Healthy things from the woods and meadows: a herbalist gives tips on collecting herbs

Created: 05/11/2022, 09:00

By: Elena Royer

Herb teacher Anneliese Stockinger points out the careful handling of plants when collecting them.

"One shouldn't leave any traces in nature." The picture was taken in the herb park in Bad Heilbrunn, where numerous local herbs can be studied.

© Proehl

There are no weeds: Heilbrunner herbalist Anneliese Stockinger reveals what you should know about collecting herbs in spring.

Bad Heilbrunn -

In spring, nature is a true paradise for herb lovers like Anneliese Stockinger.

The trained herbalist is always happy when she is out and about and sees fresh herbs.

Then she immediately has new ideas in her head about what you could do with it.

She tells the Tölzer Kurier all sorts of interesting facts about collecting herbs.

Collect herbs from unfertilized meadows

In fact, there are herbs that only grow in the spring and then disappear, Stockinger explains.

"These include, for example, coltsfoot, wild garlic, dandelion, violets, daisies or even goutweed." Many people know them from their home garden as weeds, but, Stockinger says with a laugh: "We don't have weeds here!" Primroses are also among the spring herbs, but caution is advised here.

"Cowslips are among the protected plants," explains the herb expert.

"You can only pick them in your own garden."

If you want to collect herbs yourself, it is best to only do so on meadows that are not fertilized and where dogs do not run.

"Over time you find your meeting place," encourages the 65-year-old, who works full-time as a parish secretary.

The rule of thumb when collecting is: take a handful of each herb – and leave as few traces as possible.

"We were told during training that you shouldn't see that a collector was on the road."

Best time: Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m

You should only take what you can definitely identify with you.

In addition, not everyone tolerates every herb equally well, warns the herbalist.

"Wild garlic, for example, lowers blood pressure," she explains.

If someone with low blood pressure eats a lot of it, it could have consequences.

That's why the following also applies here: "Everything with measure and goal." According to Stockinger, the perfect time of day for collecting is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

"Then the dew is gone and the evening damp isn't there yet.

It should also be a sunny day.”

If you want to have something of your collected treasures for longer, you should dry them thoroughly, otherwise they can become mouldy.

"I have a special drying grid and also wrap the dried herbs in paper," reveals the expert.

In addition to drying, there is another method of preserving herbs.

These are tinctures.

"For this, the herbs are infused with 38 or 40 percent alcohol and left to stand for four to six weeks," explains Stockinger.

The mixture is then poured off and taken in a ratio of one third tincture to two thirds water.

Many interested people: Herbs are trendy

What makes herbs so healthy?

"They have a lot of additional active ingredients," explains Stockinger.

"100 grams of nettle, for example, have ten times more vitamin C than 100 grams of lettuce," says the 65-year-old.

Stockinger himself came into contact with herbs early on.

"Even as a child, I collected herbs for tea with my grandmother." The impetus to train as a herbalist came from her family ten years ago.

"At first I didn't know if I should do it all again.

All that studying and the fear of exams,” Stockinger looks back.

"But when I did it, I was happy." Originally she did the training for herself, but today the herbal teacher also offers guided tours in the Heilbrunn Herb Park.

"It's fun to pass on the knowledge," she says.

And there are many who are interested.

"I've noticed that herbs are currently more popular again," says Stockinger.

In general, the motto is again: "Back to nature." The 65-year-old is pleased that more people are interested in herbs again.

"You don't always have to buy everything.

And it's good when you know how to help yourself," she says, but also points out that herbs are not a panacea.

Incidentally, Stockinger has observed that it is more difficult to find something in the meadows today than it was a few years ago.

"You have to search a lot more." Why is that?

"I think that's partly due to the fertilization by agriculture.

But not only that.

The air is also very different today than it used to be.

Nature is much more burdened.

She's not what she used to be."

Information about guided tours

in the Heilbrunn Herbal Park at www.bad-heilbrunn.de/kraeuter-erlebnisse.

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