L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano A cross the Alpine a r c , f r o m t h e Ligurian moun- t a i n s t o t h e J u l i a n A l p s , c o m m u n i t i e s k e p t a l i v e a l o n g t r a d i t i o n o f h e r b a l k n o w l e d g e t h a t o n c e shaped everyday life: back in the day, mountain plants were used for healthcare, household remedies, food preservation, and small-scale economic exchange and, at a later stage, religion and ritual practice also contributed to how certain herbs were val- ued, protected or used at spe- cific times of the year. Today, t h i s h e r i t a g e i s r e c e i v i n g renewed attention through ethnobotanical studies, museums dedicated to local flora, and associations that promote sustainable harvest- ing and documentation, yet it remains incredibly fragile. Historical research shows that Alpine herbal practice d e v e l o p e d f r o m t h e c l o s e relationship between people a n d t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t . M o u n t a i n c o m m u n i t i e s relied on local plants because access to formal medical care was often limited, while herbs could be easily c o l l e c t e d a l o n g p a s t u r e s , rocky slopes and forest edges and used fresh or dried for teas, salves and poultices. This special knowledge was transmitted orally, usually by older women, shepherds, and healers familiar with season- al rhythms, and remained largely practical: plants were selected for concrete purpos- es such as digestive prob- lems, fever, injuries, or gen- eral fatigue. Remedies were adapted to the altitude and climate, which shaped the availability of species and the concentration of active com- pounds. Indeed, the environment itself plays an important role i n s h a p i n g A l p i n e h e r b a l identity. High-altitude cli- mates support plants that adapt to long winters, strong sunlight and short growing seasons, conditions that can produce higher concentra- t i o n s o f a r o m a t i c c o m - pounds, which contribute to the perceived effectiveness of certain herbs. Species such as Genziana (Gentiana Lutea) a n d G e n e p ì ( A r t e m i s i a species) are emblematic of the Alpine region, although some, like the true Genepì varieties, are now subject to strict harvesting limits due to their scarcity. Sustainabi- lity concerns are, in fact, w e l l d o c u m e n t e d : researchers note that repeat- e d c o l l e c t i o n o f c e r t a i n species is no longer viable and recommend cultivation or regulated harvesting as the only responsible alterna- tives. Through the centuries, the Alps' herbal tradition has also been shaped by reli- gion and ritual practice, which strengthened the cul- tural status of some herbs. In many Alpine valleys, plants were collected on specific f e a s t d a y s – e s p e c i a l l y around the Assumption o n 1 5 A u g u s t – a n d b r o u g h t t o c h u r c h t o b e b l e s s e d . T h e s e m a z z e t t i (herbal bundles) often con- tained species associated with protection or healing, such as artemisia, mint, sage or hypericum. The practice w a s w i d e s p r e a d i n b o t h Catholic and mixed Alpine regions and reflected the real intersection between popular medicine and religious sym- b o l i s m , t o t h e p o i n t t h a t many chapels and shrines in mountain areas still include painted or carved references t o m e d i c i n a l p l a n t s . T h i s blend of belief and practical use persisted well into the twentieth century and still survives in some communi- ties. M o d e r n i t y , h o w e v e r , brought about change. Eth- nobotanical surveys from recent decades, in particular a study carried out in 2009 among Occitan communities o f t h e u p p e r V a l V a r a i t a ( P i e d m o n t ) , d o c u m e n t e d traditional uses for 88 plant t a x a c o l l e c t e d i n A l p i n e meadows, forests and high- altitude zones, with species such as Arnica Montana, Achillea Millefolium, Gen- tiana Lutea and Juniperus Communis appearing consis- tently in Alpine herbal tradi- tions across different linguis- tic areas. Crucially, the study also noted a sharp reduction in intergenerational trans- mission: while elderly resi- dents could list dozens of plants and describe precise preparations, younger gener- ations were able to name far f e w e r s p e c i e s a n d o f t e n relied on commercially avail- able herbal products instead o f w i l d h a r v e s t i n g . T h e authors concluded that tra- d i t i o n a l k n o w l e d g e h a d become "heavily eroded," with only partial continuity in families still engaged in agriculture or pastoralism. But, as it often happens in life, everything and its con- trary can coexist peacefully, if it's true that, despite the erosion of knowledge repor- ted by ethnographers, local i n t e r e s t i n A l p i n e p l a n t s began to increase contempo- r a r i l y , e n c o u r a g e d b y a b r o a d e r E u r o p e a n t r e n d toward traditional remedies, local products and sustain- able tourism. In Italy, sever- al organizations now work to p r e s e r v e a n d t e a c h t h i s knowledge, including Valle d ' A o s t a ' s M a i s o n d e s A n c i e n s R e m è d e s i n Jovençan, a museum dedi- cated to the traditional use of medicinal plants in the region, which documents both historical practices and m o d e r n s c i e n t i f i c u n d e r - standing, offering visitors guided routes, workshops and educational materials. Exhibits present plants by habitat – meadows, forests, wetlands – and explain how c o m m u n i t i e s s t o r e d a n d processed them throughout the year. Associations also operate at the local level. In Trenti- n o , g r o u p s d e d i c a t e d t o medicinal plants organize demonstrations on drying techniques, the preparation of herbal teas and the identi- fication of species at differ- ent altitudes. Guided "herb walks" have become a com- mon way to connect visitors w i t h A l p i n e l a n d s c a p e s : often run in collaboration with environmental educa- tors or farmers, these initia- tives encourage correct iden- t i f i c a t i o n , a v o i d over-harvesting and intro- duce visitors to the ecologi- cal value of mountain habi- tats. In South Tyrol and t h e D o l o m i t e s , s e a s o n a l e x c u r s i o n s f o c u s o n b o t h wild plants and cultivated varieties used in local infu- sions, syrups and salves. The economic dimen- s i o n o f A l p i n e h e r b s i s growing as well, with small producers marketing local herbal teas, tinctures and c o s m e t i c p r o d u c t s m a d e with regional plants, all very appreciated by consumers interested in natural reme- dies and territorial identity. Most producers, however, never stop emphasizing the need for regulation and c l e a r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n because some Alpine species are protected and cannot be h a r v e s t e d i n t h e w i l d : i n other words, yes to herbs, b u t m a k e s u r e y o u d o n ' t destroy the environment. This is why cultivation pro- jects are so important and have been established in sev- e r a l v a l l e y s : t h e y r e d u c e p r e s s u r e o n w i l d p o p u l a - tions, particularly for more vulnerable species. All that said, knowledge loss remains a major chal- lenge. Many traditional uses survive only in partial form, and older informants are fewer each decade. Docu- mentation efforts rely on interviews, archival research, and field studies to record preparation methods, termi- nology, and plant names, w h i c h s o m e t i m e s d i f f e r between neighboring valleys. Climate change adds further pressure, as the rising tem- peratures and altered precip- itation patterns affect the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f A l p i n e species, pushing some plants to higher altitudes or reduc- ing their available habitat. This is why, today, conserva- tion plans need to combine cultural preservation with ecological monitoring. Despite these issues, the revival of Alpine herbal cul- ture shows strong potential. T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f research, public interest and local engagement supports a form of heritage that is both environmental and social; museums offer structured transmission, associations bring communities into con- tact with local landscapes, and small-scale production demonstrates how tradition c a n b e i n t e g r a t e d w i t h responsible economic activi- t y . L a s t b u t n o t l e a s t , renewed visibility can provi- de an opportunity to value not only the plants them- selves but also the cultural l a n d s c a p e s a n d p r a c t i c e s that sustained them for gen- erations. CHIARA D'ALESSIO Gathering herbs has been a key activity across the Alps for centuries (Photo: Liudmila Chernetska/iStock) Alpine herbs and the revival o f t r a d i t i o n a l m o u n t a i n knowledge LIFESTYLE TRENDS FOOD ARTS ADVICE

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