The father of gemmotherapy was Prof. Georges Netien of the "University of Lyon, who in the 50s of the last century conceived and studied this natural medicine, later taken up and developed by the Belgian doctor Pol Henry, who first devoted himself to the study and to the experimentation of gemmoderivati.
French:- Fresh embryonic plant material (buds, newly hatched buds, rootlets, seeds and, less frequently, the rind of young stems) is collected when vegetative life resumes (late winter / early spring or autumn for seeds), then promptly cleaned and chopped.
- A sample of this material is dried in order to determine the water content and the dry weight (it is left in the oven at 105 ° C until the constant weight is reached).
- The rest of the fresh plant material is macerated for three weeks (21 days) in a mixture of glycerol and alcohol in equal parts; the quantity of these solvents is calculated in order to obtain a final product corresponding to 20 times the weight of the raw material brought back to the dry state.
- After the maceration time, the liquid obtained is filtered at constant pressure, left to rest for 48 hours and filtered again. In this way the basic glycerine macerate (MG) is obtained, which before being ready for use must be diluted with a mixture of glycerin, oil and water (in proportion 5: 3: 2), obtaining a product with a 1DH dilution (a part of macerate in 10 parts of ready-to-use solution). The bud extract is then packaged in dropper bottles of dark glass and marketed; it must be stored away from light, in well-closed containers and in any case consumed within 3-5 years following preparation.
- Normally 30-50 drops of bud extract are used to be taken on an empty stomach, from one to three times a day, diluted in a little water; the solution should be kept for about a minute in the mouth, in order to take advantage of the sublingual absorption, after which it is swallowed.
This pharmaceutical preparation typical of the French school is flanked by the Belgian one, in which the embryonic tissue is macerated in a mixture of alcohol, glycerin and water so that each liquid occupies a third of the total weight. Maceration and filtration follows to obtain the final glycerine macerate. The dosages will naturally be lower, and the amount of alcohol ingested will also be lower.
, cytokines and gibberellins (hormones and growth factors typical of the plant kingdom); the embryonic tissues are instead poor in all those substances derived from the secondary metabolism present in the adult plant (flavones, tannins, alkaloids, etc.) and exploited in phytotherapy.
It is, therefore, a science in some ways opposite to phytotherapy, given that the active principles of embryonic tissues are present only in traces in adult plants, and vice versa.
In the bud extract it is also possible to isolate amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins, often in generous quantities (think of soybean or wheat sprouts used as functional foods by virtue of their richness in nutritional principles).
Although no one thinks of using extracts of animal embryos for medicinal purposes, the same idea in a vegetable key (thus exploiting gems and other embryonic tissues) seems to have many supporters.
However, official medicine takes care of dampening the enthusiasm, considering gemmotherapy an alternative medicine with no scientifically proven efficacy.
In fact, under the heading "gemmotherapy", Pubmed (the most important database on scientific research) returns only one result, however of little scientific interest (it is in fact a popular article that reports the authors' experiences by associating acupuncture and gemmotherapy).
In fact, it is clear that the human organism is not a plant, which is why all these substances with their surprising energetic / vegetative potential have no significant effects on our body.
However, trying to tackle the topic with a broader vision, it must be remembered that the molecular structure of some plant substances broadly follows that of other molecules produced by the human organism; this characteristic allows them to interact with specific receptors of the organism triggering a biological response (think for example of plant sterols).
Recently, in a study, it emerged that auxin, a plant hormone that regulates the development and growth of plants (present in buds, therefore in bud derivatives), exhibited antiproliferative properties against human tumor cell lines.
The validity of these hypotheses in support of the therapeutic efficacy of gemmotherapy still remains to be demonstrated.
"understood as the ability to direct body toxins (produced by disease, diet or pollution) towards the organs responsible for their removal, such as kidneys, liver and skin.
Homeopathy, for example, uses gemmoderivatives at the beginning of the treatment to avoid exacerbating the disease, or when it is necessary to mitigate the too violent effects of a homeopathic treatment.
Abies Pectinata (White fir)
- Indications: tonsillitis, tracheobronchitis, children's nasopharyngitis, lymph node hypertrophy, ganglionary hypertrophy, pyorrhea, sequelae from childhood fractures, juvenile osteochondritis, osteomyelitis, rickets, decalcification, dental caries.
- Remarks: stimulates bone growth and erythropoiesis, promotes the fixation of calcium in the bones. It acts on the primary and secondary growth disorders. Together with Betula verrucosa SLE is an excellent pediatric remedy.
- Use: 30 drops three times a day.
Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse chestnut)
- Indications: venous congestion (especially in the lower limbs), hemorrhoids, varicocele, prostatic hypertrophy.
- Remarks: L"Aesculus it can be given alternately to the Castanea vesca LES as it is its complementary.
- Use: 30 drops three times a day.
Alnus Glutinosa (Alder)
- Indications: all inflammatory sequelae that tend to chronicity (of any tissue origin), coronaritis, arteritis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, acute joint rheumatism, sequelae of cerebral haemorrhages, cholecystitis, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, allergic asthma.
- Remarks: has anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic action. Useful in those affected by cerebral weakness, a consequence of thrombotic and hemorrhagic processes.
- Use: 50 drops twice a day.
Ampelopsis Weitchii (variety of virgin vine)
- Indications: badly resorbed inflammatory sequelae, rheumatismicronic, rheumatoid arthritis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, arthrosis.
- Remarks: it is prescribed in highly inflamed, rapidly evolving, highly deforming hyperalgic rheumatism, as well as in P.C.E.
- Use: 30-40 drops three times a day.
Betula Pubescens (Birch)
- Indications: general tonic, mental and physical asthenia, allergies, azotemia, hyperuricemia, albuminuria, cellulite, coxarthrosis, poor resistance to infections.
- Remarks: globally stimulates the reticulo-endothelial system, causes the fall of urea, cholesterol and uric acid. Minor adjuvant of arthritic and arteriosclerotic syndrome. It stimulates the antitoxic function of the liver. It is a complementary remedy of other macerates.
- Use: 40 drops 2-3 times a day.
Castanea Vesca (Chestnut)
- Indications: vascular insufficiency in the lower limbs, venous circulation disturbances, edema of lymphatic origin, varicose veins, heaviness in the lower limbs, cellulite.
- Remarks: acts on congestive phenomena due to auto-intoxication, drains the lymphatic circulation, especially at the level of the lower limbs. It is associated with the Sorbus housekeeper and is administered on the same day, because it has a complementary action.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Cedrus Libani (Cedar)
- Indications: some forms of dry eczema, chronic dermatitis, ichthyosis, itching, some irritation of the digestive and respiratory mucous membranes.
- Remarks: it acts in certain chronic intoxication syndromides, of an allergic type with manifestation of skin or mucous externalization. The prescription in cases of dry eczema with associated itching is 50 drops in the morning.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Citrus Limonum (Lemon)
- Indications: migraines or nervous headaches, neurasthenias, nervous tics and certain epileptic syndromes, insomnia, blood crase disorders, palpitations, hiccups, spasmodic cough.
- Remarks: decreases blood clotting. It is particularly indicated when there is an increase in the rate of blood fibrinogen.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Corylus Avellana (Core)
- Indications: severe hepatic insufficiency, liver cirrhosis, neurosis of the extremities, arteritic syndromes, arteritis of the lower limbs, emphysema and pulmonary sclerosis
- Remarks: its antisclerotic action tones the liver parenchyma. Can be used in with the Rosmarinus off. SLE for a typically complementary and alternative action. Due to its anti-sclerotic power it is useful in neurosis of the extremities, in arteritic syndromes. It decreases uric acid; global hypocoagulant, normalizes mean total thrombophilia; stimulates erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. In emphysema (loss of elasticity of the lung tissue) it is given by virtue of 50 drops morning and evening. Excellent remedy in autonomic imbalances. In hepatic insufficiency it is given by virtue of 20 drops before meals.
- Use: 20-30 drops 2-3 times a day.
Crataegus Oxyacantha (Hawthorn)
- Indications: heart failure and associated symptoms. Precordial pains, tachycardias, sequelae of heart attack. Myocardial muscle spasms, arrhythmias.
- Remarks: has an important "anti-sclerosing thrombophilic activity. It is an excellent regulator of heart movements, which it slows down. It tones the myocardium, more particularly at the level of the left heart. It exerts a" sedative action on all precordial pains. Some "psychic" patients may not tolerate the Crataegus, then its prescription must be biologically well indicated.
- Use: 20-30 drops 2-3 times a day.
Fagus Sylvatica (Beech tree)
- Indications: renal failure, renal lithiasis, obesity due to water retention, hypercholesterolemia.
- Remarks: stimulates kidney function and diuresis. It is the remedy for hypogammaglobulinemia due to its property of stimulating the organic defenses. It decreases total cholesterol, stimulates the Kuppfer cells of the liver.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Ficus Carica (FIG)
- Indications: gastric and gastroduodenal ulcers, gastritis, meteorism related to irritable bowel, spasmophilia, cardiac erethism, palpitations, neurovegetative dystonias, obsessive and anxious neurosis.
- Remarks: normalizes the secretion of gastric juice and exerts a "healing action on the mucosa. It has an" interesting action in the somatic localizations of nervous manifestations (gastric pain, spastic colitis), 50 drops 3 times a day. In cases of gastric and gastroduodenal ulcers it is given by virtue of 30 drops before meals. It acts on neurovegetative dystonias, decreases total cholesterol, stimulates granulopoiesis. It has enzymatic properties. It is a remedy for syndromes of mucous hypotrophy of the digestive tract.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Fraxinus Excelsior (Ash tree)
- Indications: acute and chronic gout, hyperuricemia, rheumatism, cellulite.
- Remarks: decreases uric acid and blood cholesterol. It is a functional remedy for hyperuricemia.
- Use: 30-50 drops 3 times a day.
Ilex Aquifolium (Holly)
- Indications: epilepsy.
- Use: 30 drops 2-3 times a day.
Juglans Regia (Walnut of Europe)
- Indications: varicose ulcers. skin infectious states (infected eczema, impetigo, etc.), collagenosis, numerous dermatoses, chronic inflammation, liver diseases, chronic pancreatitis, cystitis, cystopyelitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis.
- Remarks: decreases cholesterol and increases cholesterol power. It has a stimulating action on the plasmocytes and Kuppfer cells of the liver. In cases of skin infections it is given by virtue of 50 drops 2 times a day.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Junuperus Communis (Juniper)
- Indications: great hepatic insufficiency and cirrhotic syndromes. Dyspepsia, decompensated diabetes, chronic developmental polyarthritis, hyperuricemia, nephrolithiasis, atherosclerosis, aerophagia.
- Remarks: decreases total cholesterol, has an elective tropism on the hepatic cell influencing all the functions of the organ. It acts in severe hepatic insufficiency with very unbalanced laboratory tests. In the liver, the fall of albuminase produces a decrease in osmotic pressure with water retention in the tissues; juniper, correcting the hypoalbuminemia, normalizes the osmotic tissue balance and eliminates uric acid and urea, causing renal diuresis. It is useful in certain nephritis. chronic and in all cystitis affections In cases of aerophagia it is given by virtue of 25 drops before meals.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Olea Europea (Olive tree)
- Indications: arterial hypertension, arteriosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, adult diabetes.
- Remarks: decreases total cholesterol and total lipids. It decreases blood viscosity by acting on total thrombophilia. It has hypotensive and anti-sclerotic action and for these two properties it is given by virtue of 50 drops twice a day. It has action in predominantly cerebral atherosclerosis, in certain syndromes of medium hepatic insufficiency and minor renal insufficiency.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Pinus Montana (Mountain pine)
- Indications: chronic rheumatism, arthrosis, vertebral arthrosis, coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis, rheumatism.
- Remarks: influences the regeneration of hard tissues of bone and cartilage. Indicated in chronic non-inflammatory rheumatism, whatever its location. It is complementary to other remedies. It is useful to associate it with birch sap, preferably taken in the morning on an empty stomach in a large glass of water.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Populus Nigra (Black poplar)
- Indications: arteritis of the lower limbs and associated trophic disorders.
- Remarks: fights atheromatous states with a thrombotic tendency. It acts on the arterial system of the leg of which it abolishes the spasm. It favors the establishment of a collateral circulation and fights associated trophic disorders (especially cutaneous). The treatment must last for 3-4 months.
- Use: 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
Prunus Amygdalus (Almond tree)
- Indications: blood crasis disorders, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, antisclerosant.
- Remarks: decreases total cholesterol. It has an antithrombophilic tendency. Corrects certain atherosclerotic syndromes, especially kidney ones. It is complementary to the "European olea of which it accentuates the hypotensive and antisclerosant action. It decreases blood coagulation, in cases where there is an increase in prothrombin. The intake period must go from 2 to 4 months.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Quercus Peduncolata (Common oak)
- Indications: sexual asthenia, impotence, overworking fatigue, physical asthenia, neurasthenia, constipation, arterial hypotension.
- Remarks: acts in the protein metabolism, corrects adrenal hormone deficiency, rebalances blood pressure and completes the renal activity of the Vitis vinifera he was born in Prunus amygdalus. It has an action close to and complementary to that of Betula pubescens.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant)
- Indications: allergic disorders, chronic coryza, hay fever, allergic asthma, recurrent nasopharyngitis and tonsillitis, inflammatory rheumatism, osteoarthritis and arthritis, dysmenorrhea, fibroma, prostate, migraines.
- Remarks: it is the remedy of acute allergy, chronic gouty states and minor hyperazotemic renal insufficiency. Any acute adynamic syndrome found in the Currantnigrum its indispensable remedy to increase the corticosteroid rate. Its action is exerted on the cortico-adrenal level, which seems to stimulate the secretion of anti-inflammatory hormones. It has a clear antiallergic action, it is indicated in all inflammatory states where the sedimentation rate is very accelerated and in allergic cases whatever their clinical aspect: rhinitis, bronchitis, asthma, gastritis, migraines, urticaria, Quincke's edema, rheumatism allergic.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Rosehip (Rose of scrub)
- Indications: migraines and headaches, recurrent inflammations of the growth period (otitonsillitis furunculosis), certain forms of anemia and decalcifications.
- Remarks: valuable in the treatment of migraines and headaches resistant to most of the classic therapies and in those in which an allergic component almost always intervenes. It is interesting to associate it, in these cases, with Ribes nigrum, of which it completes the cortico-adrenal stimulation, and to the Tilia tomentosa, which acts as a vegetable tranquilizer.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)
- Indications: small hepatic insufficiency, hepatic colic, biliary dyskinesia due to hyper- or hypotonia, chronic cholecystitis.
- Remarks: decreases total cholesterol, useful in liver disorders (due to its activity stimulating the excretion and formation of bile). It has a more clearly oriented action on the gall bladder. It is an excellent antispasmodic which regulates vesicular mobility. It performs a restorative activity on the intestinal mucosa making it the drug of choice in some forms of colitis. It acts on blood coagulation, particularly on total thrombophilic states. It is useful in thrombotic atherosclerosis. Due to its euphoric and euphoric action it is used for capillary circulation in the extremities and as a memory stimulant. It is together with the Juniperus communis an excellent detoxifier, acting in particular way in alkaline phosphatase.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day, as a hepatoprotector, to be taken before meals.
Rubus Fructicosus (Bramble or Mora di Macchia)
- Indications: chronic degenerative rheumatism, senile degenerative arthrosis, osteoporosis, diabetes, uterine fibroid, arteriosclerosis, arterial hypertension.
- Remarks: in cases of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, associate the Vaccinium vitis idaea and the Sequoia gigantea. In cases of uterine fibroid associate the Vaccinium vitis idaea (Alnus incan).
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry)
- Indications: menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, vaginitis metritis, pelvic pain, hyperfollicolinic syndromes, female hypogonadism of puberty, delayed menarche, premature menopause, amenorrhea, ovarian cyst, uterine fibroid.
- Remarks: it exerts a "braking action on the anterior lobe of the pituitary" regulates in particular the ovarian secretion. The fragarina contained in the Rubus Idaeus it induces a relaxation of the uterine muscles, thus eliminating secondary contractions. The dosage is 20-60 drops per day. If you want to induce a "decongestant action, the Ribes nigrum (25 drops twice a day).Sovereign remedy for disendocrines, atherosclerosis, allergy and neurovegetative imbalances. Also useful in certain torpid ulcerations, in enterocolitis and functional metrorrhagia.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Secale Cereale (Rye)
- Indications: acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, jaundice, hypertransaminase, psoriasis.
- Remarks: in jaundice and post-jaundice sequelae it is given by virtue of 20 drops before meals. In cases of psoriatic dermatitis it is given by virtue of 25 drops 2 times a day.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Sequoia Gigantea (Sequoia)
- Indications: chronic prostatic hypertrophy, initial adenomaprostatic disease, uterine fibroids and myofibromas, andropause, menopause, trophic and psychic disorders of senescence, senile osteoporosis.
- Remarks: its action is particularly exerted at the level of the prostate. In "hypertrophy and" prostatic adenoma it associates the Ribes nig. (50 drops twice a day for the duration of a month), this is because the currant exerts an anti-inflammatory (cortico-like) action by stimulating the return to normal of the gland. In fibroids of the uterus it is prescribed in doses from 50 to 100 drops per day for 40-day cycles. Remedy of various functional neurosexual syndromes. It is an excellent antisenescent of the elderly man. It acts strongly on the geriatric level and causes in the old man a feeling of euphoria and also a regain of strength, both physically and morally.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Sorbus Domestica (Rowan)
- Indications: venous disorders, sequelae of phlebitis, venous plethora, heaviness of the lower limbs, edema in the lower limbs, acroparesthesia, haemolysis, menopause disorders characterized by imbalance of blood pressure with a tendency to increase in the minimum, ringing in the ears, certain congestive headaches.
- Remarks: great regulator of the circulation of the venous system which fights congestive phenomena. Tones the venous walls. Female remedy indicated in the circulatory disorders of menopause, in venous hypertension, in the sequelae of phlebitis, in cases of varicose veins and varicose soil or heavy legs. It is associated with Castanea vesca and it must be administered on the same day because it has a complementary action.
- Use: 50 drops in the morning on an empty stomach.
Tamarix Gallica (Tamerici)
- Indications: various anemia, hypochromic anemia, blood formula disorders, hypercholesterolemia.
- Remarks: it has an action on the metabolism of cholesterol, it is useful in certain hemogenic syndromes, due to its total hypercoagulant activity. It acts on the red line by stimulating the formation of red blood cells.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Tilia Tomentosa (Silver lime)
- Indications: sedative nervous, tranquilizer, insomnia, anxiety, neuralgia, antispasmodic neurasthenia.
- Remarks: stimulates granulopoiesis, acts on gout. Sedative par excellence, indispensable remedy for insomnia (50-75 drops one hour before bedtime, children 15-40 drops), free from anxiety.
- Use: 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
Ulmus Campestris (Elm tree)
- Indications: wet eczema, acne and impetigo, herpesocular, relapsing herpes.
- Remarks: stimulates Kuppfer cells; it acts on numerous cutaneous, gouty, rheumatic, metabolic affections, especially if linked to a nucleus-protein metabolism.
- Use: 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
Vaccinium Vitis Idaea (Cranberry)
- Indications: intestinal syndromes, colibacillosis, both spastic and diarrheal colitis, intestinal meteorism, stimulant of immune phenomena, cystitis, cystopyelitis, urethritis, prostatitis, prostate adenoma, uterine fibroid and fibroid.
- Remarks: causes the title of the agglutines to drop. It possesses a polyvalent activity that can also be exploited by virtue of its reticulo-histiocytic action, its ability to stimulate immune phenomena is revealed. For colitis it is given by virtue of 20-30 drops after meals.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Viburnum Lantana (Viburnum)
- Indications: allergic asthma.
- Remarks: the Viburnum it is the remedy for chronic decompensated allergies that evolve towards asthmatic states. Together with Rosmarinus off. is one of the remedies for allergic asthma. It is located between the activity of Rosmarinus off. (chronic decompensated allergy) and that of Currant nigrum (acute allergy).
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Viscum Album (Mistletoe)
- Indications: gouty rheumatism, neuralgia, sciatic, epileptic syndromes, hypertension with albuminuria, cardiac asthma, menorrhagia.
- Remarks: Decreases total cholesterol. Its draw ratio is 1: 200 while that of all the others is 1:20.
- Use: 10-20 drops 2-3 times a day.
Vitis Vinifera (Lives)
- Indications: chronic inflammatory states imperfectly reabsorbed, arthrosis, very painful deforming rheumatism, arthritis of the small joints, anemia, disorders of the blood formula.
- Remarks: regularizes the white line, so it should be used when there is leukocytosis, more precisely lymphocytosis. Decreases total cholesterol.
- Use: 30 drops 3 times a day.
Zea Mays (Maize)
- Indications: sequelae of myocardial infarction, hypertransaminase.
- Remarks: promotes post-infarct healing of heart tissue and lowers the rate of blood transaminases. In the sequelae of myocardial infarction it is given by virtue of 20 drops 3 times a day.
- Use: 20-30 drops 3 times a day.