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Today, we will talk about one of the oldest professions in the world, a profession very dear to us at Naturetica.
the herbalist's profession.
This profession has ancient origins. After all, humans have always been fascinated by the use of plants and aromatic herbs. And not just for cooking, but also to heal wounds, body aches, and emotional distress.
In Etruscan times, doctors were quite different from what we know today. Besides dealing with surgery and dentistry, they were experts in phytotherapy, and they didn't have the medicines we have today to treat their patients.
Medicines were prepared exclusively with medicinal and aromatic herbs. For example, onions and garlic were used for their antibacterial properties, thyme was known for its vermifuge qualities, while chamomile and myrtle were used to calm the nerves.
When we talk about Roman medicine, the first name that comes to mind is certainly Hippocrates, known worldwide for the oath that doctors still take today before starting their profession.
To treat his patients, Hippocrates primarily used medicinal plants; hyssop was used for coughs and colds; belladonna was used to treat fever and headaches; black henbane was a powerful sedative and painkiller.
Of course, at the time, the properties of these remedies were only partially known, but Hippocrates' medicine focused on the idea that the body could heal itself. Natural remedies were designed to support the body's defenses, always accompanied by a balanced diet of hot and cold foods.
These principles are still embodied and preserved today in the figure of the herbalist, who, unlike in the past, is distinct from the medical profession.
Being an herbalist involves various roles: phytotherapist, merchant, chemist, and psychologist.
But above all, a student.
Being an herbalist means never losing the desire to learn, to explore, and to discover the immense resources nature offers us. It means knowing how to listen to one's own body and the needs of others with care. It means knowing how to observe plants and the greenery around us with a different eye, full of gratitude.
As Naturetica, we can say we have the pleasure of knowing many herbalists. These are people who carry on a tradition, more than just a profession. An ancient and different way of approaching nature and our bodies.
