The Healing Power of Herbs

Austria's valley and alpine meadows are richly endowed with herbs. But one needs to be quite knowledgeable to find the right ones to use in the kitchen or to process into ointments and tinctures. Herb walks through high valleys and over moors in Vorarlberg provide plenty of insight.

In Kufsteinerland in Tirol, eight herb gardens encourage visitors to come in and learn more about plants. Everyone interested can also set off on the trail of different herbs in the valley of Wildschönau in Tirol, even taking samples home. The medicinal herb path on the Reiterkogel above Saalbach-Hinterglemm is easy to reach. Experts in Saalfelden Leogang know more about the significance of herbs in Traditional European Medicine (TEM). The Apart & Suiten Hotel Weiden in Schladming, Styria motivates its guests to learn about nature and herbs.

Everything you need to know about Austria's herbs

 

HERB HIKES IN VORARLBERG

If you encounter hikers scrutinising the meadows with attentive eyes or even bending down to examine individual plants, then they are likely to be people with a very keen interest in herbs. You can choose from several specialised tours in Vorarlberg:

• Women who know a lot about the world of herbs founded the “Alchemilla” Association in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. This word is derived from the Latin name for the medicinal plant, lady's mantle. The Alchemilla women organise meadow and herb tours on specific dates. As they walk, participants learn which herbs are edible and how they are used or processed.

• NATURerfahren (Experience Nature): Once a week between May and September, herb educator Katharina Moosbrugger accompanies hiking groups through the “Fohramoos” nature reserve in the Bödele region of the Bregenz Forest. She talks about wild herbs and explains how to use them. The hike comes to an end with a snack - flavoured by the picked herbs.

• Hikers can also go on herb excursions in Lech-Zürs am Arlberg. Veronika Walch, a certified herb educator, gives insight into the world of mountain herbs on a weekly basis. She also offers workshops on different topics including "Umbellifers" and "Root power."

• Once a week from June to October, visitors interested in herbs are encouraged to hike across the lush meadows high above St. Gallenkirch in Montafon. During the four-hour tour you will learn more about the endemic flowers and plants whilst enjoying magnificent views.

 

HERB GARDENS IN TIROL'S KUFSTEINERLAND

Whether in the valley or on the alpine pastures, an astonishingly high number of herbs thrive in Kufsteinerland. This is all thanks to phytotherapists and Ayurveda practitioners, spagyric and Traditional European Medicine (TEM) experts who maintain herb gardens, accompany hikes, and organise tastings. On the other hand, nature ensures that mugwort, winter savory, mint, wormwood, and many other herbs thrive so well here. Nature lovers can find out what they look like and what they are good for by taking part in guided tours.

Once a week, the motto of the scenic hike with Maria Bachmann, the “herb witch,” is foraging for wild herbs (Wildkräutern auf der Spur). Participants will collect St. John's wort, ribwort, etc. along the route to then make herbal ointments or spreads with them on the Aschinger Alm. Visitors can also find out a lot of other interesting facts in the eight differently designed herb gardens located in the region.

 

HERB TASTING IN WILDSCHÖNAU, TIROL

Impressive mountains, rustic alpine pastures, and a cultivated landscape are characteristic of Wildschönau, which is taken care of by 260 farmers. The almost 1,000-metre-high valley extends south of Wörgl. Herbs have always played an important role in this rural world. Birgit Haas, who created her own herb garden at the Hintersalcherhof, explains more about the healing properties of the flora. The local expert makes teas, herbal salts, herbal sugar, spreads and much more from around 30 types of herbs. She gives out samples on her weekly tours.

Herb expert Sonja Seisl regularly accompanies guests to the Hintersalcherhof or the organic bee farm. En route she directs the participants' attention to the herbs growing around them and reveals some interesting facts about bees.

Hikers can take off on their own without a guide and venture along the educational trail looking for healing or medicinal plants. Information display boards on the route provide information about the different herbs - from field horsetail to wild angelica.

 

HERBAL PATHS IN SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, SALZBURGERLAND

What do wild thyme, chamomile and meadowsweet look like? How do they smell and what effects do they have? The nicely laid out herbal path on the Reiterkogel in Hinterglemm provides all the answers. Around 80 endemic plants thrive here, including not only culinary herbs and medicinal plants, but poisonous plants too. This educational trail, which is also equipped with Kneipp and balancing stations, is easily accessible as it is located around a 20-minute walk from the Reiterkogel cable car mountain station. To focus more intensively on these effective plants, take part in a guided herb hike held once a week during July and August. The folder on medicinal herbs available at the Reiterkogel cable car station and in the vicinity of the herb trails includes descriptions and explanations.


THE MEDICAL BENEFITS OF HERBS (SAALFELDEN LEOGANG, SALZBURGERLAND)

Herbs and special plants have always played a central role in medicine. In the meantime, the traditional knowledge of healing with alpine herbs is even on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Traditional European Medicine (TEM) practitioner Eva Eisenmann knows which herbs and plants help against which ailments. She is particularly fond of two medicinal herbs that are characteristic of the Pinzgau region: arnica and marigold. “Arnica can be used externally for injuries such as a twisted ankle or sore muscles. Arnica tincture helps relieve sore throats. In the form of an ointment, marigold, on the other hand, relieves abrasions and makes rough hands supple again,” says the expert. Eva Eisenmann regularly offers medicinal plant hikes and workshops in which the participants gather herbs and then make them into ointments, tinctures, and liqueurs. One of the viewing and teaching areas is the publicly accessible herb garden located at the middle station of the Asitzbahn gondola. There the expert takes care of around 100 local medicinal herbs and plants, alpine flowers, trees, and bushes.

 

SCHLADMING'S HOTEL WHERE HERBS PLAY A KEY ROLE

After renovations and equipped with a new concept, the Apart & Suiten Hotel Weiden in Schladming opened its doors in July 2021. Hotel owner Nadja Niederl designed her own holistic “Selfness” brand and health concept, “nQi.” In Hotel Weiden it is not about getting pampered temporarily, but rather about doing something good for one’s health in a sustainable manner. Nutrition and herbs play an important role in this concept, which is a particular concern of Nadja Niederl, a Traditional European Medicine (TEM) and herbal expert. She has laid out her own herb garden right in front of the hotel.

Both fresh and dried herbs are used in the kitchen and for massages. The expert passes on her herbal knowledge during alkaline and therapeutic fasting weeks, at yoga retreats and at in-house herbal workshops. "Go outside to discover yourself," is the motto of the programmes held in nature. Because, as Nadja Niederl knows, exercising outdoors in nature or in the snow is particularly helpful in generating new energy.