Carline thistle trail
The Carline thistle trail highlights a wealth of alpine medicinal herbs in their natural vegetation.
The herbal trail begins in a nutrient-rich alpine meadow where cattle once grazed, ruminated and most probably also enjoyed the magnificent view. The terrain behind it features chalk grassland interspersed with rock and alpine rose bushes and borders on open area with limestone scree.
More than 400 medicinal herbs can be found in this habitat, including:
Eyebright
Euphrasia officinalis
This delicate annual can be found in August on barren alpine meadows. It is a parasitic plant that must attach itself to the roots of other plants in order to survive.
The aseptic and properly diluted tincture or tea is used externally and internally to treat eye infections or afflictions, particularly for conjunctivitis (pinkeye).
Sebastian Kneipp, the Bavarian priest who was one of the founders of naturopathic medicine, recommended using the herb as bitters for stomach ailments.
Important: Eye infections must be treated by doctors!
Lady’s mantle
Alchemilla vulgaris agg.
The morning dew collects in crystal-clear pearls along the edges and in the pleated leaves. In folk medicine, the herb was believed to be a panacea against gynaecological disorders. The herb remedy brought relief for excessive menstruation, premenstrual symptoms and helped balance mood swings.
Tip: The herb can heal wounds, insect bites and cuts. Thoroughly crimp and squish the herb and apply it to the affected area.
Carline thistle
Carlina acaulis
The carline thistle is now a protected plant and thus no longer use for medicinal purposes. Its taproot, which can be up to 30cm in length, once served as a feed supplement for cattle and pigs, as well as a defence against epidemics and as a general restorative powder for humans and animals.
Tea made from the root of carline thistle was an age-old home remedy for coughs and colds, also used to aid in digestion and for deworming. The extract in baths and washes was used to treat skin disorders and blemishes of all kinds.
We would like to point out that preparing and using medicinal herbs should only be entrusted to professional herbalists. All information provided here has been carefully verified. Nevertheless, using herbs is your own responsibility. Neither authors (CÀRICA GmbH) nor Brunni Lifts (Luftseilbahn Engelberg-Brunni AG) assume liability.
