Excerpt from Natural Baby and Childcare

Gemmotherapy refers to remedies made from the buds or shoots of young plants, distinguishing it from herbal remedies, which are typically made from adult plants.  Plant bud therapy (gemma means bud in Latin) began in Belgium in the 1950s, and was clinically tested and introduced twenty years later by a French doctor, Max Tetau, who also gave it its name.   Because of its ability to aid in eliminating and draining toxins from the body, gemmotherapy is known as the "chimneysweep" for cells, cleansing them of toxins accumulated from food, air, and water, as well as medications and stress.

The body naturally eliminates toxins and waste products through a number of systems, including the digestive organs (liver, gall bladder, intestines, stomach, and pancreas), the kidneys (urinary tract), the lungs (respiration), and the skin (sweating).  The heart, blood vessels, nervous system, and endocrine system (hormones) also help promote optimal cell function. While the body has these natural ways to cleanse itself, sometimes it needs a little help in elimination.  This is where gemmotherapy can be useful, since gemmotherapy remedies stimulate the function of bodily tissues and promote elimination. There are over fifty "gemmos" which target different organ systems and their functions.  Briar Rose is a wonderful gemmo for children, especially during the winter months.