A springtime booster: The healing potential of tree buds

Spring awakens with a surge of life-giving energy – an idea people have believed in for centuries, and one that scientists at the Biology Center of the CAS now confirm. Unlike flower buds, leaf buds contain the full genetic blueprint for an entirely new plant, making them a rich source of biologically active compounds. Gemmotherapy harnesses this potential. We’ve previously explored how gemmotherapy works and what gemmo actually means in an article published in the quarterly A / Magazine of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Let’s be honest – the human species would not survive without plants. Since time immemorial, we have relied on flora for countless purposes: food, clothing, fuel, shelter... Some plants serve only decorative functions, while others have well-documented medicinal effects. The latter are at the heart of phytotherapy, once commonly referred to as herbalism. “Herbs” – a term that, despite its name, includes not only herbaceous plants, but also trees and shrubs – are something nearly everyone has tried in some form. Sage tea for a sore throat, vitamin-packed rosehip tea in winter – remedies like these fill the pages of countless books.

Much less is currently known about a specialized branch of phytotherapy: gemmotherapy. This method has been brought to public attention by Miloslav Šimek from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Marie Šimková, formerly from the same research institute in České Budějovice. They chose to present it in written form, publishing an informational booklet titled Practical Gemmotherapy under the umbrella of the CAS Strategy AV21 research program Landscape Conservation and Restoration.

Miloslav Šimek from the Biology Center of the CAS. (CC)

“Most doctors pay little attention to phytotherapy – i.e., the use of herbs, woody plants, and plants in general – so they are often unfamiliar with gemmotherapy as well. However, more and more medical and veterinary professionals are attending educational courses on the subject, and some have even begun incorporating the method into their practice – perhaps to supplement so-called conventional medicine, particularly for chronic illnesses,” explains biologist Miloslav Šimek, describing the shifting perception of a treatment approach that some dismiss as pseudoscience.

Gemmotherapy’s roots stretch deep into history, but skepticism toward alternative therapies has often been fueled by unqualified individuals or outright fraudsters who promote and sell so-called “proven” remedies that allegedly cure every disease. As a result, even genuinely effective plant-based treatments have suffered from the backlash, and uninformed consumers remain wary of them.

Buds take center stage
Let’s take a closer look at gemmotherapy. One definition of the Latin word gemma is “bud,” while gemmo means “to bud or sprout.” This leads us directly to the essence of the method: the medicinal use of plant buds. But why focus on this particular part of the plant?

“In contrast to flower buds, leaf buds contain the full blueprint for an entire new plant – leaves, twigs, and flowers. At the moment of budding, when the buds are harvested for tincture preparation, they are packed with biologically active compounds,” the researchers explain. Besides budding leaf buds, young tree and shrub shoots, rootlets, sprouting seeds, and other embryonic plant tissues are also used to prepare gemmotherapeutic tinctures.

Healing with buds may date back to prehistoric times, but the first written records of the practice come from the Middle Ages. After it fell into obscurity for some time, gemmotherapy was revived in the second half of the 20th century. The Belgian physician Pol Henry is regarded as its founder.

According to Henry, buds constitute a unique part of plants because they contain meristematic tissue – a type of undifferentiated tissue located at the base of each bud. Every meristem cell has the potential to develop into a new plant. This means that buds and the tinctures made from them carry both the genetic and energetic blueprint for the entire plant – and with it, all of its healing properties. The same principle applies to seeds, which store all the information necessary for a plant’s growth.

A plant’s life cycle is tied to the seasons and weather. In spring, plants “awaken,” drawing in more water and minerals from the soil. The physiological and biochemical processes behind this surge of activity are driven by plant hormones, particularly auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. These highly potent substances regulate the growth and development of plant tissues and organs – and buds are rich in them. They also contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes, nucleic acids, and other biologically active compounds with therapeutic potential.

Come spring, tree buds are full of bioactive compounds.

Healing power in a mere few drops
As mentioned earlier, tinctures are the hallmark of gemmotherapy. These preparations are widely available on the Czech market and are used in many other countries as well. Educational courses (for both professionals and the general public) exist that provide insights into this therapeutic approach, detailing its applications, the appropriate choice of plants, and even how to prepare gemmotherapy extracts at home. However, Šimek and Šimková emphasize a crucial point: the correct approach is always to first consult a physician or experienced herbalist who can establish a diagnosis and then recommend a suitable treatment plan.

Gemmotherapy treatment typically involves two steps. First, non-specific drainage remedies – most often flora such as birch, beech, oak, juniper, or elm – are used to cleanse the body over a period of several days. Next, specific gemmotherapy tinctures are selected based on the particular illness being treated and are administered anywhere from three to twelve weeks.

“Tinctures are taken orally: a few drops are added to a small amount of water and swirled around. Before swallowing, the liquid is held in the mouth for a moment to allow the active substances to be absorbed through the oral mucosa as much as possible,” Šimková explains. Tinctures can also be applied as sprays, administered directly into the mouth, or used in topical ointments for musculoskeletal issues.

Gemmotherapy relies on extracts from buds, which are used to produce ointments or tinctures in spray form.

How does treatment with plant buds differ from other forms of phytotherapy? Traditional herbalism typically relies on dried plant parts – leaves, flowers, fruits, roots, etc. Bud extracts, on the other hand, are significantly more potent and stimulating, even in relatively small doses.

Unlike homeopathy, which makes use of extremely diluted preparations (whose effects remain scientifically unproven), gemmotherapy uses concentrated plant extracts – particularly from buds and other embryonic tissues, which are rich in bioactive compounds. “Of course, gemmotherapy is no universal cure-all – that would be far too simple. Just as herbal remedies do not work for everyone or for every condition, the effects of gemmotherapy preparations also vary from patient to patient,” the researchers caution.

Plant-based gemstones
As noted in the booklet Practical Gemmotherapy, in addition to treating specific ailments, gemmotherapy also has a detoxifying function, stimulating the excretory organs and central nervous system, boosting immunity, aiding regeneration, and supporting overall well-being.

Some of the most commonly used plants in gemmotherapy include blackcurrant, elderberry, and linden (both silver and small-leaved varieties). Other frequently used trees include silver birch and downy birch, which are primarily used for detoxification, but also benefit the digestive and respiratory systems. European beech has been found effective against arthritis, the common juniper supports kidney and digestive health, and elm helps treat skin conditions by flushing toxins from the body. The list goes on – gemmotherapy practitioners employ dozens of plants, and their repertoire continues to expand.

Interestingly, in Latin, gemma means not only “bud,” but also “gemstone.” Perhaps, thanks to gemmotherapy, those struggling with persistent health issues may find a hidden “gem” among plant-based remedies.

The article first came out (in Czech) in the 4/2024 issue of the quarterly A / Magazine of the CAS:

4/2024 (version for browsing)
4/2024 (version for download)

Written and prepared by: Markéta Wernerová, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Translated by: Tereza Novická, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Photo: Shutterstock; Jana Plavec, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS

 The text and photos labeled CC are released for use under the Creative Commons license.

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