic physical and emotional issues, can lead to a restoring of immunity, vitality and resilience. Fostering relationships with the life essence of these trees and shrubs informs, reminds and ignites our own bodies intelligence and wisdom. We work together with nature.
Origins
While the original concept can be dated back to the ancient Egyptians, the first research-supported documentation of gemmos began in 1959. Since then, the Gemmotherapy materia medica has grown tremendously with contributions by numerous European scholars, physicians, and biochemists.
Gemmotherapy was first introduced in Romania in the 1970’s in a book written by Homeopath, Dr.Teodor Caba. His book about Homeopathy also presented a new detoxification method using Gemmotherapy extracts. Homeopathic doctors were very excited about this new approach, but at the time the extracts were not available in Romania. Plantextrakt Laboratories, a Romanian pharmaceutical company, finally began production of the extracts in 1990.
Through studies over the years and the collection of data, Gemmotherapy was granted the status of an approved medicine by the European Union and the making of the extracts is outlined in the European Pharmacopeia. Though in the United States, it’s classified as an herbal supplement by the FDA and therefore, for the most part, it’s referred to as an extract.
Many in the healthcare field are learning about Gemmotherapy and finding it very integral for healing. There are chiropractors, doctors, midwives, homeopaths, and naturopaths who have begun working with the extracts within their practices with great success.