Heritage and Benefits of Swiss Alpine Plants

THE FULL BENEFITS OF SWISS ALPINE PLANTS

Alpine populations have long used plants as both food and medicine. In past centuries, when access to doctors was limited, transportation difficult, and times of scarcity frequent, mountain dwellers relied on native plants to nourish and heal themselves. Knowledge of edible and medicinal plants was passed down from generation to generation.

Plants that grew in nitrogen-rich soils near alpine chalets—such as nettles or wild spinach—were used to make strengthening soups. Seasonal cleansing or fortifying cures using dandelion, nettle, or gentian root were also common. Some plants were harvested to prevent winter ailments (wild thyme, elderflower), treat burns (St. John’s wort), support women’s health (lady’s mantle), or aid digestion (yarrow). Masterwort, known for its healing properties, is still used by farmers today to treat small wounds in livestock.

While edelweiss and gentian are the iconic plants of the Alps, many other species naturally grow or are cultivated at high altitudes in our mountains and deserve attention: Rhodiola, lemon thyme, lemon balm, sage, aronia, elderflower… In recent years, there’s been a growing enthusiasm for the ability of alpine plants to relieve and even treat certain conditions. As a result, their cultivation is expanding in Switzerland, especially in the canton of Valais.

ALPINE PLANTS: THE GREEN GOLD OF VALAIS

On the slopes and hillsides of the Valais mountains, nature orchestrates a delicate ballet of interactions between the soil, alpine plants, and insects. With its abundant sunshine and minimal pollution at altitude, Valais provides an ideal environment for cultivating medicinal plants. Over 39 hectares in the region are now dedicated to these specialized crops.

Manual harvesting—though more expensive—is the most respectful and effective method, as it preserves the integrity of the plants and follows their natural cycles, ensuring exceptional quality. Harvesting at the right season, day, and even time of day is essential, as the concentration of active compounds varies throughout the day.

Plants that grow at high altitudes, generally above 1,500 meters, are exposed to wide temperature swings between day and night and intense solar radiation. To survive in such conditions, they naturally produce molecules like polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins.

Scientific research over the past several years—ranging from phytochemical analysis to in-vitro models and clinical studies—has shown that these plant-derived compounds hold significant potential for human health.

Once threatened with extinction and listed as a protected species, edelweiss, now cultivated successfully using a Valais-specific cultivar since the late 1990s, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Other plants, more difficult to cultivate, are also in high demand. One example is Rhodiola rosea (golden root), which takes five years before harvest and is valued for its root. As an adaptogenic plant, Rhodiola enhances the body’s ability to handle stress and is widely used to lift mood and combat anxiety and nervous fatigue, thanks to its polyphenols such as rosavins and salidrosides.

With the current rise in public interest in phytotherapy*, Switzerland can draw upon its rich traditions and, thanks to mountain farmers committed to organic, pesticide-free cultivation methods, offer high-quality raw plant materials.

*Phytotherapy is an ancestral form of traditional medicine based on the use of natural active compounds found in plants.