Gemmotherapy—Nature’s ‘Spring Healing Tonic’

As plants awake from winter slumber, their vigor of growth transforms into medicinal remedies.

A preparation of a gemmotherapy tincture from young white willow buds in spring. Madeleine Steinbach/Shutterstock

Those who have discovered the healing power of plants will be enthused to learn about gemmotherapy. Generated from tree or shrub buds, these remedies can be sprayed directly into the mouth, where tender mucus membranes absorb their medicinal qualities. The tonic’s ease of use makes it appropriate for everyone, including children and the elderly.

In the European alternative health industry,  gemmotherapy is prized alongside other plant-derived medicines (phytotherapies) and aromatherapy, with about 3.4 million euros (approx. $3.7 million) in sales in France in 2021 alone and growing popularity in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Romania.

The Efficacy of Plant-Bud Medicine

Gemmotherapy—derived from the Latin word “gemmae” (buds)—is a natural immune booster, according to a 2023 article in the journal Antioxidants, which notes its antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents depending on the buds used. It also has hepatoprotective, detoxifying, and neuroprotective properties, which aid in cognitive function, neuronal stimulation, and an improved ability to focus.