The collection of spontaneous medicinal herbs

From ancient times to today, there exists an ancient knowledge held by plant connoisseurs, the “erbajoli.”

The history

Man is inherently a gatherer. The primary sources of nourishment for early humans resided in the gifts offered by nature. The first findings, shells of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.), and other wild dried fruits from Mesolithic villages in northern Italy, bear witness to the collection of wild plants in antiquity.

With the Egyptians, agriculture began to form the basis of the empire’s economy. However, the collection of wild plants was not abandoned since not all plants used in their preparations could be cultivated. The cultural heritage left by the Egyptians was significantly expanded by the Greek ‘rhizotomoi’ (root seekers), plant experts, among whom Theophrastus in the 3rd century BC stands out.

Latin physicians greatly expanded knowledge, and a prominent example of Latin knowledge is Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia, which encompasses information from more than 2000 works, cataloging an enormous number of collected plants.

The Middle Ages were a dark period for medicine, but salvation lay in the courage of witches, healers, and medieval gatherers who ventured out at dusk, unnoticed, hunting for plants to remedy the sick. Equally important were the monks and the creation of “simple gardens” for the care of the sick through herbal infusions.

During the Renaissance, the practice of collecting wild herbs became alive and useful for discovering new medicinal and food plants. Mattioli, Aldovrandi, and Calzolari roamed northern Italy between the 16th and 17th centuries, gathering information on a vast array of native plants, studying them both botanically and medically. In the industrial age, gatherers began to be recognized as botanical experts and were employed by the first pharmaceutical companies for the collection of wild plants used in herbal preparations.

It remains to be asked whether these gatherers still exist, and if there are still people who make the collection of wild plants a profession. It may seem incredible, but in Italy, in different regions, there are gatherers who practice this trade and are even considered a fundamental and vital heritage by herbal companies. By interviewing a sufficient number of them, a preliminary cataloging was possible.

The mountain gatherer

 

In the mountains, there is a tradition passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. The most experienced gatherers collect over 100 different species and can gather from the March thaw until the first cold days of November. The different maturation times of the same plant at varying altitudes allow gatherers to collect enormous quantities, even more than a hundredweight per day of the same plant. This results in a great earning potential, reaching up to 100% of the monthly income. For example, in Trentino, the first company exclusively creating products derived from wild herbs was inaugurated in 2007. It’s in these somewhat “avant-garde” valleys that the first legislative development begins: Provincial Law of Trentino No. 11 of May 23, 2007, safeguarding and protecting the gatherer’s work. Some collected plants include Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus L.), Chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.), Alpine Sow-thistle (Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr.), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), growing only at high altitudes. Among medicinal herbs, some gather St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) to create an oil for skin injuries, Shepherd’s Purse (Malva sylvestris L.) as a bronchial expectorant, and Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach.), a plant with extraordinary anti-asthmatic and antitussive properties, growing above 2000 meters. It should be noted that some plants, for their complete formation, can take up to 100 years; hence the need to respect them and, if necessary, subject their collection to specific rules.

The hill gatherer

 

In hilly areas, there is extensive herbal research, given that, for example, 85% of the medicinal plants in the Mediterranean basin grow in the Tuscan region. The collection period ranges from February with the first buds to December with the roots. The income is good, reaching up to 85% for some, collecting 20 to 50 different medicinal plants. Assisted by rain, sun-exposed meadows, shade, and forest humus, the hills offer a very wide variety of choices. Among the most collected are Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) as a mild sedative and stomachic, Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) as a biliary and antirheumatic, Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) as an anti-anemic, diuretic, and externally against hair loss and dandruff, Dog Rose (Rosa canina L.) as an anti-inflammatory and intestinal astringent as well as a source of Vitamin C, Peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) and Wild Mint (Mentha longifolia L.) as digestives, Thyme (Thymus spp) as an intestinal antiseptic, St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) as an excellent healing agent, Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) as a mild sedative, dyspeptic, excellent in infusion due to the presence of citral, and Horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) as a diuretic and remineralizer. Also, buds of trees such as Walnut (Juglans regia L.) against intestinal dysbiosis, Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) against respiratory system disorders, and Chestnut (Castanea sativa, Miller) as an aid to the lymphatic system are collected.

The plains gatherer

In the past, the elderly gathered meadow herbs out of necessity. The lack of money and the abundance of uncultivated meadows led to an abundant collection of wild plants, especially for food. Now the tradition is fading due to significant air and environmental pollution and the lack of non-anthropized green spaces. Nevertheless, some still collect food plants to sell to restaurants and medicinal plants, especially buds, to create products for a niche market. The collection period, goes from February, with Dandelion leaves, to November with Rose Hip. Therefore, the earnings in this case are very marginal, reaching 10% of the monthly income. Plants collected in large quantities include Nettle (Urtica dioica L.), Fat-hen (Chenopodium album L.), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber.), Comfrey (Symphytum tuberosum officinalis L.), Elm (Ulmus campestris Auct.), White Campion (Silene alba (Miller) Krause and Silene vulgaris (Moench Garcke), and Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) among food plants. As medicinal plants, Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.) is collected for the upper respiratory tract, Dog Rose (Rosa canina L.) as an anti-inflammatory and intestinal astringent as well as a source of Vitamin C, Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) as an immunostimulant, and many buds of fruit trees.

The sea gatherer

Hidden in the coves of the Sicilian coast, gatherers inherit a centuries-old tradition. Despite the predominantly limestone terrain and arid climate, there are abundant and lush plants offering gatherers a lucrative collection, up to 20% of monthly income. Sales are made through stalls at markets or along roads. The mild climate characterizing all seasons allows the growth of plants throughout the year. The most collected plants include Wild Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), which also produces precious pollen, Wild Asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.), Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.), Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L). Mill.), Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), Thyme (Thymus spp), and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.).

Legislative development

 

According to the data cataloged and obtained through interviews by the authors, it is evident that the figure of the gatherer of wild herbs does not belong only to the past and is not the ancestral figure as often believed.

However, it is essential to indicate that from 1931 to the present day, except for the Trentino province, there is no law in Italy concerning spontaneous collection.

It should be noted that in 2006, the European Commission issued a guide to the practice of collecting spontaneous medicinal plants (GWP), but unfortunately, it does not have legislative significance and is only a code of conduct.

The gatherer of wild herbs is generally not a college graduate, has not studied more than a few months in the library but has spent years outdoors, sniffing the intense scent of early spring flowers and late autumn fruits. They have touched and snapped thousands of small plant stems, and observed the blooming of small buds of trees. They are a botanist, a skilled connoisseur, but above all, a lover of nature and its gifts. They are almost never a technician, do not know chemical structures, do not use cutting-edge materials but live among meadows, mountain gorges, and forests, moving skillfully with a watchful eye in every natural environment. They still possess the true essence of natural medicine, approaching a plant that provides relief and healing with reverence, collecting it in the right quantities, observing, cleaning, and preparing it, identifying with the plant and discovering its most incredible powers.

GIOVANNI CATANIA