Gemmotherapy and aromatherapy are two very distinct branches of herbal medicine. Although they both have their origins in the plant world, they nonetheless remain different in terms of their manufacturing method and the part of the plant used. The same plant, the same tree can provide both an essential oil AND a bud macerate, and the properties of these products will not necessarily be the same! Indeed, on the one hand aromatherapy will make it possible to treat acute conditions and be effective quickly in a targeted manner by acting on the symptom, while on the other hand gemmotherapy will be more effective for treating chronic problems, on a longer duration in the form of cures, and with the aim of regenerating the body in order to treat the background which is at the origin of the symptoms.
This article was updated on 04/12/2023Gemmotherapy, a complement to aromatherapy?
Gemmotherapy and aromatherapy are both therapeutics from plants, which are part of a holistic (or global) approach to health. These are natural aids which will support our body in order to relieve various ailments, and above all, they are two therapeutics complementary.
They differ mainly in their origin and their mode of action.Origin and method of manufacture
Essential oils come from distillation of a part of an aromatic plant. We will specifically take the part of the plant that interests us (leaves, flowers, branches, etc.) which we will distill in a still in order to extract the aromatic molecules. Or, for citrus fruits, the zest of the fruit is mechanically pressed to extract its essence.
In the case of gemmotherapy, we collect the plant buds (or young shoots or rootlets) at the time of their opening, generally in spring, then we make them macerate in a water-alcohol-glycerin mixture to obtain the bud macerate.
Therefore, we clearly see that the mode of manufacture and precise origin differ between these two therapies. We can also see here that the quantities of plants necessary to make a bud macerate are minimal compared to those to prepare essential oils. For example, it takes 1 ton of Thyme to obtain around 10 kg of essential oil, while the quantity of buds needed to make a bottle fits in the palm of a hand. Thus, their impact on nature is much less! In addition, glycerinated macerates remain far less concentrated than essential oils, and have a great specificity of composition.
Finally, the essential oil will have the composition and therefore the properties of the part of the plant from which it comes, while the bud macerate will have the properties of the whole plant. Indeed, the bud contains all the embryonic tissues of the plant, all its genetic heritage, and carries its development potential. It's sort of a concentrated "totum", which has all the properties of the adult plant. For example, the Linden bud has the calming properties attributed to the flower of this tree, and also the depurative and diuretic virtues of the sapwood, which is the most recently formed part of the tree trunk (the tender and white part). more external).
Mode of action
Aromatherapy treats acute health problems, by acting powerfully, in a way localized and à short term. The essential oil has an action elective (or targeted) on a particular organ and will quickly mobilize certain functions of the body in order to effectively relieve symptoms.
Gemmotherapy, for its part, acts more at the level of problems chronicles and in the duration. Bud macerate has a more global action of drainage of the body or regeneration of affected organs and systems. Gemmotherapy acts on the major systems and organs of the body affecting the structure (bones, teeth), the rhythm (heart, lung, blood, lymph), the organic (digestive, hormonal, urogenital) and the psychic. In addition, its action is not immediate and bud macerates require more time to demonstrate their effectiveness.
If we could summarize the strategy of gemmotherapy, which aims to treat the substance and not the consequences, with a maxim, it would be: “The symptom is only a visible result of a long and invisible process. » In other words, gemmotherapy takes its source from the origin of the problem, and resolving it will lead to the disappearance of the symptoms. In this sense, it is a holistic natural therapeutic, that is to say it takes into account the health of the individual as a whole.
In summary, the essential oils are “bulldozer” remedies that act powerfully on a particular problem, but these lead to numerous contraindications and risks of use (irritation, neurotoxicity, etc.). THE bud macerates are they “harmonious” remedies which act thoroughly and gently, and which present much fewer contraindications and adverse effects.
So, gemmotherapy or aromatherapy?
To help you make an informed choice in your use of essential oils and bud macerates, in order to choose the appropriate form to your problem for a best treatment and better efficiency, here is a short summary guide about each of these therapies. They both have their qualities and defects, and you will be able to see here that the qualities of one compensate for the faults of the other ! Their uses are therefore very complementary, and it was more than normal that we offer these products to you at La Compagnie des Sens!
When to choose aromatherapy?
The main qualities of aromatherapy are:
- D'act efficiently and quickly on the desired organ
- Of relieve symptoms and manifestations diseases
- To have very specific properties thanks to their richness in highly concentrated active ingredients
Essential oils will be preferred:
- For emergency issues or acute conditions
- To relieve the pain quickly
- For internal or external conditions
- In treatment of short to medium term
- For olfactory pleasure
When to choose gemmotherapy?
The main qualities of gemmotherapy are:
- Of regenerate weakened organs in order to counter morbid processes and remedy acute or chronic conditions
- Of drain engorged organs and thus have an action detoxifying
- To provide better vitality generally reduce sensitivity to diseases, viruses, bacteria, etc., boost immune defenses, limit tissue aging, etc.
Bud macerates will be preferred:
- For ailments chronicles
- For treatments of medium to long term
- To drain the body
- To regenerate tissues or organs
- For taste pleasure (alcohol and plants, that’s not bad, right?)
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Bibliography
Work : Piterà di Clima, F., & Nicoletti, M. (2018). Summary of gemmotherapy - Scientific foundations of Meristemotherapy. Amyris Editions.
Work : Boistard, S. (2016). Gemmotherapy - Buds for health - Practical and family guide. Terran Publishing.
Work : Andrianne, P. (2011). Treatise on gemmotherapy: Therapy using buds. Amyris Editions.
Work : Halfon, R. (2011). Gemmotherapy - Health through buds. Dangles Editions.
Work : Ledoux, F., & Guéniot, G. (2014). Phytembryotherapy: The embryo of gemmotherapy. Amyris Editions.
Work : Pineau, L. (2019). The great book of gemmotherapy. Leduc.s Éditions.