Today we are going to tell you about one of the oldest crafts in the world, a craft that is very close to our hearts at Naturetica.
the craft of herbalism.
From Etruria...
This profession has very ancient origins. After all, man has always had a strong fascination with the use of plants and herbs. And not only in culinary terms but also to heal wounds, pains of the body and afflictions of the soul .
In Etruscan times the physician was quite different from the figure we know today. In addition to surgery and dentistry, he was an expert in phytotherapy, and to treat his patients he did not have at his disposal the medicines we have today.
Medicines were prepared exclusively from medicinal herbs and aromatic plants. For example, onion and garlic were exploited for antibacterial properties, thyme was known for vermifuge ones, and chamomile and myrtle were used to soothe the nerves.
The profession of the herbalist in ancient Rome.
When we talk about Roman medicine, the first name that comes to mind is surely that of Hippocrates, who is known worldwide for the oath that is still taken by physicians today before they enter the profession.
To treat his patients Hippocrates made use mainly of medicinal plants; hyssop was used against coughs and colds; belladonna, was used to treat fever and headache; black henbane, was a powerful sedative and analgesic.
Of course, at the time the properties of these remedies were only partially known, but Hippocrates' medicine was centered on the idea that the body was capable of healing itself. And natural remedies were designed to help the body's defenses, always to be accompanied by a balanced diet of hot and cold foods.
the herbalist's profession to date.
These principles are encapsulated and enshrined even today in the figure of the herbalist, which unlike in the past is distinct from the profession of the physician.
Being a herbalist encompasses several jobs: phytotherapist, trader, chemist, and psychologist.
But above all, student.
Being a herbalist means never losing the desire to learn, to be curious and to discover the immense resources that nature offers us. It means knowing how to listen carefully to one's own body and the needs of others. Knowing how to observe the plants and greenery around us with a different eye, full of gratitude.
As Naturetica, we can say that we have the pleasure of knowing so many herbalists. People who carry on a tradition rather than a craft. An ancient and different way of approaching nature and our bodies.